You're in My Thoughts, You're in My Heart

What an adventure trying to get this picture. Winter just makes it difficult to get good sunlight, but add in cloud cover and it's next to impossible. I took about 25 pics today in two different locations to get this one shot. A sneak peek into the secret life of Bloggers ;)

This card covers two challenges: Mojo Monday 171 and the Friday Mashup #25 Sweet on Hearts.
The Mojo Challenge was perfect for this card because I just got this DSP from the 'Man in Brown' and it let me play with a few different papers in the pack. This sentiment and the hearts for the Mashup Challenge were the perfect finish.

If you don't have this paper yet, it's a must have. Not sure why I waited so long to get it ;)

Stamps: I {Heart} Hearts & Word Play
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Love Letter DSP
Ink: Jet Black Stazon & Tea Dye Distress Ink
Accessories: Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Black Satin Ribbon and Linen Thread

TSSC154: Love, Circa 2007

I took a walk back in time on this card. Do you still have some of this DSP in your stash? It's called Enchante and is one of the first paper packs I ever bought from SU! I also have the Carte Postale set that coordinates with it...but, I didn't break it out for this card ;)

This sketch comes to us from Mary Jo over at Techno Stamper. My inspiration was drawn
from some heart tags I had seen last year. Unfortunately, I saved the picture, but no link. Not sure how that happened, as I ALWAYS save a link to refer back to. Anyways...they had punched a heart, added some pretty patterned paper behind it and blinged it up. I loved the look and wanted to recreate it.

I used some new goodies on this card: Rik Rak and some new Buttons. I have always wanted some Rik Rak and finally got some in a few colors. That super cute Perfect Plum button (my favorite part) comes from the Subtles Designer Buttons. Lots of great colors to choose from with these and you get a ton. A great deal!

Take a walk down memory lane and pull out a stamp set or paper that you haven't used in a while. It reminds me not to hoard...as you never really use anything up completely.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Tiny Tags
Paper: Perfect Plum, Old Olive and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Enchente DSP (Retired)
Ink: Perfect Plum Classic Pad; Old Paper & Peeled Paint Distress Inks
Accessories: Full Heart XL Punch, Small Heart Punch, Hole Punch, Subtles Designer Buttons, Vanilla Rik Rak, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack and Sponges

SSD #57 Lucky You

What do you do when the Mojo is flowing and you run out of adhesive??? Well, that was me last night. I called in the heavy duty back-up...Sticky Strip. Not as convenient, but it does the trick!


My card today is based on this Sketch Challenge over at Skipping Stones Design. When I saw the design, I immediately thought of these Flowers from Seeing Ink Spots. Thanks so much for being my Muse today ;)

The crowns are the star of this show. They were the perfect size to be my focal image. I couldn't find a sentiment to fit on the curly label punch, but I used something even better...the Top Note Die. The sentiment is from the Afterthoughts Hostess Set and fits just perfectly in the die.

Has someone inspired you? Be sure to let them know...thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Artistic Etchings & Afterthoughts (Hostess)
Paper: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla & Basic Black Cardstock; Newsprint DSP
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Accessories: Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Top Note Die, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Sponge and Black Brads

CCCB#37: Congratulations

The City Crafter Challenge Blog had an easy one this week: Stamp it Out! You can check it out here. No digital images allowed, just stamps. Easy for me since I've never tried a digital image.

My card is for my brother Brian and his new fiance Malia. We thought him a confirmed bachelor, so we were very happy to hear the good news. Malia is wonderful and we are overjoyed that she will be joining our family.

My inspiration for this card is the fabulous Jamie Pierson. I've been wanting to CASE this card of hers and this was the perfect opportunity. I switched up the colors and layout a bit, but kept the Presto Patterns DSP. This paper is so fun to play with. You can make it any color you'd like with some sponges or a brayer. I played around a bit and decided on Crumb Cake and Soft Suede. Love them together!

To finish off the card, I spritzed the sentiment and the medallion with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch. It added the perfect finishing touch.

This is in the mail this afternoon...hope they like it! Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Well Scripted (Retired) & Artistic Etchings
Paper: Very Vanilla & Soft Suede Cardstock; Presto Patterns DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake & Soft Suede Classic Pads
Accessories: Brayer, Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz, Very Vanilla Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Clear Button, 2" Circle Punch and some Pop Dots/Dimensionals

Sew Cute!

This card started out as (1) a New Year's Card, (2) a way to use up some scraps and (3) a simple layout. I guess 1 out of 3 ain't bad ;)

I was inspired by this card at Jessica Witty's Witticisms Blog. She called hers a 10MSPC (10 Minute Scrap Pile Card.) I love it...however, none of my cards EVER turn out that way.

I have tons of little scraps from my Sweet Pea DSP pack that I love and just can't part with. This was the perfect way to put them to use. Initially, it was designed like her card, but for me, it just wasn't workin'. So, I flipped it on a vertical card and Bingo, there it was.

I couldn't find a stamp image that I liked so I pulled out these Stitching Templates I got earlier this month. You pierce your paper using the template and then sew away. I got some pretty fancy get-ups for the thread, but really, all it is is embroidery thread. Simply adorable! I want to make a boy card as well, but I have to wait on some boyishly blue buttons.

On a side note, I didn't have a border punch in this style, so I punched out circles and adhered them to the back of the base. Works perfectly ;)

Hope you like it & thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: None
Paper: Crumb Cake & Blushing Bride Cardstock; Sweet Pea DSP (Retired)
Ink: None
Accessories: Stitch Template, Needle, Floss, 3/4" Circle Punch, Button and Sheer Brown Ribbon

A Very Merry Banner

Happy Holidays Everyone! Regardless of how you spend this time of year, I hope that you are enjoying it with family. My Aunt and Uncle are coming in from Pittsburgh tonight, so we are looking forward to spending some time with them.

My post today is a Banner that I made for a girlfriend. She had bought these (2) huge paper packs and we were supposed to get together to make a banner for each of us: a Christmas one for her and a winter one for me. Well, the weeks flew by and we still hadn't gotten together. Sound familiar to anyone???

Over the past week or two, I had been doing a bit here and there with it. First, I had cut out the banner pieces. Next, I worked on her accordian flowers (the most time intensive part.) Yesterday, I was in my craft room cleaning up, not wanting to start anything new, and decided to bite the bullet and just put it together for her.

I love how it turned out. The colors are by no means traditional, but once they were distressed, they took on a very vintage look. My inspiration for this banner is the Fabulous Kelly Lunceford. Her banners are like no other and she has wonderful instructions that make it sooo easy to do. You can find her posts here.

If you so happen to be inspired to make a banner, I would love to see it. Be sure to leave me a link. Thanks for stopping by!

FTL 120: Wish Big

I whipped this birthday card together for my nephew. I went through my papers and found this sheet from the Travel Journal DSP. Before I trimmed it down, it looked very surfer-ish, but now that I'm looking at it, I hope it's not too flourish-y for a masculine card.

I went in search of a sketch and found this one at Clean and Simple Stamping. I must say, I enjoyed making this card. It seems that all of the holiday cards I've been making have been so complex. It was nice to get back to the basics of color and paper: two of the things that drew me to paper crafting.

I did have a sad moment on this card...this was the last of my Kraft Taffeta Ribbon. Why oh why did SU! not read my memo to keep it...hee hee ;)

This heads out in the mail this week. Hope he likes it!

Stamps: Word Play
Paper: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Crumb Cake and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Travel Journal DSP (Retired)
Ink: Night of Navy Classic Ink
Accessories: Circle Nestabilities, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon and Pop Dots

Altered Comp Book - Shabby Chic

Oh, I had a lot of fun making this comp book! So many different pieces and they all came together perfectly.

This design was inspired by a mini album made by Rose Blackburn that I saw in our October Stampin Success Demo magazine. She had layered multiple border punches and I loved the look it gave.

I used three border punches on my book: Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch and the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch. They layered just perfectly. I put them all together and then adhered to the Newsprint DSP.

Those fancy flowers in the corner are made with the Scallop Circle Punch. I punched 9 for each flower. Once they're punched, you stack them up and attach them with a brad. They'll be flat, so you start on the top layer and crinkle it up. You continue with that till all the layers are a bit crinkled. It's perfect for a shabby/vintage look.

Before I put everything together, all the edges were distressed with some Vintage Photo Ink. I love how it turned out...and it's probably my favorite of the three. Which one is yours? Leave me a comment...I'd love to know. Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: None
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Newsprint DSP
Ink: Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Accessories: Composition Book, Eyelet Border Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Sending Love Epoxy Brad (Retired), Black Satin Ribbon, Linen Thread, Button Latte (Retired) and Sponges

Altered Comp Book - Just Classy

This composition book took on a more classy look. I love Black & White...I'm sure I've told you that before ;) This is the Night & Day DSP. It's retired from quite a few mini's ago and I will be very sad when my stash is depleted.

The big swirl in the bottom corner was perfect on it's own, but I couldn't leave it that way. I punched out scalloped circles from another print in the pack and then cut in to the center on each of the scallops. I then added a clear Rhinestone brad. You can't see it here, but this gives them a nice 3-Dimensional look.

Learning experience, these guys need to be adhered with something stronger that glue dots. I am going back to hot glue them on. We'll see how that goes ;)

These books would make great gifts for the holidays. They are inexpensive and pretty easy to make. If you design one, be sure to leave me a link. I'd love to see it!

TFL!

Stamps: Word Play
Paper: Night & Day DSP (Retired)
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Composition Book, Scallop Circle Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Clear Rhinestones, Black Satin Ribbon and Sticky Strip

Altered Comp Book - Just Sweet

I got together with a girlfriend a few months ago and we made an Altered Composition Book. I got a little over eager and bought about 30 of these comp books. Will I ever make 30??? It may take 30 years, but either way, they were $.20 each and I couldn't resist.

I can't remember if I shared my first book with you guys, but this one is much improved. I added quite a few more embellies. This paper is from my Pre-SU days and was just sitting in my quite large patterned paper stash gathering dust. It's beautiful and just so girly.

The butterflies seemed like a natural addition. The large butterfly for the focal point is the Beautiful Butterflies Die. I cut 3 different sizes and layered them. The little tiny butterflies are from the Beautiful Wings Embosslits. Both are available through Stampin Up.

For the front and back cover, I just traced an outline of the comp book and cut them out. The binding is cut about 4 inches and added over the other papers. I also cover the inside front cover. You will definitely want to use a heavy adhesive for this. I used Sticky Strip, but a large adhesive gun would make this job a lot easier...and quicker.

These take some time to make, but are so worth it. They could be a fabulous inexpensive holiday gift. If you try one, be sure to leave me a link....I'd love to see your design.

TFL!

Stamp: Word Play
Paper: Whisper White Cardstock; Basic Gray LilyKate DSP
Ink: Lavendar Lace Classic Ink (Retired)
Accessories: Composition Book, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Beautiful Wings Embosslits, Paper Piercer & Mat Pack, Old Olive Satin Ribbon, Lavender Buttons, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots and Sticky Strip

Got Merry?

Isn't he just the cutest little Gingerbread Cookie? This is another Milk Carton set I made for the holidays. Not sure where he'll end up, but I'm sure it will be one of my fellow teachers. Some M&M's and Reese's will be a perfect treat to get through this week before break.

For the Milk Carton Carrier, I used this tutorial put together by Kim Score. The milk jugs were put together using the Mini Milk Carton Die (#117310) sold by Stampin' Up. It works with the Big Shot and Cuttlebug. It cuts and scores your paper, then all you have to do is put it together and finish it off with the Got Treats Stamp Set. Soooo cute!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Got Treats
Paper: Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla Cardstock; Merry Moments DSP (Retired)
Ink: Chocolate Chip & Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Mini Milk Carton Die, Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Red & Green Brads and Sticky Strip

A Snowflake Resist

I saw this Beautiful card by Lesley at Always Playing with Paper and just had to recreate it.

It uses an Emboss Resist Technique. Sound hard? It truly isn't. It's just a few short steps. First, you stamp and heat emboss your snowflakes. I used Versamark & White Embossing Powder. Secondly, you stamp over your embossed snowflakes. I used the large French Script stamp. Thirdly, once that dries, you sponge around the snowflakes. This gives the card such great dimension.

If you've never tried an Emboss Resist, live on the edge and give it a try...you won't regret it!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stamps: Serene Snowflakes, Tiny Tags and French Script
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake and Whisper White Cardstock
Ink: Chocolate Chip and Crumb Cake Classic Pads; Versamark Pad
Accessories: Heating Tool, White Embossing Powder, Snowflake Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Jewelry Tag Med Punch, Scalloped Edge Punch, Sponges, Tan Brad and Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon

Candy Cane Wishes

This Santa with his Bag Full of Gifts and the Wishing You a Merry Christmas Sentiment are the last images in the Jolly Old Saint Nick Set that I've been using. I kept him simple because I couldn't figure out how to bling him up. At my workshop, some of the girls added some glitter, so I may do the same. We'll see.

Really, the star of this card is the paper. I love the Candy Canes and Stripes together and, of course, all of those wonderful layers! Unfortunately, this paper is sold out, but you could create this look with any of our other DSP packs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Jolly Old Saint Nick
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Blushing Bride & Whisper White Cardstock; Candy Cane DSP
Ink: Basic Black Classic Ink
Accessories: Scallop Circle & Circle Nestabilities, Mat Pack & Paper Piercer and White Satin Ribbon

Candy Cane Tags

Here are two simple gift tags that I put together with the Candy Cane DSP. This DSP was so popular at SU! that it's sold out and they, unfortunately, will not be reordering. So, if you have it, count yourself lucky ;)

My first tag is cut as a rectangle and then trimmed with a corner rounder on the top edges. The second tag is cut with a Scalloped Circle Die Cut. I don't have a tag
die cut, so these are quite simply the easiest way to create them.

If you happen to create your own gift tags this season, be sure to leave me a link. I would love to see what you come up with.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Bright Christmas & Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper: Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler and Blushing Bride Cardstock; Candy Cane DSP
Ink: Cherry Cobbler Classic Pad
Accessories: Round Tab Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1/16" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Clear Rhinestone Brad, Blue Brad, Silver Cording, Red and White Ribbons