I'm back!!!

So....I've been missing for a while, yeah, yeah, yeah....I know!  What else is new???  I was on a roll there blogging every day....and the last time I blogged, I mentioned a headache that i'd had for a week.  Well, it lasted another week after that.  I'm actually finally beginning to feel human again.  For me, having a headache for two weeks, was like being near dead.  I don't ever get headaches - unless self inflicted.  So, to have one for that long was killing me.  Nothing touched them, not ibuprofen, not Excedrin Migraine, not Tylenol.  For a few days I thought it was my coffee, so I quit using sugar in it.  That didn't work.  I gave up the coffee.  That didn't work.  Then one day.  Poof!  It was gone!  It was like the skies opened up and all was well again.  Now my little sister has had this headache.  Apparently it's a virus that is going around.  And it's icky!  If you get a headache and it just doesn't go away....good luck!!

Having told you that story...there hasn't been a whole lot of crafting in the last couple of weeks at my house.  :(    Hopefully I can get something accomplished this week.....yet I"ve got a few things in my bag of tricks for you.....

 Here's a card that I haven't shared yet - I need to play some more with this set.  I just think it's so stinkin' cute.  I love the bright cheerful colors of the DSP, the cuteness of that little seal...

I hope this brightens your day!

Sweetness...

Just popping in quick with a card that got denied in a publishing call.  The call was for creative uses with baker's twine.  SOOO, on this card, I wrapped the twine in a circle onto a sticky strip circle, then overly sprayed it with Smooch Spray - Vanilla Shimmer.  FYI - most of the paper is from a non-SU company and the stamps are from a MS set I had bought a long time ago to make some ornaments for Alex's Gingerbread Man Christmas Tree.

That's it from me today....I've gotta go tend to this week long headache of mine....hoping for a new relief treatment tonight!

We're doing it again...!!!

If you would like to join us for a fun filled day of papercrafting and shopping - let me know.  I'm taking table reservations now!!!!  And let me tell you, I've been getting some great donations for our goodie bags - from A Walk Down Memory Lane, OCTOBER AFTERNOON, Moxxie, HERO ARTS, Paper Crafts Magazine and more to come!!!  Be sure to get signed up - we have door prizes too - possibly a Big Shot and maybe even a Cricut!!!  You don't want to miss out on this event - CONTACT ME NOW!

This is WHY I do what I do....

Once in a while, someone will ask me why I am involved with Stampin' Up!.  There are multiple reasons, but mainly, it's because of them.  Those 3 sweet little faces. 

I started Stampin' Up! almost 5 years ago when Will wasn't quite one.  I really wanted to scrapbook all of his cute little memories.  You see, I've always been a creative person.  It's something I have to have in my life.  Before Will was born, I was doing a lot of sewing and painted crafts - think snowman, painted signs, etc.  Once he came along I packed all of it up and put it in the closet.  Then I became miserable.  Just ask my husband.  One day, I flipped my lid and blew up.  I closed myself in my craft room and made some curtains that day.  It fulfilled me.  It gave me some self worth, a sense of accomplishment.  It wasn't long after that that I took a card class at the local junior college with a then  co-worker. Let me tell you, in a matter of minutes, my bucket was filled!  Not long after that I was invited to a Stampin' Up! workshop.  Wow!  There were all of these really great things in a catalog - and those items could be delivered to my door.  We didn't have a scrapbook shop in our town, and the stores that did happen to sell scrapping supplies had dated items that weren't of great quality.   It took me a month - I did some research, discovered some blogs, and was hooked.  I called the demonstrator and signed up.  I wanted those high quality products at a discount.  At the time I was working full time, but knew I really wanted to be home with Will.  I was missing so much of him growing up while I was at work.  So, with a bit of work, I continued to grow my business, and today, I'm lucky enough to be able to stay home with those 3 cuties!

With a little more work, I'm going to earn a trip for my husband and me to:

That's Fiji folks!  It's gorgeous - and Stampin' Up! wants to send us there - FREE!!!  Seriously!   Want to come with me???  It's possible -  and I'm really not exaggerating.  This is a trip that is easily accomplished with some work.  I can guide you and show you how to get there.  You just need to make that first step - CONTACT ME! 

More Quilting!

Here is another card that we made at my August Stamp Clubs....

This was a super simple card.  Seriously simple.  Take 6 squares of DSP, attach 5 to a piece of cardstock - 4 in the outer corners (leaving some border) and one in the center.  Take the sixth square and cut it in half across the diagonal.  Then cut those triangles in half again so that you have 4 triangles.  Adhere those in the empty spots and then run thru the Big Shot with the Lattice EF.  Seriously that simple!!!

I think the EF really enhances this quilt look and makes it really look like fabric.  I added the snowflake punch and button to break up the quiltiness (new cool word there for you!)

Go ahead, tell me what you think....I dare you!

Stamps: Heard from the Heart, Snow Swirled

Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Letters to Santa DSP, Whisper White
Ink: Versamark, Whisper White
Accessories: Paper Piercing Tool, Snowflake Punch, buttons

Crrreeepppyyyyy!!!

Here's a fun card I had in my stash that hadn't been photographed yet.  I did this one up for my Open House back in July, showcasing the Hello, Doily Stamp.  I wanted to use it in unconventional ways....this seemed to fit the bill.  I used black embossing powder on black cardstock for the doily.  I didn't want it to show a lot, and wanted kind of an Elvira look....it worked! (at least I think so!)  For the house, I used clear embossing powder on Elegant Eggplant.  Then I took a little paint brush and some bleach to do the windows and moon.  I really was thrilled when the moon turned out blotchy like it did.  Kind of like the real thing!

That's it for today folks....

Stamps: House of Haunts, Hello Doily

Paper: Basic Black, Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant
Ink: Versamark. Jet Black Stazon
Accessories: Black and Clear Embossing powder
Techniques: heat embossing, bleaching

Wish Big!

This little beauty is a card that we made in my August Stamp Clubs.  It also happens to be one of the favorite cards I've made recently.  It's bright, yet nostalgic, clean yet busy (is that possible....).  I don't know what it is...I just love this card!

I did a little faux stitching on this one.  I love using my paper piercer to make the stitching look really real!  And on this one, I just free-handed the piercing.  Most of the time I use my mat stack and get them a little more evenly spaced. 

You know, if you were in one of my Stamp Clubs, you could be making fun cards just like this one!  I have 3 clubs that meet once a month - surely one would fit your schedule.  I do need to warn you tho - we have a lot of fun, and usually laugh more than we should!!!  Contact me if you want to know more about my Stamp Clubs!

Stamps: Delightful Doilies, Word Play

Paper: Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Domestic Goddess DSP

Ink: Calypso Coral, Versamark

Accessories: Buttons (PTI), Perfect Pennants Die, Half and Half Die (PTI)

Bling this!

We all love a little bling in our lives, right?  It makes us feel special, and a little bit glamorous....at least I think so!  I always have a little more self confidence when I've got something sparkly on.  Lately you see TONS of cute colored blingy things to add to our paper crafts.  A lot of times those come in huge packages and I think, "Golly, will I really ever use that many purple rhinestones?"  (if you know me - I would not use many PURPLE rhinestones at all - right Cindy???)  Once in a while you'll stumble upon a package that doesn't have enough of a particular color.  I am here to solve your problems today peeps!  Grab your package of ol' plain Jane rhinestones or pearls.  We're gonna rock their world in one quick, painless little step!  You just need to introduce those gems to their new BFF:


The Sharpie Marker!

You can get Sharpie's in a multitude of colors.  I even saw they now have metallic ones!  Take you marker and color right over the top of your gem.....and you'll end up with something like this:

Or this: (which is blurry due to camera operator shakes...)

Pretty stinkin' cute - huh!!!  Just let them dry - it only takes a few seconds....and place them on your project.  FYI - I use my Paper Snips to place them; it helps to be sure I get that little bit of glue to stay attached to the gem.

Whatcha think....you're already looking for those long lost Sharpie Markers aren't you????

Spiced Cupcakes

I know....you are probably getting tired of all of my project showcasing the new Spice Cake DSP - but what can I say???  This paper is to die for.  This time I thought I would pair it up with one of my all time favorite sets - Crazy for Cupcakes.  It's been a while since that set has seen any ink....so, I've created Spiced Cupcakes.

Kinda cute - eh?  I am totally smitten over this paper.  Totally!  So, I'm sorry, but you are just going to have to bear with me on this ride!

By the way....you can leave me a comment...there is no fee.

A week late....oh well...

So, I told you yesterday that I had done a card up for Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch, but didn' get it photographed or blogged.  Well, this is that card.  It was really simple and easy, just layer that DSP up and it looks so nice! 

I pulled out those super cute button brads that I've been hoarding.  They were just the right color and size for this card.  However, I didn't want the "legs" to show thru on the back side of the front of the
card, so I cut the legs off and glued them on with Tombow Multi MOno (my favorite go-to glue!

I opted to go with some ribbon instead of the paper scallops...like this look, although it's not trending right now.  Oh well......

That's it for today folks!

Stamps: Simply Soft, Happiest Birthday Wishes

Paper: Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Spice Cake DSP

Ink: Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Soft Suede

Accessories: Soft Suede Taffeta Ribbon, Vintage Trinkets



Cheer up!

Looky here - I played along with another little sketch.  Karen always has great sketches...I just don't always take the time to play along....or I do, and like last week, didn't get my card photographed and blogged!  I'll post that one tomorrow for ya. 

For this card, I went with a non-SU stamp...for so long I wished that SU would come out with an Umbrella set.  It seemed like every time I turned around, I was making Bridal Shower and Baby Shower cards and invitations.  So, I caved and went to my stand-by stamp company....and I actually got this one used from another paper crafter.  But all of the paper is SU....that's good right???  ;)

I like this sketch - think I'm going to try it again in a Halloween motif.  I've got the new Halloween paper from the Holiday mini and it's whispering to me...cut into me...go ahead...play with me.....in a really creepy voice!  So, I'm gonna go play....


Stamps: Scattered Showers (PTI)
Paper: So Saffron, Basic Gray, Whisper White, Berry Blossoms DSP

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Brey

Accessories: Felt (PTI), Button (PTI), Fun Flowers Die (SU)

Christmas starts NOW!

Season's Greetings!!! Really....I wanted/needed to play with that new DSP in the Holiday Mini. You all got that in the mail right??? If not, contact me ASAP so that I can get one to ya!

I wasn't so sure about this paper at first. Once I saw it in person....it's on my hoarding list. It's really pretty awesome! I'll be having more fun with it soon.


I did this card using the weekly sketch over at Splitcoast Stampers. I usually steer clear of sketches with crooked layers, but this one seemed to work out okay for me. And by the way - love the Holly Berry Buttons in the mini - VERY cute. Plus - lots of buttons!

I know I have shared with my Stamp Club members the trick to creating colored rhinestones - just color the tops of them with a Sharpie Marker. Let dry and place on your project. That simple. Seriously!

Okay - now, I want to hear some comments folks - PLEASE!!! ;)

Stamps: Snow Swirled
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Real Red, Holly Berry Bouquet
Ink: Choc. Chip
Accessories: Rhinestones, Sticky Strip, Red Cosmo Glitter, Holly Berry Buttons, Sharpie Marker