Friday, February 29, 2008

Baby Congrats!


Happy Friday everyone! What a wonderful day, Friday. I especially like it because both my kids are in school, my husband is at work, and I have the day off work. So I get to craft in peace and solitude. I was especially busy crafting today because I had to finish my daughter's birthday thank yous and then I had an order for 2 baby congrats cards. It's funny how things happen sometimes. Wednesday I saw this baby card on the blog site "My Life" (follow link on my sidebar) and knew I wanted to make it. And then when I got home from work that day there was message on my machine from my friend saying that she needed 2 baby cards. How about that?! And I already had all of the supplies except the DP. So after work on Thursday I stopped into Archiver's and found something very close to the one I wanted to case. Easy pleasy! ;) So here it is. I hope you like it as much as my friend did.
Supplies:
DP-Travel Stripe from Cloud 9 Design
CS-SU Choc Chip, bashful blue, and WW
Brads-SU Hodgepodge Hardware
Ribbon-Michael's
SU Watercolor pencils
Ink-SU choc chip
Sentiment- Hero Arts
Image-SU Bundle of Joy
Embossed with CB folder

Monday, February 25, 2008

Birthday Thank Yous


My daughter's 6th birthday is Wednesday (which I have been reminded of for the past month--like I could forget!!) and she has already started receiving presents. So I thought I would actually send out hand made cards to prove to people that I do actually make cards to use and not to just post on my blog! ;) I chose flowers and pink since it will be from my daughter and she likes everything girly. I think this qualifies, don't you?

Hanging Treat Box


Project #2: If you don't subscribe to the Splitcoaststampers' site you really should. I visit it everyday. There are so many crafty people out there and it's fun to see all that is being created. I receive SCS's weekly inklings which are fun projects or techniques that people have come up with. They give you all of the directions, supply lists, and photos so it's simple to re-create them in your home. This project is from one of those inklings. To see the inkling with it's directions for yourself follow the SCS link on my sidebar and go under the technique/project heading and you will find it there. It really was super easy. I think I will fill mine with Easter goodies and leave them on my kid's doorknobs as a surprise on Easter morning.

Post-it Note Covers


I'm back!! :) Well, I enjoyed last night's Oscars. I thought the host did a great job and most of the little skits by the presenters were pretty cute. I did realize something though... You know it's been a long time since you've had a date-night with your husband when the only 3 movies you've seen that were up for Oscars were Ratatouille, Surf's Up, and Enchanted! (kid movies). Oh well, I'll just have to catch all the grown up ones when they come out on DVD.

On to the first project. This is one I cased from a blog I subscribe to called Confessions of a Naptime Stamper. (You can follow the link on my sidebar.) She does some really cute stuff and this one caught my eye so I saved it. And when I was on my marathon shopping trip the other day I found the exact post-it notes that she used in the Target $1.00 spot. Please follow her link to get the exact directions and dimensions. Give it a try, they are really fun!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Nothing Yet--Sorry :(

Still nothing to post yet this weekend. Yesterday I went marathon grocery shopping to 3 different stores and then was busy re-arranging my craft room and putting up some new storage. Today we went to church and then quickly cleaned the house for a visit from my in-laws. I found a smidge of time to be in my craft room this afternoon but I was so tired from fighting this cold and everything else I did this weekend that I didn't feel very creative. I mostly just watched a movie. And now it's time for me to watch all of the Oscar Award hoopla! I look forward to this all month. My husband is in charge of the kids this evening and I am locking myself in my room. I even took tomorrow off of work so I can stay up until the show is over and not worry about being tired in the AM. So I'm sure I will get some crafty stuff done tomorrow-promise! :) Talk to you later, Mary

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Long Time No Post

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything yet this weekend but I am trying to get over a bad cold. :( When I don't feel well my creativity goes right out the window. I will try to get something done this afternoon. Hope to catch ya later! Mary

Sunday, February 17, 2008

Little Birdies


I have noticed lately that birds are very in right now. So when I saw this set at Archiver's yesterday I knew I had to get it. I have to keep up with the "in-crowd" you know! :) Plus it was on sale, so there you go! The legs that are supposed to go with the adult are really long and would have made the image too long for what I wanted. So I used the little bird's legs for the adult and just drew the little bird's legs with my black SU marker. I think they look pretty good! I hope you enjoy it. Mary

Supplies:
CS-SU cool caribbean, pretty in pink, WW
Ink-SU cool caribbean
Markers-Copic viola, maize, green gray
Nestabilities circle dies
Scallop scissors
Ribbon-JoAnn's
SU horizontal slot punch
SU word window punch
Sentiment-Paper Trey
Eyelets-JoAnn's
Clear Stickles
Stamps-Stampendous "Feather Flourish"

Spring Wishes


I fell in love with this DP at Archiver's yesterday. It is so sweet and is perfect for spring-time and Easter. It is from Imaginisce and there are matching flowers, ribbon, rub-ons, etc. So fun!! You need to go check it out.

Supplies:
DP-Imaginisce "For Peeps Sake"
CS-Archiver's (free with coupon!)
Ribbon-Archiver's
Flower rub-on-Imaginisce "Love Bugs"
Sentiment-Hampton Art Stamps "Spring Wishes"
White Galaxy marker
Ink-SU ballet blue

Monogram


This card is cased from Carolyn King--I think (I subscribe to so many blog sites that it's hard for me to keep them straight sometimes.) Anyway, I really like brown and blue together and this velvet ribbon is just scrumptious! To do the monogram I used the Ambassador Monogram set from Paper Trey. It's a great set and the script is classic. I will use this set for years and years.

Supplies:
CS-SU WW, Choc Chip
Brads-Michael's
Ribbon-Archiver's
Ink-SU Choc Chip
Paper piercing

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Congrats!


This is another design cased from this month's edition of Papercrafts magazine. It is full of texture and designs. As you can see, I used my sewing machine for the zig zag stitching. It's just great that you can use a sewing machine right on cardstock without having to do anything special to it. You don't need special attatchments or anything. Just put the thread in and go! So easy for such a great look.

Supplies:
CS-SU mellow moss
DP-"Baby Boy Plaid" My Mind's Eye
Sentiment-Hero Arts
Scallop scissors
Ribbon-Wal Mart
Ink-SU choc chip
Dream embellishment-unknown source (I've had it for years!)

Feel Better


I made this card for a friend of mine who is also my coworker, SU upline, and my paper-crafting hero. Her name is Julie Campbell and you can view her blog if you click on the link in my side-bar "Stamped in His Image". She is also featured in this month's edition of Papercrafts magazine. She had been looking forward to going to CHA for almost a year to meet and work with people from the company she designs for, Cornish Heritage Farms. I can't express to you how excited she was to go. But unfortunately when she arrived she got violently ill with the flu and had to stay in the hotel room by herself the entire time. What a bummer! I feel so bad for her. I know this card won't make her forget the disappointment she feels but maybe it will bring her a smile. There's always next year Julie!

Supplies:
Silver CS- "Cold Steel" The Paper Co.
CS-SU old olive
DP-"Precious Metal" Memory Keepers
Ribbon-Archiver's
Felt flowers-SU
Crystal brad-SU
Hardware-SU Hodgepodge Hardware
Sentiment-Paper Trey
Markers to color the sentiment-SU always artichoke, rose red

Archiver's Freebie


This is the free card I made at Archiver's today. I don't usually shop there but I had a coupon and I couldn't let it go to waste! ;) I think it's a pretty good card for a freebie.

Friday, February 15, 2008

How Fun is This ?!


How fun is this card purse?! Isn't it just the cutest?! I found it along with the diagram in this month's edition of Papercrafts magazine. It's on page 32 and the designer is Layle Koncar. It was actually very easy to make and I can see using this for many things: girl's birthday, Mother's day, traveling page in scrapbook, girlfriend's birthday, etc. So cool!

Supplies:
CS-SU choc chip
DP-Cosmo, from JoAnn's
Ink-SU white craft
Statement-SU Paris in the Spring
Stitching-SU marker choc chip
SU Hodgepodge Hardware

Friends Help You Grow


I love the softness of this card. It's simple and sweet and was very fun to make. The flowers are from SU's Pretties Kit. This kit is great! If you have been thinking about getting it you should...now! There are so many things in and ways that you can use them. They will give your cards that extra special touch. Very fun!

Supplies:
CS-SU mellow moss, barely banana
Ink-SU mellow moss, barely banana, marigold morning, basic black
Stamps-flower=SU Doodle This, statement=SU You Are My Sunshine, swirl=unknown from Archiver's
Flowers and pearls-SU Pretties Kit

Veggiebella


I just can't say enough about Bellas. They're great! So adorable, so fashionable...just plain cute! ;) This is Veggiebella doing some gardening. I wish I looked this cute in overalls!

Supplies:
CS-SU choc chip, cool caribbean, VV
DP-Tres Jolie from My Mind's Eye
Ink-SU close to cocoa & sahara sand, sponged on VV & cool caribbean
-buckaroo blue waterbrushed on overalls and cool caribbean waterbrushed on flowers
Markers-SU, for the rest of the coloring
Ribbon-JoAnn's
Nestabilities circle dies
Scallop scissors
Lg & sm oval punches-SU
Silver brads-SU

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Butterfly Wish


Hi again everyone. Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you all had a wonderful day and that your special Valentine was especially sweet to you today. Mine sure was! ;) Well, another week gone. I tried several times to post something during the week (well, I thought several times about posting something) but I've had a cold and was just too tired to feel creative. But now that the weekend is here I plan on spending some quality time in my craft room.

This is something I whipped up this evening. As I have said before, my favorite color is blue so I really like how this card looks. Plus, I've been wanting to do this embellishment with the oval punches on the edge of the CS with an eyelet through them. I think it's a cute look. I hope you like it. Mary
Supplies:
DP-Unknown source, purchased at Scrapbook corner
CS-SU
Ink-SU bashful blue, almost amethyst, mint melody
Flowers and small butterfly stamps-SU "Border Builders"
Large butterfly-SU "Time Well Spent" (cut out butterfly, adhered body to CS, bent up wings)
Clear Stickles

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Seeds of Kindness


The stamp set used for this card was the very first set I ever purchased from Stampin' Up, about 4 years ago maybe. And this is the unbelievable part...this is the first time I have ever used it! Can you believe that?! I bought it because I thought I would use it to decorate the walls in my guest bathroom, but I never got around to it. So while I was organizing my craft room today I came across it and this layout automatically jumped into my mind. I was trying to get the progression of the life of the flower from left to right on the card. I think it works, don't you?

Supplies:
CS-SU mellow moss, always artichoke, so saffron
Ink-SU mellow moss, barely banana, apricot appeal
Stamp set-SU "Seeds of Kindness"
Ribbon-Wal Mart

You Make Me Happy


Hi there everyone! Sorry it's been a while since my last post but it has been a busy weekend. Between grocery shopping, babysitting for a friend, meeting with our insurance agent, helping my daughter decorate a box to put her Valentine's cards in, helping her make out her Velentine's cards, playing with the kids, and all the other household chores that I do on the weekends...there wasn't much time for creativity. But I did manage to find some time today while my kids were playing on the computer. Yeah!...I've satisfied my creative itch for the day! ;)

This card is very friendly I think. I wanted to try out a technique my friend did which was covering an image with Versamark and then pouring very fine glitter over top. IRL it is soooo sparkely! And it gives the image a nice soft touch too. What do you think?
Supplies:
DP-SU Petals & Paisleys
CS-SU old olive, regal rose, ww
Nestabilities circle dies
Scallop scissors
White Galaxy marker
Ink-combo of copic markers and SU ink with water brush
Versamark
Art glitter
Ribbon-JoAnn's
Punch-SU Horizontal slot
Image-Penny Black "Buzz in the Air"
Sentiment-SU "So Many Sayings"

Friday, February 8, 2008

Card Purse How To

Someone by the name of Becky left a very nice comment about my card purse post from Febuary 3rd and requested the instructions for it. Becky, you didn't leave me your e-mail address so I couldn't contact you directly. So I hope you read this post. :) I got the directions and template for this project from the blog Paper Pleasing Ideas by Julie Buhler. You can follow the link down on the side-bar of my blog to get to her blog. When you get to her blog go to the side-bar on the right-hand side and look under her January 2008 Archive. It will be under her January 25th post. I hope this makes sense and works for you. Good luck! Mary

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

You Cured Yet?


Happy Hump Day! Actually, I hate that term. It always makes me think of something else and it's just such a bad way of putting it. But anyway, it was a good day and I only have one more day of work! WooHoo!
This is a card I made quickly this afternoon for a very good friend. I found out he is in the hospital and will be having surgery soon. I knew this stamp was perfect but I didn't have time to think of a design on my own, so I cheated by looking in the SU catty from last year to get inspired. I ended up pretty much just copying this layout from the example for this stamp. I hope that doesn't loose me any points! :) I think he'll like it and I hope you do too.
Supplies:
Stamp set-SU Farm Fever
CS-SU mellow moss, bashful blue, barely banana, marigold morning
Ink-SU mellow moss, bashful blue, barely banana, marigold morning, pretty in pink, close to cocoa, true thyme
Watercolor brush-SU
Button-SU soft subtles
Ribbon-Michael's
Staples

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Lots'a Flowers and Friends




Happy Tuesday! I hope everyone's week is going well so far. Mine has been status quo. We just keep plugging along. Here are a few cards I made quickly this afternoon before picking up my kids. I pretty much copied them out of SU's new mini catalog. I think this catalog is really great. You can start purchasing items out of it in March and I think you will find that it will be hard to choose which ones to get. I hope you like the cards! Mary
Supplies:

Card #1:
CS-SU old olive, choc chip, bashful blue
Ink-SU white craft
Ribbon-Wal Mart
Flower and crystal brad-SU Pretties kit
Flower stamp-JoAnn's

Card #2:
CS-SU Real Red, choc chip, bashful blue, whisper white
Ribbon-Wal Mart
Ribbon buckle-SU hodgepodge hardware
Ink-SU white craft & basic black
Stamp-SU Time Well Spent
SU markers, and crayons with water color brush
white faux stitching done with paper piercer and white gel pen

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Card Purse


This project took some time but it was fun and I love the results! I think I like it so much because everything matches since I used the same color of CS and coordinating DP. And because I think it's just such a clever idea. I wish I could claim the idea as my own but I got it from Julie Buhler on her site Paper Pleasing Ideas. She is really good! It is a little purse made out of DP with a ribbon handle. And it has 6 little matching cards in it for various occasions. Isn't it just the cutest?!
Supplies:
DP-SU
CS-SU certainly celery, so saffron
Ribbon-Jo-Ann's
Ink-SU mellow moss, always artichoke, apricot appeal
Stamps-SU Riveting set
Punches-SU Circle and slit
Scallop scissors

Candy Tin


Hi there everyone! Are you getting ready to watch the Super Bowl? I will be after I post these projects. We're rooting for the Giants even though we don't think they're going to win. I always cheer for the underdog, it makes things more exciting. Anyway, this project is a Velentine's Day candy tin gift. I got it from Papertrey, 3 for $4.00 I think--not bad. It was super easy and a good way to use up your scraps. Now I just need to buy some V-day candy to put in it and decide who to give it to. ;)
Supplies:
DP-Archiver's-DCWV
CS-SU choc chip, rose red
Flowers-Michael's
Crystal Brad-SU
Ribbon-Archiver's-American Crafts
Stamp-Michael's-Studio G-$1.00 bin!

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Coaster Calendar


Happy Saturday! I hope you are enjoying your day. It has been warming up here and we actually saw the sun! I was beginning to have doubts of it's existance. :0) Anyway, this is a project that I have been wanting to try for a while. It's a coaster that I decorated and attached a calendar to with a magnet on the back so it can be placed on the refrigerator. It was very easy and would make a great gift. The idea came from SCS and you can print off the calendars from a link that is on the tutorial. Give it a try!
Supplies:
DP-SU
CS-SU whisper white, old olive
Ink-old olive
Felt flowers-SU flower fusion
Crystal brad-SU
Ribbon, black brads, & clip-Michael's






Friday, February 1, 2008

Faux Silk


This is another technique from SCS that I've been wanting to try and I love the results! You might not be able to see it well but IRL it looks great. It uses tissue paper and glue to make the paper look like faux silk. I think it could also look like leather if using the right color. Look it up on SCS's website under the technique section. Fun!
Supplies:
CS-SU buckaroo blue, mellow moss, basic black, whisper white
Ink-SU mellow moss
Hodgepodge Hardware-SU
Circle punch and photo corner punch-SU
Scallop scissors
Ribbon-Wal Mart
Sentiment-Papertrey
Tissue paper and Elmer's Glue

Mon Amie


Again, another week gone by. Whoo hooo! Gotta love Fridays! My son's school had a 2 hour delay this morning so that cut into my stamp time a bit but I was still able to get a few cards done. Thank goodness, I was starting to have withdrawls! ;) Anyway, I have been wanting to try this ribbon flower technique for a while now and it was so fun. I learned it on SCS. You can still go there and look it up under the technique section if you want to give it a try. Enjoy!
Supplies:
CS-SU close to cocoa, blush blossom, sage shadow
DP-SU
Nestabilities Circle die
Scallop scissors
Hole punch
Ribbon-Martha Stewart (Michael's)
Crystal brad-Michael's
Oval punch and corner punch-SU
Ink-SU close to cocoa
Sentiment-SU carte postale