Birthday Card

This is a sample of what I've been creating with some vintage images. I sent this to a couple of my cyber buddies who recently had October birthdays. Ingredients: AMuse paper; vintage paper ribbon; bling dot and some Doodlebug glitter; I also found some scraps for the hat.

Hope you like it.

SU Club Challenge

At the beginning of the month, my Stampin' UP! Demo Jill sent all her club members a box of goodies. Her challenge to us was to make something using as many items in the box as possible. Here is a picture of what she sent us....

She suggested to use some other SU products we have purchased or had on hand to complete our project. Sounded easy - right?

Well, it was quite challenging being it's been a rough month here and I've been beat with no mojo whatsoever!

Card #1 - I just purchased some vintage buttons and put a couple together 'cause I was bored....and then used the green felt flower from the box of goodies on the bottom to make the leaves on this button flower. I also used the pink flower, brad, and swirl that was provided. Happy hellos is a SU stamp and I used a Heidi Grace Stamp for the background and SU Kraft cardstock. The ribbon is vintage ribbon from my kit winnings from Gypsy Rose Paperie

Card #2 - I used SU cardstock (too many colors to mention)and used my Cuttlebug embossing plates for the polka dots. The "4" stamp is a retired SU stamp (I think). I used the ribbon, pink flower base, both the stars, and green corners from the box. I added "Bling" to the star flower and matching green buttons from my stash. (sorry the pic is a little blurry)

Life is getting better here...but still tired and no mojo....maybe tomorrow - I get out of work early to take #2 kid to the doctors. Nothing but cleareance for sports. Steeler game tomorrow too!

That's all for now.

Until tomorrow friends....

Classes

As I promised, here are the two classes I took at our local stamp store, Stamp Fanci.

The first was soooo fun! Boy do I have more ideas for this one! WACKY WOMAN is what the class is called. You use shrinky dink paper you can now put through a copier, ink jet printer, or stamp on. We were supplied the materials and the template for the woman. We even baked her in class! If you haven't worked with shrinky dink stuff before, it is soo cool how it shrinks up in the oven. We used wire, beads and used a pin back. It was so much fun curling her hair! What a fun class - here is what she looks like...

Here is the second class - Vintage Men Cards. We used Crafty Secrets Fellas Clear Stamp set and My Minds Eye paper. We cut ties using the stamps and patterned paper - too cool. I even got to do some sponge antiquing. I never did this before - you always learn something new - right? I never do men cards, so this was an opportunity to make my dad a card for Fathers's Day tomorrow. Here they are...

To all the DADS - Have a Great Day!!

Thanks for visiting.....come back again soon.

(I'm starting to get back in the groove - more to come!!)

Easter

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter holiday for all of you who celebrate. Mine was wonderful, spending it with family as always. As time goes on though, and my kids get older, I find it harder and harder not to lose those wonderful childhood memories/traditions and continue them with my kids. When boys get older, they just don't get "into it" any longer like they used to. So what's better than to spoil my nieces? At least I can hold onto those fun holiday traditions a little longer - right?

Ok, so this year I made an attempt to make some vintage cards. I found this cute vintage peep picture - so fitting for all my "peeps". I also had some left over for a few family members.

I used Basic Grey Blush Devotion patterned paper with Bazzill Basic matching paper (forgot the color) background and (brown) card base from a packaged card set from Joann's. I also used chalk ink and ribbon. As a last added embellishment (not shown here) I added a button in the upper left corner. It came together nicely.

I apologize for not blogging more regularly, but life has been getting in the way a bit and I came home sick on Friday from work and spent the remainder of the day and night in bed. I must have gotten the allergy sinus stuff that was going around. Taking aspirin and not eating much seemed to push the fever out of me. I just hate not being functional.

I am in the middle of catching up though, so more posts to follow. Thanks for stopping by to read.

(I'm typing in the middle of watching the Pens game - 3rd period 2-1 and a powerplay whahoo!!)

Finally, some projects....

Well, today it's very quiet...no projects to get done ASAP...just time to catch up - on my posts that is! Boy have I been slacking!!! I need to post pics to my Picasa, and here....so here are some of the things I've been working on.

Here is a pick of the round tins I made for my "peeps" for St. Patrick's Day. I purchased the tins at Target on clearance (ya) $13 for 30!! They are like $25 regular. So I punched some shamrock shapes from green patterned paper, Bazzill paper, etc. using my new Quickutz die. I included a fancy clip, some brads, and a green felt flower. I tied ribbon around it. I stamped the top with a Studio G St. Patrick's Day stamp with Papertrey's Palette ink.

Next, here is one of the Make & Takes I prepared for the all day crop last weekend. It's a Pop-Up card. I used pink, white and black Bazzill cardstock. I punched two flowers of different colors for contrast and punched 2 "shadow" butterflies. The "Friends" is from Papertrey Ink Spiral Bouquet set. The sentiment inside is printed from the computer. I used MayArts black polkadot ribbon and a button.

The remaining card kits are for sale at YMP.

Next is a Pinwheel Card that was also a Make & Take. I used My Minds Eye Confetti Sunny Days paper for the pinwheel, a large brad, a 3 1/2" wooden craft stick, embroidery thread, a round chipboard piece covered with remaining paper, sanded and inked with chalk ink, and the sentiment was from Studio G and the "wind" was from my winter stamp set from The Cat's Pajamas Poochie Xmas.

I got the ideas for both the Make & Take cards from the Splitcoast Stampers web site and altered them.

I hope you liked my cards. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you all have a wonderfull Easter Day...Spring is just around the corner!

Tag - Your it! Please Reply!!

Ok, finally! After what almost 2 months, I have finally completed my Tag-Your it! project I won from Michelle Wooderson (Mish Mash) here. I had to make 4 cards with the tags she sent me....and here they are.... Then I made 4 more sets of cards and tags. It was a hard because I don't have that many small stamps to use so I pulled out my Studio G stamps and WHALA......

These two are going to Shauna and Jamie. I know one of you responded to Michelle's blog. I did my detective work to find your addresses and they should arrive by next week.

This one I'm going to send to someone I know has boys - a surprise of course! and last but not least - REPLY TO THIS BLOG - I will pick a name Saturday and I will send you this set to continue the "Tag-your it!" idea..

Be sure to leave your email address and I will contact you personally. Let me know what you think and thanks for being patient!!

I hope to be creating and posting more real soon. There is an ATC Bella swap I'm doing 2 ATCs for and I will have them done soon.

WOW!! I can't believe that I have over 2500 hits too - Thanks for reading....come back again!

My Birthday Bonanza Swap Peek

This is the card I made for the Bellas Birthday Bonanza Swap due this month. I used Fishafella with colored pencils. The striped paper is Sweetwater Sprinkles. I used SU cardstock Blue Bayou and River Rock. I paper pierced the corners and used Papertrey Ink Year Round Puns Happy Birthday Sentiment attached with two brads. Thanks for looking.

Birthday Bella Cards

Yes, I'm still here!! I was on a weekend trip with Mark at baseball camp in Erie and Alan tagged along. Husband had issues and stayed home - enough said with that! Glad we came home early as I drove the 2 hrs in the snow/sleet/rain and wound up with a migraine and sleep deprivation. I had to call off work on Monday and slept in till 11:00!!

Well, you should know by know I can't sit still - yes, I took some card projects to take with me on the overnight trip. I finished my birthday cards I wanted to do.

I did both of these for Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge #17.

This one is for my niece Kelsey for her 14th birthday - boy does she like to shop!!

And this one I made for my other niece's daughter who turns one this month.

I am still working on a few more projects. Some of the girls from the store invited me to be a part of their Valentine swap. I am so excited!!! Finally some friends!!! (LOL!!) We have to fill a 12" Valentine heart with goodies-in 20 cupcake papers - and decorate the box. I have almost all my stuff ready to go inside - I have a cupcake pan on the dining room table and I fill it with stuff everyday. (HA HA Joyce - I'm not going to spill the beans!!) Going to Erie, I was able to shop at A.C. Moore and pick up a few things that we don't have here - YIPPEE!! You know I had fun there!!!

I received my "Tag your it" package from Michelle at Mish Mash. The post man crushed one of the bling dots, so I had to replace it. I am in the process of making my sets, so stay tuned. I think I might have some blog candy soon!!!

Well, getting kinda late and wanted to do some tag coloring....Thanks for visiting.

Cards made of: Memory Box cardstock; Stamping Bella images;Fiskars sentiment; Studio G stamp; ribbon; Prima flowers; $1 Darcie crystals from Pat Catan's.

Purple Bella Card

Ok, here is the other card I made for the Color of the Rainbow Swap. A very basic card I think. I had a bella colored already, so I just went with it and made more. This is Feelabella with her partial sentiment. I used my JoAnns cardstock and Stazon ink. Ribbon, white brads, and prima flowers.

NOW FOR MY NEW TRICKS....

One neat trick I used on this card....some of you use the ticket punch from SU...well, I am not fortunate enough to have one yet....YET!! I improvised on this card by taking my scalloped scissors (they can't be the real small ones cause it wouldn't look right), turning them just enough to make one scallop on the end - neat huh?? You need to try it on scrap paper.

The other thing - not really a trick - but what do you do with the square left over after you have used all your dimensional pop dots? CUT THEM UP!!! I waste nothing! It still does the same thing and works better if you have a straight piece to pop out. I didn't use any circle dots on these cards. Pretty cool huh?

Well, that's all for now. I've been completing my swaps and have some images to stamp for some bella buddies, then I think this weekend I will try a challenge or try a new technique - maybe masking....hmmmm, that sounds good.

Hope you all had a great "short" work week....FRIDAY TOMORROW - YIPPEE!!!!

Thanks for visiting. **HUGGS**

P.S. GO STEELERS! GO PENS!! Pens are up by 4 this game I'm watching now and Malone is fighting.....oooooo.....

No Coloring Required

Hey Sistahs...

I had to make this card for the Color of the Rainbow swap with the Stamping Bellas. I came up with the idea by perusing a cool magazine I ran across while gift card shopping at Barnes & Noble. The magazine is called Stampers Samplers Take Ten. It is geared towards cards/projects made in 10 minutes or less. There was a round bella card and it wasn't colored....so I thought - COOL!! (and it saved time!!LOL!!)

Well, as a newbie, it surely took me more than 10 minutes to make this and it definitely looks better in person.

I just loved the idea of not coloring it....Thanks for stopping by to look!

I used the following:

STAMP: Javabella; Sentiment by InkaInkaDoo

INK: was my 15 +yr old SU stamp pad Close to Cocoa - no lie!!, and antiqued with Cat's Eye Dark Brown

$1 Ribbon; Marvy Scallop oval punch; an orange flower brad

PAPER: Joann's package of orange card/envies; cardstock from Pat Catans

2007's Christmas Card

Ok, enough with being blue....I wanted to show you the Christmas cards I made this year to send - 50 of them! It took me a lot of lunches to complete all the paper piecing. I CASE's the idea from my buddy Joyce from YMP who came in and showed us the cute gift tags she made at the local stamp store Stamp Fanci. They were so cute! The paper was definitely different and it was a little smaller than mine. Here is my card version...

The first picture you see I had two different cards. Well, when I went to buy the paper, YMP only had 7 sheets of each left, so I bought them out! I'm glad I bought the lighter blue because I think they look just as good. The second picture you can see the inside. I had all the cards lined up because I had "Stickled" them and they were drying.

Now for the "ingredients"... I used one of the 50 pack of white card/envelope sets I picked up from JoAnns or Pat Catans. Note: Before stamping envelopes from a pack, make sure they have gum on them for sealing....these didn't and I had to glue them all to close the envelope! :)

Paper: Heidi Grace; black, white, orange cardstock

Punch: Snowflake -Creative Memories; Circle for snowman -Creative Memories; Circle template -Creative Memories

Stamps: Swirl from The Cat's Pajama; "Chillin Holiday" from Cornish Heritage Stamps

Misc.: Clear glitter Stickles; Sharpie marker for eyes & arms; torn white cardstock for the "snow" bottom.

I hope I didn't forget anything...thanks for looking! (Tomorrow.....My Christmas!)

Sympathy card

Here is a pic of the sympathy card I made for Mike's family. I don't want to be inappropriate - I guessed I'm obsessed with taking pics now....

The tree stamp is a SU stamp I picked up off a clearance table at one of the demos I attended. I did a double stamp so to speak, by loading it with ink, stamping the top image, turning the paper and stamping with the remaining ink. I'm sure there is a technical name for it.....sorry, I'm new! I made the "grass" by using green chalk ink and the "water" by using a blue one.

The sympathy stamp is a dollar one from Pat Catan's. I added brads and double sided two-tone ribbon. I used dark blue cardstock.

My Bellas

Here is my first Bella I did for the Bella Babe contest and another challenge. I also posted her for one of the other challenges. (I didn't have time to do more than two cards today) I got her from one of my swaps. It's Billboardabella with white, aqua, and kraft color cardstock. I aded Prima flowers, brads, and a ribbon. I colored her with colored pencils and if you look hard enough, you can see her Stickles glitter on her hair bow, heart on her shirt, and buckle.

She was real fun to do!

Here is my glamorous Bella I did for 2 other challenges. I think it's Winobella. I also got her in a swap. I colored her with markers and applied clear sparkly Stickles to her dress, hair band and shoes! It came out sooo great! I even added Stickles to the green circle "flower" below. I added green shimmering ribbon to add more shine. If you look close enough, I think I added a little toooo much lipstick...oh well, she could have added more lipstick after a few wines - right?

Thanks for looking....back to the basement to work on the Christmas cards.

My First Hanna

Ok gals (and guys?), I've had my Hanna Christmas stamp set for a while now, and being in the Christmas craft show mood, and my last day off work to get things done, I decided to catch up. I had to send some Hanna images to my Stamping Bella friend Patsy. So why not go that extra step and make her a card to go with her new images - right?? Well, here it is (like my napkin backdrop??) LOL!

I used Heidi Grace's Sugar Plum Forest Mono paper I got off the clearance rack at YMP. I used two snowflake brads, Stickles, and a rubber stamp I got some time ago. Take a look at the Hanna set I used at Hanna Stamps.

Well, gotta go back to the basement to work on more stuff for the craft show before the Steeler game - GO STEELERS!!!

Follow-up RAK...

Charmaine was RAK'd Here back in October for being selected to 2 Design teams. I just wanted to follow-up on my post of October 9th to show you what I sent to her.

Congrats again!!

(P.S. She was supposed to have her little boy yesterday....hope you are both happy and healthy!)

Craft Show - Note Card Box w/Cards

Here is another Note Card box with matching cards for the next craft show. I used white cardstock for the box, Paper Reflections paper I picked up at Target, brads, fibers, and matching ribbons. I used my Marvy punches & clear flowers.

Sneak Peek..

Here is a sneak peak for those of you in the "All Through the Year Swap" with Angie and the Bellaholicsanonymous's ending soon. All who signed up - 12 people with one image for their month - you make 12 cards. Then when swapped, we will have a Bella card for every month of the year. I finally finished mine tonight and just had to post a pic as I have been slacking lately in posting - not creating!!! Nervous now...my class is in two days...no wonder why I can't sleep!! Well, I gotta get to bed now for sure. Can't wait to hear from Charmaine and Joyce - both are expecting new ones in the family. Joyce will be a GRANNY!!! Hope all goes well and all are healthy. Thanks for looking - Good night!

Gift Card Totes

Another busy week...finally ME time...

I wanted to share this cool gift idea with all who look here. It's called a Gift Card Tote. You know me...always trying new things....sooo, I found this by doing my daily blog jumping...(the only thing I need to do is get my work lists the same as my home list, then I won't miss anyone).

OK, back to the task at hand....I found this lovely project that Joanne B posted on her blog. I knew I could make these for my craft shows coming up (her's are nicer though)...easy, matching, and a great little gift (although the hardest part I have is the pricing $10/$15 what do you think??)

Here is the one I started at lunch on Thursday, and finished when I came home. It really didn't take very long. The stamps I used on the cards were mostly Studio G, the paper I got from Target on sale for $2.50 a pack, Joann's cardstock and blank black card pack, Fun Fur yarn, Prima flowers, Marvy and Creative Memories punches, brads and ribbon. The cards are blank inside, but do have a block of matching color in order to write something 'cause it's hard to write on black unless you have a white pen!

This is a closeup of one of the cards - I think the best of the pack.

I like this box because it stands on it's own even with 5 cards in it.

Here is the tutorial I found on Leslie Miller's blog "Running with Scissors" Click here (Sorry, I have to figure out how not to list the whole address in my blog - I'm working on it!)

I started another one last night at my LSS after I finialized my box class and finished my samples and misc items. I will post that one when I'm done.

My box class is in the works...I will announce it for anyone living in Pittsburgh and want to come and have a great laugh (at my newbie teaching expense!!)LOL

I had a Venti Latte yesterday from Starbucks before I went to the LSS and needless to say I was up till like 2 a.m.! I think I'm still runnin on all that CAFFEEEEENEE!!!

Maybe I'll work on the other box now. Have a great day tomorrow and thanks for looking! GO STEELERS!!

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #24

Well, here is my first challenge.

I used my new Chefabella stamp - I just love them! I cut cardstock and used a mauve color for the left side and was able to match it up with the Prima flower. I used "Fun Fur" knitting yarn for the fiber.

I think the most challenging is not the sketch itself, but the time to stop during a busy weekend to put it together. I started it on Friday at work during lunch and put the finishing toucheson just now by putting on the Prima flowers and brad.

I had to do this during half-time watching the Steeler's game. It is the 4th quarter as I type and we are tie! (Overtime??)

Thanks for looking... I have to get back to the game!LOL

Lunchtime projects

Bella Bag Tag

I had a Bella all colored, but wanted to do something different with my Chefabella. So I had these bags with me at lunch, I tried them, and my Bella just fit. Pulling the color from the image, I matched the background (two sided paper) with matching pull out card. I stamped the card for the inside with part of a tag stamp from SU Tags so Much. It worked perfect!

Get Well Card

This card I made for a co-worker I found out will be out of the office for a while due to a fall. I had my Bella all done, just needed to put her to paper. I actually had her stamped on bright white cardstock and was too white, so I got my dard brown chalk ink and went over her ever so lightly to take out the real white. It was just right. I also used a bosher and actually knitting (yarn??) my sister bought a whole big skein of at Walmart for $2! This will last me a good while for sure!! I stamped the Bella words to make it complete. I cut the card from cardstock and used my leftovers for the rest.

How about that - see girls, I made BOTH of these at lunch (I had my bellas colored already though). It's not that hard. Maybe I'm too spontaneous - who knows.

Well, it's late again...so I will have to sign off for now...till tomorow! Thanks for looking.