Thursday, July 3, 2008

Just One More Thing!

Okay I know I said I was done but I forgot I wanted to get this project posted for the challenge Julee issued over at the new Verve Forum on SCS. I was a little unsure when I first read the challenge. You had to make something involving a star. I have no star stamps, punches, stickers, sentiments...nothing! I really wanted to play so I decided to make my own star. I was going to just make a picture frame or magnet but it turned into a little mini album. So far it's only two pages but I definately want to add to it. What do you think??

I'm absolutely thrilled with how it turned out. I found a star template at a site called Coloring Castle. It's actually a site to print coloring pages for kids but worked perfect for this project. I printed the template right onto the My Minds Eye decorative paper. It was 12x12 so I had to trim one side to 8.5 so it would fit in my printer. I printed four on 2 different designs and cut them out on the inside of the template lines. I printed two on copy paper and taped them to some cardboard backing I have been saving from my scrap book page refills. (I knew it would come in handy someday) I cut these stars on the outside of the template line. This way a little of the cardboard showed through around the paper. I inked all the edges with Antique Photo Distress Ink. I machine sewed the front and back page and really, really like the look. I used my stamps from Verve's Father Figure set for the sentiments. I wish I had thought of this BEFORE father's day :) One of my favorite "little touches" is the first photo is held on with brads, but I used the back side. I thought this was pretty cute. I set a jumbo eyelet with my crop-a-dile and held them together with a jump ring.

Okay, now this is REALLY it. I'm done for the weekend. Happy 4th!

Sweetwater Mojo


I used Julee's Mojo 44 Sketch for this card. I choose to use the optional layer because I have a hard time making a card without a little bit of patterned paper. It's like a card without inked edges, I JUST CAN'T DO IT!

The papers are SU Sage Shawow, Bashful Blue and Pretty in Pink. I choose these colors to coordinate with the Sweetwater paper I picked. There isn't a lot of stamping on this card. I was going to stamp the whole flower and then remembered these chipboard flowers I bought from Sweetwater too. I stamped the stem from Verve's Petals and Stems set and used the Sweetwater flower instead. I added a button to the center that matches the Bashful Blue. The sentiment is from So Many Scallops and that's the part I'm just not partial too. I just do have a lot of sentiment I like in a circle. Most I would rather use a different shape for. I would have done something a little different here but I was trying to stay true to the sketch. Anyway, that's it for this weekend. I'm leaving today for my parents so I won't be posting again until Monday.

Have a fun, safe 4th!!

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

I've Got Nothing!!

I tried to post this last night but couldn't come up with a title for this card. I thought maybe sleeping on it would help. This morning was no better. It has no name and I'm okay with that. I slept terrible and all the coffee in the world isn't helping. Any suggestions?!?!?

When I started stamping I loved a lot of really cute stamps but the problem I had with them was they were so small. How do I fill up a whole card with this little stamp. I loved the idea of all the little squares (like the recent SCS Challenge) and then within days Laura posted {THIS CARD} on her blog and I thought "see, it is cute" so I totally let her card inspire me. Mine is so not as cute as her's but I really like it. I colored the flowers with my Copics. I love the shading you get with them. I do need to get a better ink for coloring though. The only "permanent" ink I have is Staz On and it does well most the time but is really bad for the lighter colors, like pink! The flowers are from Verve's Floral Whimsy and the sentiment is from my SAB set Birthday Whimsy. I have been trying to make a lot of b-day cards lately because it seems to be what I need the most and NEVER HAVE! The papers are SU's Rose Red and Certainly Celery and the dp is My Mind's Eye. Thanks for looking, have a great day...now more coffee :)

A Little Birdie

I went downstairs to my craft room last night with a layout in mind. I knew what stamp set I wanted to use and everything. Then when I tried it, it just wasn't working for me. I couldn't get it to look like what I had in mind so it turned into this:Last night I was really not happy with the way it turned out. But this morning I really like it. I think I was unhappy because it wasn't what I intended to do but I really like this layout. I Cuttlebugged the Pretty In Pink background and used Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery to bring the colors out of the decorative paper. I used my wavy trimmer from Creative Memories to make the polka dot wave. I paper pieced the little bird from A Little Birdie Told Me set from SU. Originally I wanted him in polka dots to but it just didn't look right. I went with a pink bird (I guess maybe then he's a she) and shaded HER with chocolate chip ink. I haven't stamped the sentiment inside yet because I don't know what I'll use it for. Which is kind of nice that way I have something handy for an unexpected surprise!!

Thanks for stopping by!

I Know Something You Don't Know and A DISCOUNT!

June is officially behind us and were quickly approaching my favorite holiday. I LOVE the 4th!!! It's always been one of my faves, (even over christmas). We are going to my parents for a parade(which goes right by their house), the world's largest amateur rodeo (that's what they claim anyway), fireworks, barbeques and more. When I was little, my sister and I would have a lemonade stand then watch the parade. I always felt pretty special that day, like the parade was just for me. Maybe that's why I still love it so much. This year is my ten year class reunion too. Lot's going on. But that's not were my excitement is coming from today. I just got a sneak peek of the new catalog, placed my order and already can't wait for it to come. I'm not going to say to much but there is a lot of exciting stuff coming. One "punch" has me really excited. Do I have you intrigued yet?? Well my August calendar is already filling with those of you who want all the new stuff. The new catalog is released August 11th. Email me today to reserve your day and get all the new stuff first!! Well behind us demo's of course ;) Just another benefit of joining my team!!!

Also, Stampin Up is running a Promotion (while supplies last) on the Hodgepodge Hardware:
Dates: July 1-August 10
The following Hodgepodge Hardware finishes are being offered at a special 25 percent discount:
105532 pg.188 Aged Copper Hodgepodge Hardware $27.95 DISOUNT PRICE $20.96
105531 pg.188 Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware $27.95 DISCOUNT PRICE$20.96
105515 pg.188 Pewter Hodgepodge Hardware $ 27.95 DISCOUNT PRICE $20.96
If you are interested in getting your hands on a kit before their gone let me know and I will place your order. All items will be shipped direct to your door. Don't wait!!

I'll be back later with a card!!

Friday, June 27, 2008

YEAH!!!!

WOW!! I just received the Kreative Blogger award from Patty Chesky over at A Touch From The Heart! This is a huge honor for me because I LOVE her blog. Her cards are amazing! Be sure to stop by and check it out.

My nominations for the award are:
1. Amber Hight at The Stamping Scrapbooker
2. Jackie Pedro at The Scalloped Edge
I found both of these blog from the Verve blog and LOVE their work. They quickly became daily stops!!! Thanks for all the inspiration from you fine ladies!!!

Friendship Bird


Don't you just love when an idea just comes together. I was outside yesterday playing with the kids when I picked up a random stick and just began snapping little pieces of the end off. I then happened to notice that this stick was pretty cool. The shape was good, it was straight {lightbulb} hey this would be cool on a card. I have just the bird for it. I could hardly wait for nap time to try it out. I inked the bird from SU's Always set with Taken with Teal first and then added a little Chocolate Chip. I love the way it looks. I cut him out, inked the edges in Chocolate Chip and I'm pretty sure he loves the new home I gave him. The cardstock is from SU also and the decorative paper is My Mind's Eye. I used a strong craft adhesive for the stick.
The layout just sort of came about on it's own. I had a scrap paper of teal in my scrap drawer that was 6 6/8 x 8 1/2 and I just went with it. I scored at 4 1/4. I like this size. It makes for little longer card which worked well with the branch. The only thing I would do different is swap the decorative paper and the plain panel. I think the bird would have stood out a little better this way. I used my Slit Punch and Crop-a-Dile to make the scallop border and I have to say this is one of my favorite's anymore. The ribbon is of course Stampin Up too!! Oh and the sentiment is from an SU set, I'm pretty sure is was a SAB set but I can't remember the name right now. I can't wait to make more cards with found and recycled objects. I have some "recycled" stuff to make a scrapbook layout hopefully I'll get to it this week!
Have a Happy Weekend!!!

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge

This looked like a super fun sketch and I couldn't wait to play. I love all the little squares in the background. I think this will easily be one of my favorite layouts to turn too. I used my Tart and Tangy stamp set and Summer Picnic paper from Stampin Up. Your last chance to order it is June 30th since it is a stamp from the mini catalog. The paper too!! The sentiment is from Gina K's How Sweet It Is set and just seemed to fit perfect. I am always in need off a birthday card and it's the ones I seem to make the least of. I have so many sentiments I really like just not so many birthday ones.
Anyway, I inked the edges of the main panel in Real Red and added some red eyelets too. The orange sliced is sparkly thanks to my Stickles!!
Thanks for looking!