Long Time, No Post!

Hi guys! Sorry I've been away so long with no word. It's been one of those weeks. I am on my way out for the weekend so I am in a big hurry but I wanted to show you a card before you forgot about me. LOL!

Here is one of my entries for the Verve Release Challenges. It uses their new free digi image of Winter Mittens. Love it! I hope they do more digi images in the future. So, here ya go...

I used some of the Polar Expressions collection DP by Imaginisce and the sketch came from the Release Challenge Sketches on the Verve Forum. I love those colors together! I colored those adorable mittens with my Copics and that little loopy border is a Martha Stewart edge punch.

I'll be back Monday with my supply list and lots of new things to show you. I have several challenge cards and even some new tag sets so be sure to peek back in next week. Have a great weekend!

The Very Last Halloween Card

Hi folks! The card I am going to show you will be the last Halloween one for the year. I think. As of today anyway. I guess if I see some image or paper that I can't leave in the store, maybe there will be just one more. However, my plans as of today do not include anymore Halloween cards. Not only did I make about 5 times as many as I need but also, it is getting close enough to October 31st that I don't really have time to get any more listed in my Etsy shop in time to sell and deliver in time for the big day. So, you wanna see the very last Halloween card for 2009?





I have wanted to do something with witches shoes all season so I finally made a card using them. I just love all the funky stockings that usually accompany the classy little shoes on witch feet. Because of this, the sentiment is perfect. I have seen it around...it is not my original material. I wish I was that clever!

I am off for now. I have tons to do before work this weekend. I'll update my supply list later. Go out and enjoy some of this cool weather that has finally set in. Bye for now!

A Little Bit of Both

A few days ago I mentioned that I am trying to get caught up on my family scrap books. Well, I have another page to show you in addition to today's card so I guess my efforts are a success. For today's card, it was supposed to be for Mercy Kerin's Tuesday Sketch Challenge but it was raining heavily on Monday so I could not go outside and take my pictures like I planned and I didn't get it uploaded in time. It is a really cute sketch though. Take a look at my card and my page...



The card uses the new Stampendous set called Costume Kids which is an exclusive for Archiver's stores. I saw it used on a card in the store but they were sold out. I was so disappointed! They had gotten more in though and I nabbed a set for myself. As with all Stampendous sets, this one is easy to color and gives you nice, crisp lined images. As I mentioned before, my sketch is courtesy of Mercy Kerin (MTSC42).

And now for my page...


For my layout, I took a few ideas from my Pages by Design manual. I love that page system! For someone that used to scrap hundreds of pages a year ( and still has 10x that many left to do), I found a little inspiration injected in my work helped me get moving when my mojo was no where to be found. If you are unfamiliar with the system, It was made by Deluxe Designs and includes a full color manual with tons of sketches and actual layouts for ideas as well as a template system that coordinates with the manual. I was lucky enough to order when you got a free manual to give away to a friend so if you are interested in a manual for yourself, please email me. I have an extra copy that I am going to list on Ebay soon. Here are a few close-up shots:



That last photo is a close up of one of the page embellishments I made. I wanted to draw attention to it because I tried something new and I like how it turned out. I traced an old pot holder die cut as a pattern onto a scrap of my matching CS. The original had a quilted pattern printed on it that I liked and I wanted to mimic that look. I scored lines in the paper about every 1/2 inch, in both directions. After that, I turned the paper over and with an embossing stylus, "colored in" a square that was just inside the borders of the embossed squares made by the score lines. Then, I turned the paper over again and drew a little faux stitching with my white pen. Voy-Ola! I have a quilted pot holder die cut!

I guess that is enough info for one day. I will leave you with my supply list for both projects and a fond wish of Good Nite!

(card) Papers- Neenah Classic Crest Natural White 80lb; Imaginisce Hallowhimsy (Wicked Whimsy); misc CS. Stamps- Stampendous Costume Kids. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Coluzzle Ovals; Marvy circ punches. Embellishments- DMC #6139 emb cotton; Walmart ribbon (5/8in black w/ orange polka dots grosgrain; mini naturals buttons by Favorite Findings. Pens- Copic (V09, YR23, W00, W1, W3, W5, WW7, Y26, Y28, RV11, C7, E00, 110); SU (Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Old Olive); Derwent Watercolor pencil in Chinese White. Sketch- MTSC42.

(page)Papers- DP=Around the Block- Recipes; Misc CS by Colorbok, DCWV. Tools- Cricut Doodlecharms cartridge; SU word window punch; EK dotted wave edge punch; embossing stylus; Marvy circle punch; Pages by Design manual- Deluxe Designs; Sizzix Payground alpha dies. Embellishments- Favorite Findings buttons (potholder). Pens- Sakura white jelly roll pen. Font- CAC One Seventy 14pt (journaling).

Day One of Getting Caught Up

Hi guys! I have something to show you today but it isn't a card. I have decided that my back log of family scrap book pages really shouldn't get any larger so I have set a personal goal of doing 3 pages a week in addition to my card projects. I worked on one last night and it felt good to tackle "the pile." I promise I will still have lots of new cards but there will probably be a page or 2 thrown in for good measure for a while. Don't we all have a few memories that have been waiting to be put on paper since we started this compulsive card making? LOL!

Before I show you the picture of my layout, I must ask that you ignore the date on the page. I cut my numbers for the date box, glued them down, snapped my pictures, and promptly noticed that I am soooo used to writing 2009 on everything that I totally ignored the fact that these photos took place in 2006! It has since been fixed. ;)








It has been so long since I finished a page. It felt good to actually scrap versus making a card. Using family photos and making a single creation is very different from making something that will ultimately be for others. I realized how I have been letting so much of my stuff sit because I don't use it for card making. It felt good and I think I may have just started a roll!

So, ya wanna know what I used? I'll start with my page arrangement. I used 2 of my colorblocking layout templates made by De-Luxe Designs. I love those things! You get a nice looking page no matter which one you use and they make scrapping so easy. I have several and they have been gathering dust along with a few Sizzix alphabet dies. This page used Baby Says Yeah. I don't use a lot of cut lettering on cards since so many stamps are accompanied by cute sentiments. My papers are a little older...from the Deja Views Flurries & Frost collection. When I print or develop photos, I assemble kits for myself. I try to choose papers and embellishments for the photos right then. Next, I jot down some journaling and put it all in a large ziploc. Needless to say, since I told you the real date for these photos, this kit has been sitting a while.

I think that's it for now. I'll be back soon with a new card. I have some stamps that have been sitting around unloved and never inked. I figure it's about time I made something with them! Have a great day and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Papers- Deja Views Flurries & Frost Collection (Frost Tonal, Snowflake Stripe, Frosty Notes, Fresh Pine) ; Paper Co Burgundy CS. Tools- Martha Stewart snowflake punches; Sizzix Baby Says Yeah Alpha; Deluxe Designs Color Blocking Templates #19-B & 12-B. Embellishments- MM glitter glaze; Hero Arts chipboard snowflake; Michael's 5/8in lt blue dotted grosgrain ribbon.

Cupcakes, Candy, Laughter, and Fun!

Hi folks! It'll be a quick post tonight. I have dinner in the oven but I wanted to show you a card I made today. It is a sample for a customer on Etsy. She wants invitations for her twin girls' bday party. I am waiting to hear from her and see if this is what she had in mind. Wish me luck! Take a look and see whatcha think...




She specified an invitation card with cupcakes, candy, and lots of pink and brown along with the "lighter colors of Christmas" which gave me a little pause. The first paper that came to mind was one from the DCWV Sweet Stack but I didn't have nearly enough in my little 8x8 pad so I arrived at the newer Doodlebug collection next. I think it works. If she doesn't like this version, I will probably change the wording a little and list it in my Etsy shop as a girly little birthday card.

Well, I'm off. I hear the oven timer. I'll have to come back later to finish my supply list. Shoot me a message if there is something you see that you want to know more about. Have a great night!

Spooky Little Puppies

Hi everyone! Hope the weekend was fabu for you and yours. We had a busy one. Our grass needed cutting and we worked on cleaning up the basement too. Since all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, we took the kids to a movie and to McD's for hot fudge sundaes. We saw the latest Ice Age sequel at the local $1.99 theater and LOVED it. Those movies are so darn creative and way too cute. If you have kids, check 'em out. Enough of my yammering, how about a card?

I used another adorable digi image from All That Scraps. Tomorrow night is their latest release and I am wayyyyyy excited. Their stuff is right up my alley. I bet that is no secret to anyone who visits my blog regularly. LOL! Have a look!


I think that puppy is too cha-cha for words. I may never get tired of those darn CC Designs and Sugarplums. I have had so much fun with these images! They are great to color and they are just so cute. So anyway, got a little carried away there, huh? ;) About today's card... I used an older Karen Foster printed paper to accent my little puppy. The sketch is courtesy of Amy Rysavy that she posted on 9-18-09 (AMYRS7). The outer sentiment is stamped but I printed the inner sentiment on my computer. I colored little Fido with my Copics. One of these days I will get my other coloring stuff back out again, I swear! LOL!

I am signing off. I have to drive downtown and pick up a prescription. What a pain! I hope your day is productive and all around fabulous. See ya later!

Papers- Karen Foster Spooky Circles; misc CS. Stamps- ATS halloween puppy digi image; OCL Pat the Dawg House. Inks- memento tuxedo black. Tools- EK (1 1/4 & 1 3/8in) circle punches; cuttlebug 3x3 halloween die; quickutz polka dots emb folder. Embellishments- misc buttons (favorite findings & MM); MM colored staples; DMC # 6170 white emb cotton; Michael's 3/8in black grosgrain ribbon. Pens- copic C7, YR09, YR68, E39, E33, E35, Font- Berlin Sans FB 20pt. Sketch- AMYRS7 posted on 9-18-09.

Give Thanks

Hi guys! But I have some pretty cool news in addition to my card so I hope it will make up for the fact that I am posting a promised card a day later than I mentioned. How about the news first and card next?

Well, my news is that one of my cards won a challenge contest and I won a free stamp set! The "bone-jour" card from a few weeks ago was my entry for the September Sketch Challenge on the Our Craft Lounge message board. Yay! I am so excited! They also contacted me and asked to use another card of mine as a basis for their October sketch challenge. I am just thrilled!

Now for my card...
I stamped it a while ago but just haven't gotten to showing you yet. My image is a lovely Lockhart stamp. What a great image! Even though it is extremely detailed, it is a very forgiving image to color. I used a combo of Copics, Zig, and Bic pens to color. While Copics are my obvious favs, I have lots of luck with the new Bic fine point permanent markers. The colors are gorgeous and the tips are really nice.

My card arrangement came from Sweet Sketch #12. Fantastic sketch! It works really well for your typical rectangular images and it made it very easy to incorporate a border punch strip too. For the inside of the card, I left it without further sentiment but it is decorated with a stamp and some of my scraps. Simple but I'll show you anyway.


With no inner sentiment, this card would be great for a simple fall greeting card. An all purpose hello is always nice, huh? I try to always make cards that I would like to get myself. This one passed my little test!:)

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I'm off to finish up some housework. Have a great day!

Papers- Deja Views Sharon Ann Home for the Harvest green tonal leaf; Harvest Medley; CC Designs Copic Quality CS Ivory. Stamps- Lockhart Stamp Co. Basket #5007; sentiment is from Fiskars Turkey Lurkey clear stamps. Inks- graphite brilliance; Tim Holtz distress tea dye, fired brick, & scattered straw. Tools- MS cornice edge punch; EK circle punches; corner rounder; 1/2in circ paper shaper punch. Embellishments- MM Autumn spice brads; ribbon fx 3/8in silk ribbon. Pens- Zig (velvet crush, olive branch, chocolate, antique burgundy, evergreen); Bic (desert rose, honey brown, plumtastic purple, adobe orange, harest orange, moonstone yellow, woodsy brown); Copic (YG03, E33, YG63, YR09, R37).

Lunch Box Love Notes Revisited

Hello everyone! I know it is late in the day for me to post but I promised to show you another new project of mine. I hope you like them!

I have mentioned my lunch notes here before but I have a new series of 12 that I have been dying to share with you. For quite some time, I have tossed ideas around for a holiday themed set of notes. I never seem to get caught up on a stash of the first 4 series of notes so making a new collection just hasn't happened. Well, I finally made it a priority and they turned out really cute. Have a look see and I will tell you a little more about them.


I tried to choose images that would be appropriate throughout the various seasons since children don't take lunches anywhere on the actual holidays. I also skipped the summer holidays and occasions for similar reasons...no school lunches in the summer!

I listed this series in my Etsy shop as soon as they were finished and photographed and so far, they have been quite popular. I never cease to be amazed that something that started as a treat for my kids and a way for me to practice with my new Copics would be so popular. I love the feedback I get from moms like me that say their kids love the notes in their lunches as much as my children do. :)

This set uses a variety of images from several sets. If there is an image or color combo you have a question about, please ask because otherwise, I will just leave it at "misc sets and supplies."

Have a great weekend! If you get a minute poke in and see my new fall card that I finished. It uses a Lockhart fall basket image that was a ton of fun to color. See ya later!

A Little Something Different for a Change

Hi guys! I have something a little different to show you today. I have been playing with a few new projects and they aren't cards. I still love cards, of course, but I wanted to play with something else for a change. I used to make more tags and such for my Etsy shop than I made cards but since blogging, I have focused mainly on stamped greeting cards. So, you wanna see?

Here ya go!
And here are a few close-ups...

I used my Cricut, supplemented with a few punches, to cut most of the components of the tags. I was striving for a very stylized, simple but cute look and I think I found it. I forgot how much fun my Cricut cartridges are too! I just don't use it as much as I could when I am not scrapbooking or making tags. Other than the cost of consumables (blades & pads), I can't think of a downside to this machine. The cartridges are pricey but you get a lot of bang for your buck with all those images per cartridge.

I'm off for now but please stop by again tomorrow. I have another non-card project to show you and the day after that, a new fall card that I really love. I was very happy with my results. I used a Lockhart stamp and it is to die for! Your fingers will itch to color it just like mine did when I saw it in the store. Have a great day!

Papers- misc card stocks (textured are all Bazill). Inks- Tim Holtz tea dye distress sponged on acorn. Tools- Cricut Doodlecharms and All Mixed Up cartridges; Paper Shapers mini spiral punch; EK 1/2in & 1in circle punch; Cropadile; Sizzix Playground Sizzlits alphabet. Embellishments- misc colors of Making Memories 1/8in eyelets; misc 1/4in organdy ribbon. Font- (happy fall y'all tag) 18pt CAC One Seventy.