Bug or Windshield?

We all have to remember that sometimes you're the bug and sometimes you're the windshield. We all have those days where we get to be the smushed bug having the worst day ever and others it may be our turn to do the smushing. Right? Well, this philosophy is behind today's card. I think I have used the stamp set by Clear Dollar Stamps called Sometimes You're the Bug and its companion set called Bugs and Kisses. It is favorite of mine for several reasons. How about we take a look and I will explain.

And the inside of the card...
I have loved this set from the first time I saw it on the CDS site. I saved my pennies and bought it as soon as I could. The set that goes along with it is even more fun. It provides so many additional options like more license plates and even a string of cans to use for a" just married" theme. And as you may know, for me to like a set, it has to be fun to color. It passes that test too!

I was recently lucky enough to have a customer find my Etsy shop and order several of my "bug" cards so I decided to replenish my supply with the design above. The sentiment and image seem to make a popular combo and I have sold lots of these cards. Who wouldn't like to get such a cute card in the mail?

I want to draw your attention to a component of the card other than just the image. Notice that adorable button? Well, it is a bit of a folly for me considering its cost but I LOVED it. I splurged and bought 4 of them so I could use it on a few copies of the same card design. That button was $.75 which doesn't seem like a lot but when you consider the cost of all the materials used on an A2 card, a button that is so pricey really drives up the overhead for my shop. Oh well! It works beautifully and it matched so perfectly. I got it at JoAnn's by the way. They have a whole series of clear/painted buttons that have that artsy, handmade look.

I think that will do it for me today. I still have a few things to tackle so I bid you farewell and wish you a terrific day. Do something fun!

Papers- Paper Studio cool small flowers. Stamps- CDS Bugs & Kisses and Sometimes You're the Bug. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black; SU gable green classic. Tools- SB ribbon tag trio die & long classic scalloped rectangle-lg. Embellishments- purple ribbon (Michael's); 1/8in white satin ribbon (Offray); La Mode buttons. Pens- Copic (110, C3, C5, C7, YG23, YG25, B0000, RV29, spica silver); Zig (pure black).

Hey Love Muffin!

Hi guys! Can you believe it is almost February?????? This first month of the year just flew by and I have a feeling it isn't going to slow down. In just a couple months, it will be time for spring sports and then school to get out and we will fly through summer. Before we know it, it will be time to make Christmas cards again! So, before we post those Christmas creations, how about another Valentine?

This one uses a new Hero Arts cupcake image and a new EK border punch. I think to use this stamp next time, I will stamp it on the color of choice for the top of the cupcake and go from there. I don't care for the marker lines left when coloring large areas. It was even using a couple Copics! I do need to re-ink it though.

I have to run. Just ask if you want to know about my supplies!

Hugs and Hisses

Hi guys! I have the cutest thing to show you. Today's card includes a digital image that I just came across last night while surfing the web and I immediately bought it (and a few others) to use today. I think they are all simply adorable. Let's see what you think!

And the inside...

I never dreamed I would be saying, "Aren't those snakes cute?" but here I am, doing just that. They are called Snakes Alive and are available as a digital image at Hambo Stamps. I have used Hambo stuff before and have been very pleased. They email you the digital order within 12 hours of payment so you have it to play with right away. The sentiment was something I thought of myself and printed on my computer. I think it works well here if I do say so myself. ;)

My printer is out of ink so it looks like I will be old school stamping until I can run up to Office Depot for another cartridge. That's ok though because I have plenty of toys on my desk. I think I will do just that tonight. My Grey's Anatomy will be on soon and I am going to get my jammies on in a minute. My supply list is below. Y'all have a fantastic night!

Papers- Pink Paislee Cupd Collection Bullseye; Bazzill Parakeet CS; Paper Co Choc Truffle CS. Stamps- Heidi Grace clear borders; Hambo Stamps Snakes Alive dig image. Inks- Memento Rich Cocoa. Tools- SU scalloped circle punch; EK (1 3/8 & 1 1/2 in) circle punches; Fiskars apron lace edge punch. Embellishments- Favorite Findings heart buttons; DMC # 3871 pearl cotton. Pens- Prisma (dk olive green); Copic (YG95, YG63, E79, E44, B0000, R27); Zig (chocolate). Sketch- Mojo Monday #121. Font- Cheri 24pt.

Love You Tons

Hi guys! I hope your weekend was a good one. Since ours started off with a snow day, ours kept to a leisurely pace which I loved. Today, it is back to the grind and my normal hustle & bustle. I want to show you my card and then I am off to errands and cleaning.

Today's card is a valentine. I didn't add a message with the actual words, "Happy Valentine's Day" but I will offer it as an option when I list it in my shop. I have found that most of the cards I carry for Valentine's Day will sell later in the year if they don't have any mention of the holiday. Offering the sentiment during February seems to suffice. So, you want to see it? I am quite happy with my results. ;)

And here is a shot from an angle to better showcase the layers...

Here are the deets: My sketch is straight from a lovely card by Kim Teasdale, which you can see here. The adorable little mouse image is from Heather Ellis. Several of her images are available at MFT but this particular one is available in Heather's shop on Etsy, right here. I am just loving her work lately. I have used several in the last few weeks. The papers are Bo Bunny and are from the new collection called Love Bandit. I just love them all! You will be seeing them again. The sentiment is a Studio G image from the dollar bin at my Michael's. And one last thing I want to mention before I run...notice the dots around my image...on the brown scalloped circle panel? Well, those were made with my new white Sakura Gel Glaze pen. Oh my gosh! If you want a really good, opaque, white pen, go buy this one. I got mine at Archiver's but they have them in JoAnn's too. I don't know if it really shows well enough in my photo but the dots are slightly raised and very shiny IRL. This is the best white ink I have ever used. Seriously! I have struggled with numerous white pens that either quit writing or just don't show up very well on dark paper. Well, the search is over! I have a new stand-by white ink.

Well folks, I am off. I mentioned all the major points for my supplies above so I am going to skip a formal list for today. If you have further questions, you know the drill...just ask. Have a wonderful day and happy crafting!

Love Owls

Good Morning! How about a Valentine's day card? I assume you aren't here for the recipes and discussion of current world events, right? I hope not! Today's card uses another one of those motifs that I wasn't particularly fond of but they grew on me. I am talking about OWLS!

Everywhere you look in the scramping world, there are owls. Owls in trees, owls at birthday parties, owls doing just about everything. Well, they have not been my favorite images but this little twosome was really cute to me so I used them. Now, this card gave me fits. I must have come back to this project 4 different times. I could not make this card work just right. I tried several different arrangements and must have changed my card stock accents 10 times. I finally made it work so that it pleased me enough to finish it and sell it/give it/hoard it. I hope it is well received on the Big Day next month.

On one of those many stamping days I had over Winter Break, I was lucky enough to team up with my #1 buddy and spend a day playing crafty games...the adult version of a playdate. LOL! She was kind enough to let me borrow a new punch that she will be selling for SU in the coming months. It isn't even available for purchase yet (as far as I know.) It is called the Scallop Trim Border Edge Punch and will be available in the Occasions Mini catalog. I hope I have that right! Check with your own demo if you need details. I am not an SU demo myself...I only play one on TV. HaHa!

I will list the rest of my supplies below. This card will be listed in my Etsy shop by the end of the week if you are interested in owning it for yourself. Have a wonderful Wednesday!

Papers- Fancy Pants Vintage Valentine "Will You?" DP. Stamps- Hero Arts Heart Owls. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- SU Scallop Trim Border Punch; piercer & mat. Embellishments- Favorite Findings mini nature buttons; MM stitches (tan & deep plum); Pebbles "I Love You" rub-ons; paper studio metal heart clipss; Inkssentials Glossy Accents. Pens- Copics R39, RV95, R02, YG95, G99, YG91.

After Christmas Thank You Notes

Howdy! I have a question for you. Have you written your thank you notes yet? Do you even write thank you notes? Do your kids (if you have them)? Do you get thank you notes for gifts you send? Just for the record...I DO send thank you notes and I make my children do so too. I worry that it is becoming a lost art though. I just don't get very many thank you notes these days. I am not talking about the informal gift exchanges that take place among friends and you thank them in person. I am talking about the situatiuons that require an actual acknowledgement of a gift...those times when the giver is not present for a gift to be opened.Oh well, all these questions bring me to my card for the day. Since I do send thank you notes, especially after the holidays, I usually make a few styles and sell what I don't use personally. You wanna see one? Take a look...

Here's a detail shot so you can get a better look at the embellishments:

And finally, the inside of my card...

I had a lot of fun with this card. I tried layering my snowflakes kinda like the Spellbinder Create-A-Flake dies and I like how it looks. I have since ordered the snowflake dies and they are fabulous. I think they would even make nice tree ornaments.

My image is a digi image from All That Scraps called Winter Bear. I ordered it last year and couldn't wait to use it again this year. The teddy bear reminds me of a monkey. He has the cutest face! My sketch is from Sketch Saturday #65 posted originally on 8-26-09. My outer sentiment is stamped. I know I have been printing my sentiments a lot lately but this one is done the old fashioned way. However, I did finish the inside of the card with a printed message. I feel like printing my own in a font/color of my choice often makes the card though.

If you have any questions about this card or others, I will always answer emails about my work. The supply list is below and should fill in the gaps for you though. Have a great day!

Papers- Kaiser Fun in the Sun Frisbee; misc CS by DCWV. Stamps- ATS winter bear digistamp; Hero Arts Small Greetings. Inks- SU real red classic. Tools- MS lattice edge punch; EK 6 petal flower punches; QK Rev snowflakes & flourishes dies; EK circle punches; MS snowflake punch; CB snowflake die (2x2); Marvy mini snowflake punch. Embellishments- MM stitches (ocean); Fav Findings buttons. Pens- Copics R85, RV29, YR68, Y17, B16, B000, E44. Sketch- Sketch Saturday #65. Font- Abadi MT Condensed 16pt.

Happy New Year!

Hello everyone! I hope your new year is off to a fabulous start! I also hope that your holidays, whatever you may choose to celebrate at your house, were filled with love and fun. Here at our house, we very much enjoyed having Daddy home from work for 17 days in a row. My kids will be back in school tomorrow but my hubby had to be back at the grindstone today. I felt so bad last night as he scurried around getting his lunch made and his work bag packed. I wanted him home today too! I got to play at my scrap desk A LOT while he watched the endless football games on TV over the last couple weeks. I will certainly miss our lazy winter vacation days. ;)

So, how about a card? I have a few to show you this week since I got so much stamping time in while on vacation. Today's card is a slightly new direction for me. Despite the image's wild popularity lately, I don't typically care for them. What are "they" you ask? Robots! Take a look...

And the inside of my card...


I decided that since Valentine cards were about to be in demand in my Etsy shop, I better get started on a stash to sell. This card works well as a Valentine or just a lovey-dovey greeting for the rest of the year. The image is a digi stamp from My Favorite Things. I mentioned that I don't usually care for robots. I just don't if we are being totally honest. However, these little sweethearts caught my eye as did their "buddy" over at MFT. I have one more robot image that I bought so I will use him soon too. I just think they are so cute! I couldn't wait to put them in a card so I started this one as soon as the Christmas stuff all over my desk was put away. I am pretty happy with my results.

You may recognize my sketch from Splitcoast Stampers. It is #SC260 from a week or so ago. I actually got to play along while it was posted for the week! I still haven't added this one to my gallery yet though. I am way behind on that front. One goal at a time, right? LOL! I printed my sentiment in a font called LCD20pt. I decided it was a perfect look for the little robots. The background paper was just right too. I have seen it many times at my LSS but when it showed up in the clearance bin, I grabbed it to use here. I tried my hand at making a gear shape with freehand cutting and the attempt was just horrible so the light blue shape behind the image was made by punching a 2 inch circle and then using a standard hole punch to remove little half circles all the way around. I would have loved to own an inverted scallop Spellbinder die but no such luck! For a little texture, I added some Glossy Accents to the buttons and "lights" on my couple. IRL, it gives those spots a little contrast but the photo doesn't show it very well.

Well then...I think I better get back to my stay at home vacationers. Why is it that kids home from school must eat 12 times in 8 hours but they can make it all day at school with only lunch and a snack? If you figure that one out, please tell me the answer. Until then, I am off to feed the younguns. My supply list is below. Have a wonderful day and stay warm. Happy, Happy New Year to you and yours!


Papers- TPC STudio Blips & Beeps Gear Grid; Colorbok Pearlescent CS. Stamps- MFT Robot2 digistamp. Tools- 1/4in hole punch; BB Swiss Dots & Frills Border templates; SU word window & photo corner punches; EK and Marvy circle punches. Embellishments- Favorite Findings buttons; DMC rayon floss (S5200); Hero Arts smooth clear gemstones; Inkssentials Glossy Accents. Pens- Copics C1, C3, C5, C7, R27, R39, R22, G21, B14, 0. Font- LCD 20pt. Sketch- SC260.

Please note: I decided a new look was in order for the new year and my upcoming blog-iversary. Please let me know what you think of the change. I would love to get a little feedback on the colors and their readability. Please be honest. Your opinion matters to me! :) -KRS

One Last Christmas Card Post

Hi guys! I really wanted to post everyday (since last Saturday) with my last Christmas cards of the season. Best laid plans and all that. There was just too much to do! However, I have decided that I will just go ahead and include them all in tonight's post. How's that? Well, let's get started!

Number #1...

This is one that I tried and wasn't thrilled with my results. I decided that I was seeing a lot of the pastel holiday prints and even though they aren't usually my idea of a typical Christmas card, I wanted to give one a go. Well, my daughter LOVED this card but I still feel the same way I did before...Christmas cards are red & green! I adore the image used here. It is from the Pure Innocence collection by Heather Ellis and I found it on Etsy. You may have seen some of her lovely work here, at My Favorite Things also. I think this image would work well on a winter card too if you left off the mistletoe at the top. For the sentiment tag, I used my Spellbinder Tag Trio to cut it and printed the wording on my computer. The paper is from Hobby Lobby and my sketch is from the SFYTT on 12-5-09, courtesy of the uber-talented Jen Del Muro. How about another card?

My second card...

This is another Heather Ellis image which I also found on Etsy. It is called Purr Button. I would link to this image for you but Heather is on vacation (or her Etsy shop is) and the items are not currently listed. This little kitty isn't available at My Favorite Things so I can't even lead you there for it. Sorry! You can look it up after January 3rd if you are interested in owning it for yourself. The paper here came from Hobby Lobby, once again. For inexpensive background papers, they just can't be beat. The sketch I used is from the October Verve Release Challenges (VSOCT09C).
And my last card for tonight...

This one really isn't a Christmas card but it is finished and I won't be back for a few days so I wanted to go ahead and show it to you. I made sure to chose colors that weren't predominantly red and green. For some reason, yellow stars on the little fir trees would make it Christmas-y but the silver tones them down and makes it an appropriate winter card. To me anyway! The image is from WhimsieDoodles. I have used some of their images before, on this card here.
They are of superior quality and I love to color them.

Well, I think that will do it for me tonight. I finally got my holiday cards posted here for you. Yay! Not a day too soon. I'll be back "next year" with lots of new projects to share with you. I want to wish everyone a very merry Christmas and a fabulous New Year's. I hope each and everyone of you is surrounded by those you love and that you get to experience the many gifts of the season. I would also like to thank you for visiting my little corner of the web here and giving me a place to share my passion for all things papercrafting. I appreciate your support over the last several months as I figure out this part of my hobby. Warm holiday wishes from me to you!

Merry Kissmas: Papers- Paper Studio Trendy Christmas Mix. Stamps- Pure Innocence Merry Kissmas digi image. Tools- CB divine swirls emb folder; Coluzzle circles; Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio; SU word window punch. Embellishments- 3/8in white grosgrain ribbon; Dress It Up Mini Primary Confetti Buttons. Pens- Copics (B21, B0000, Y02, Y21, RV10, YG11, E00, YR02); Zig (black, pure red, fawn); SU (Green Galore, Pixie Pink). Font- Cheri 16pt. Sketch- based loosely on SFYTT 12-5-09.

Merry Christmas Kitty: Papers- Paper Studio Retro Presents; HL CS. Stamps- Pure Innocence Purr Button digi image; Hero Arts Winter Wishes. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- CB emb folder divine swirls; EK dotted mini scallop edger punch. Pens- Copics G07, G28, R29, RV10, C1, C3, C5, B0000, B000, blender (0). Sketch- Verve/VSOCT09C.

Snowfriend Like You: Papers- Fancy Pants Frosted Striped Scarf & Colored Winter DP; HL CS. Stamps- WhimsieDoodles Snowfriend digi image. Tools- Marvy oval punch. Embellishments- Walmart buttons; DMC#6052 pearl cotton; Michael's ribbon. Pens- Copics (YG63, E44, B0000, R59, RV19, YR02, B37, B34); Sakura silver gelly roll pen.

Making Spirits Bright

Hi folks! I am in a huge hurry today. Today is my second to the last day of work and it will be a humdinger so I am going in early to get my ducks in a row. Just wanted to show you a quick card though. We are almost out of time to show Christmas cards so I wanted to fit it in. Here ya go...

It uses a digi image from All That Scraps, obviously a fav of mine. My papers are Imaginisce. I touched up the berries on the wreath with a little red stickles and the trim is a Martha Stewart edge punch. I printed the sentiment on my computer (cheri 12pt). The inside is balnk for now but I will add some embellishment using my scraps before I give it to anyone.

Can you forgive if I duck out of here quickly? I'll be back this weekend though. I want to finish up my holiday cards that you haven't seen yet. Have a great weekend!

Digi Vases and Web Greetings

Hola, mi amigos! How goes it? We are rockin and rollin here at my house. I have a long to-do list to finish and am slowly making some headway. I was supposed to work today but I switched days because today was crazy enough without leaving the house to work for someone else. Know what I mean? So tomorrow when I would have been hanging out at home getting things done and grocery shopping, etc, I will actually be donning my work clothes.

This busy-ness brings me to today's card. Last night I noticed it sitting in my stacker and thought about how long it had been finished, just waiting to post here and how it was a symbol of my life lately. When I made it originally, I was hurrying to finish it for some challenge or another. I vaguely remember that I missed the deadline. The image I used is a digi image...another computer dependent project in a hobby that could be 100% from my own hands if I let it. I also remember that the ribbon on it was a scrap so I ended up running back to JoAnn's to get more so I could make duplicates. And so on...I am never finished!

My husband asked me last night if I ever feel "caught up." Um...NO! Do you? In the new year, maybe I need to think about making that happen. This world is just spinning too fast for me! This week I got a very long email/holiday newsletter from a friend. It would have been several pages if I had printed it out. We are too busy to catch up on a regular basis during the year but then there is so much stuff to tell me because it is Christmas that it takes a multi page newsletter? Maybe we are all just too darn busy. Hmmm...

So, I went the long way but how about a card....

The inside of this card has a small stamped panel that says, "many thanks" trimmed in scraps of cardstock used on the front. The image is from Cocoa Studio and it was a freebie when I found it. Check them out though because they have tons of adorable images to buy and download for free. This one colored like a dream and printed so very nice on my little old printer. I got nice, crisp image with no tweaking.

This card shaped up around the image that I colored first. I rarely color before choosing papers. Isn't it funny how we have a process and stick to it over and over again? I am very much a routine kinda girl. Sometimes that "routine" takes a left into Rutville though. :D

I better finish up here. My supply list is below and this card will be listed on Etsy sometime soon. Have a great week and try to slow down and remember the real reason for all this rushing around in the month of December. I will try to do the same!

Papers- DCWV cardstocks from my stash. Stamps- digi image of flower vase from Cocoa Studio; Hero Arts petite messages (inside.) Inks- Graphite Brilliance. Tools- Fiskars lace border punch; EK yellow corner rounder; Sizzix emb folder (lg spring flwrs). Embellishments- Bo Bunny ribbon; red primas (reinked with Copic RV19); misc buttons. Pens- Copics RV19, YG03, Y21, YG17, BG18.

Baby It's Cold Outside

Brrrrr! My little "Hotlanta" finally got chilly enough to seem like almost Christmas! It is so darn cold this morning! In honor of the dropping temps, I picked a card that is all about the cold. Without further ado...

And the inside of the card which is without sentiment but decorated just the same...

I'll tell ya...this color combo has grown on me this season. When I first saw the new papers in Bo Bunny and Imaginisce, I kinda cringed. I thought, "BROWN? Everywhere? On Christmas papers?" Now it just seems to come together on my projects and I have found myself even accenting the brown components of the prints too.

The focal image is easily recognizable (if you spend any time on the My Favorite Things site) as a Who's That Girl image. I have to admit another thing. When I began blogging, and reading other blogs especially, I saw "the girls" using images I had never seen before. I had been a strictly Stampin Up/Archiver's/Hobby Lobby girl until then. I have to say a "headless chick" didn't really appeal. Well, one image in particular grew on me the most so when they released several WTG sets as digi stamps, I had to order the one used above. I have not been disappointed. Printing the image for use lets me resize as I wish and print with less effort than pulling out my stamps, blocks, cleaner, etc. I'm not finished having inky fingers! Not by any stretch but digi images can simplify the process when you are strapped for time. Might that be you? Heaven knows that I am the original "strapped for time" girl!

So anyway, about the card up for discussion! I went with a square card this time. I love square cards! My snowflakes are from QuicKutz Revolution dies. And ya wanna know where I got that delightful shade of blue-green paper to match my DP? I colored it with Copics of course! No paper I had set off the lovely Bo Bunny print paper so I made my own. Beware though, if you try this technique yourself, I used quite a bit of ink. Don't attempt if you don't own the reinker for your color of choice. It used several cc's of ink. Another point of interest to mention is that I made her little boots shiny to look like rubber galoshes. If you enlarge the photo, it may show up better.

As I mentioned yesterday, I am off to work in a bit so I will go ahead and give you my supply list. Have a wonderful weekend! Please stop by again tommorow since I have another new card just waiting to show you. Stay warm!

Papers- Stampin Up Chocolate Chip CS; Bo Bunny Tis the Season Snow Flake DP. Stamps- MFT Baby It's Cold Outside digi stamp; Stampendous Snowy Short Stacks (sentiment). Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Marvy snowflake punch (2 sizes); EK (1 & 1 1/8in) circle punches; QK snowflake and flourishes dies (Revolutions). Embellishments- Paper Studio clear gemstones (3mm & 2mm); Inkssentials Glossy Accents. Pens- Copic (BG72, E21, B0000, R27); Zig (pure orange, chocolate).

You're Gettin Muffin for Christmas

Hi guys! Hope your Thanksgiving was great. Ours was terrific. My hubby and I made a delicious meal together and we had a nice day at home as a family. The day after was very relaxing too. It was just so nice to stop the life merry-go-round for a day. I really wanted to stop in here but I just didn't make it. Oops! I am back today with a new card though. I hope you like it because I sure do!

And here is a detail shot taken at an angle so you can see a little bit more of the embellishments...

I absolutely LOVE this image and sentiment! They are both digi images from WhimsieDoodle Designs. Too cute! They were a dream to color. I bought several sets of images from them and have been happy with every file. Remember that cute little turkey last week? Well, that was from WhimsieDoodle too.

I used a little Doodlebug Sugar Coating on the tree topper star. I wanted a little sparkle and I like how that turned out. The "ornaments" on the tree are glass seed beads. I wanted something tiny that I could include several without overfilling the tree space. They were a little hard to glue down just right but I like the end result a lot.

I think that the card is pretty easy to figure out past the few things I mentioned. If you have any further questions, please ask and I will do my best to fill you in. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Papers- burgundy CS by Paper Co; Green CS by DCWV. Stamps- WhimsieDoodles Designs Muffin for Christmas digi. Tools- Fiskars apron lace edge punch; QK polka dots emb folder. Embellishments- American Crafts ribbon (Christmas/Winter #1 2008); Favorite Findings buttons; Doodlebug Sugar Coating Bumblebee. Pens- R29, R39, G07, G28, Y17, E31, G20.

Hark the Herald, Angels Sing

Hi guys! Quick post today. I am on my way out to a closing on my mortgage refi. Don't want to be late to that! I have a little cutie to show you though. Let's start with a photo. Shall we?

Isn't she cute? And here the inside of the card...

That adorable little angel is an All That Scraps digi image. Her name is Emma. You may remember her from several of my other cards since I absolutely LOVE those little CC Designs images. She is part of a set for the holidays that includes 2 other angels in addition to her. They hold a harp or a trumpet depending on which one you choose. Cute, huh? My sketch is from Mojo Monday #111.

I felt like that image was precious on its own so I kept it simple but I do want to mention the greenery around the sentiment (which I printed myself...not stamped). That is one of my favorite Martha Stewart punches. One great feature about it, besides how lovely it looks on a project, is that it is quite flexible and it can be bent to accommodate your project. The fronds are so thin that they bend and adjust to go where you need them. I love using it! It is perfect for the holidays obviously but it also works surprisingly well with flowers and other greenery throughout the year. I got mine at Walmart but you can find it pretty much anywhere the Martha lines are carried.

I'll update later with a materials list but for now, I gotta run. Have a great afternoon and don't forget to get your turkey out of the freezer!

You Are Such a Deer!

Hello! Hope everyone had a fabu weekend. Mine was busy. I was wrong about work yesterday though. I thought it would be slow because of the weather but oh my gosh! Shoppers were out in force. I sold piles of crystal. My boss will be thrilled. That meant no time for stamping though so it is a good thing I have a cute card waiting in the wings. I promised a reindeer card and that is what we've got for today. Take a look!

And here is a shot more from the side so you can see the details of the embellishments a little better...

This card uses a sketch from a while back on Splitcoast. I made notes next to it that said "Cindy Lawrence DTGD" so I think that means that it was from the "Dare to Get Dirty" Challenge at some point. Either way, I love the sketch and have used it several times. I love the way the print paper sets off the focal point image. My DP is an older print by Debbie Mumm. It is one of those basic Christmas papers that works well with so many things and fills in nicely when you don't want the paper to overwhelm the card itself.

The stitching at the top comes with a funny story. The last time I used this sketch, for this card here, I used the same Cuttlebug embossing folder and stitched the top of the card as well. (Hey, don't fix it if it ain't broke! ;) ) I decided to do the same stitch and started the work. Well, when I turned the card over, I loved the pattern my back stitching had made even better! So long, zig zag and hello crisscross! Now, when I use my swiss dots folder, I will probably have to include stitching too. I just love it!

My little reindeer is a combo created with the Stampendous Snowy Short Stacks. I think I have mentioned this very versatile set before but in case you missed it, it has several mix and match images that combine for unlimited winter characters. You can make a reindeer in a Santa suit or a snowman in an elf suit. The list goes on. It is a clear polymer set so positioning is a breeze. Such a fun set!

I think this does it for me. The hub is home for the holiday week so we are off to do some errands and maybe have a childless lunch alone. I can't wait! Have a great Monday!

Papers- BoBunny Maple Sugar Vanilla Fine Weave; Debbie Mumm Gingerbread Pattern by Creative Imaginations; Bazzill Pomegranate Splash. Stamps- Stampendous Snowy Stacks; Hero Arts Winter Wishes. Inks- Graphite Brilliance. Tools- Coluzzle; EK circle punches (1 1/4, 1 1/8, 1in); CB swiss dots folder; EK mini holly paper shaper. Embellishments- DMC#822 pearl cotton; fav findings tiny country buttons. Pens- Copics (R37, G24, E44, E42, R81); Prisma Color cream. Sketch- Cindy Lawrence DTGD.

Warm Holiday Hellos

Hi guys! I have another card to show you today. It is a Christmas card. I have probably made way too many Christmas cards to use or sell this year. I think that means I have way too many stamps and materials too. Oh well, wanna see?

I apologize for the color of this photo. I snapped it too late in the day and it looks a bit washed out. In real life, the reds and greens are crisp and gorgeous. The black print is a Jenni Bowlin vintage print. For some reason, when I saw it in the store, I knew I wanted to pair it with a nice bold red & green combo. The stamp image caught my eye too. Those penguins are too cute. I know I will be using this image for years to come. They are really fun to color too.

I am off to work for the day. It is back to the time of year that Waterford Crystal needs a little help on the floor. I love what I do but there is nothing like a chilly, cloudy day spent in my stamp room with a cup of hot cider and a few inky fingers. Y'all have a great day!

Papers- Jenni Bowlin Vintage Black Star Dot; misc CS by DCWV and HL. Stamps- Stampendous Penguin Games. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Fiskars Apron Lace Edge Punch. Embellishments- Favorite Findings buttons; DMC #822 pearl cotton. Pens- Copic (G24, R37, YR68, C7, B0000) Sakura gelly roll metallic black. Font- Segoe Print 16pt.

My, How Time Flies!

Howdy Folks! I know it has been way too long since I have said hello. I kept meaning to poke in here but days turned into weeks and then it seemed too daunting to try and catch up with the projects sitting on my desk, waiting to be shown. But, here I am, with a new card to show you and my deepest apologies for flitting off without so much as a "be right back!"

Since the big Turkey Day is right around the corner, I decided to break my blogging silence with a cute little Thanksgiving card. I got the image from a relatively new shop called WhimsieDoodles. I know I saw it mentioned on a blog I was reading recently but I can't remember which one. What I do know for sure though is that they have adorable products. Their images are just too cute! I bought several which I will be showing you soon. Today's is called "Get Stuffed" and I bet you will love it as much as I do. Take a look...

Isn't he precious? I just love turkey images that have lots of cute feathers to color and he has 'em! I was very happy to see that the images I downloaded from them are very crisp and clear making them easy to work with and color. I printed this one on plain old Georgia Pacific white cardstock and he looks great when colored with my Copics. I used a few Zigs and Bics too but there was no bleeding.

My paper choices were a couple of "oldie but goodies" so I was happy to clear them out of my eternal stash. I kept my embellishments relatively simple because there was already a lot going on with all those colors. The inside of the card is blank for now but I think I will add a little decoration with my scraps and the cute little pie slice image that is included in the set of digi-images.

Well, I hope you like the card. I promise to do better and not stay MIA for so long. I have lots of holiday cards that I have been working on since we visited last so poke back again soon. Have a great weekend!

Papers- Lucy Rigg #LLS57; Paper Studio Harvest Green Plaid; CS: brown from HL and red from DCWV. Stamps- Whimsie Doodles Get Stuffed digi image set. Tools- EK dotted scallop edge punch. Embellishments- American Crafts ribbon (Haute Cosmo #1); SU linen thread; Doodlebug fall buttons. Pens- Zig (rose, chocolate); Copic (R35, R37, YG95, E34, YR23); Bic (Harvest Orange, Honey Brown, Moonstone Yellow).

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).

Another Challenge with a Few New Stamps

Howdy, y'all! I have a cute (in my opinion!) new challenge card to show you and I used a new stamp set to make it. I am so excited about this new set. I think it is very versatile and it is tons of fun to color. More about it in a minute though. I have to tell you that today's card is also my offering for the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #81. I love their stamps but I haven't gotten the opportunity to order any just yet so I used what I have to play along with them this week. How about a picture first and then a few details? Here ya go!

It is a little card...4 1/4 inches square. This is that fun little size that makes it possible to use standard A2 envelopes which saves on extra postage. It makes such a fun little greeting! My sketch, as I mentioned above, came from Taylored Expressions. Now, about my stamp set! It is a newer set from Clear Dollar Stamps and it is called Everyday Jar-gon. It includes tons of adorable images that can be used together. I promise you will be seeing me use it again. There is a jar with several lid options as well as various "fillings" that go in the jar like gumballs, cookies, and even a gold fish! The sentiments included are perfect for the images and I have to say that I just love the font they are written in. They can be used with several stamps that I already own too. Yay! I used Copics to color my image and I even tried one of those yummy new colors. The top of the jar, above the water, is colored with the new pale blue Copic, B0000. It is fantastic for coloring glass. It gives just enough shading to mimic a glass item. I have played around with reflections and shadowing and it is great for that too.

I also want to mention that I used the Spellbinder Blossom die to cut the blue flower shape under the green Prima flower. I have had it for months and have not used it yet. How crazy is that? I am very happy with that shape. It looks great nested with other sizes or used with plain circles. It is really versatile. The stamped image panel was cut with the new Spellbinder's Labels #8 die set. I have been saving my pennies so I could order the Stampin Up Bigz Top Note die but I am pretty glad I waited now. This set includes 6 sizes of basically the same shape as a top note which makes it much better for matting images.

One last thing I want to point out is the ribbon I used. Pretty, huh? Well, it was free! A few weeks ago, it was a free gift from Archiver's during a big Make & Take weekend. They offered a free ribbon sampler made by American Crafts exclusively for Archiver's. It came with 40 feet of ribbon and they are all delicious. My only complaint is that you only got 4 ft of each ribbon. Now, I am hooked but can't buy any more just yet, if ever. I just hope that these ribbons will be sold at some point in the future. Four feet each is just a tiny taste!

I think I have jabbered enough today. Lots of details in this post! Anything I didn't mention is listed below. If I have forgotten something, drop me a note and I will be glad to tell you about it. Have a great Sunday and enjoy the rest of your holiday weekend. Buh-bye!

Papers- October Afternoon Fruit Stand; SU ultrasmooth vanilla CS (thanks to my CS swap buddy!). Stamps- CDS Everyday Jar-gon. Inks- Memento Tuxedo Black. Tools- Spellbinders blossom & labels #8 dies; corner rounder. Embellishments- Prima daisy flwr; favorite findings buttons; DMC #746 emb cotton; American Crafts ribbon. Pens- SU (taken with teal, old olive, always artichoke) Copic (YG95, BG72, BG18, B21, B32, B0000, 0, spica lemon); Marvy blender. Sketch- TESC81.

Sending Happy Thoughts

Hello folks! Happy Friday! I have a really cute card to show you but it will be a super quick post. I have to hurry off to the rest of my day so let's jump right in. Shall we? Today's card uses a Cosmo Cricket paper that I have loved since the minute I saw it. I love the whole collection as a matter of fact! Take a look!

I am so ready to start playing with darker fall colors again. I loved all the cute summer images but the richness of the autumn palette is my perennial favorite. The image is another great digi image. I found this freebie at Cocoa Studio. There were several images that coordinated with it as well. It is perfect for coloring. And on the subject of coloring...this collection of Cosmo Cricket is very easy to match to the Copic line. There are several exact matches and shading was a breeze. That always makes for an easier project!

I think the card is pretty self explanatory so I am off like a prom dress. Oops! Can I say that here? That is getting a little racey for my little G rated card blog huh? Can you forgive me? ;) Anywho, my supplies are listed below if you are wondering about anything. Have a great weekend!

Papers- Cosmo Cricket Farmers Market and Apron Strings (both from Early Bird series). Stamps- Cocoa Studio free digi image. Inks- Tim Holtz Shabby Shutters distress. tools- EK circle punches; Nestie scalloped circle die; Marvy scal circ punch; EK sm 5 petal flower (inside decoration). Embellishments- 7/8in persimmon grosgrain ribbon from Michael's $1 bin. Pens- Atyou sand spica; Copic (R27, YG63, YG03, BG75) Bic Tranquil teal. Font- Tempus Sans ITC 16pt.

More Back to School Fun

Hello friends! I have a little something new to show you today. I made another back to school card and I used one of the adorable new C.C. Designs digi-images available from All That Scraps. They have introduced an adorable little girl named Kiki La Rue and she is wayyyy too cute. There are 3 different styles of Kiki images and today's is Shy Kiki. Have a look-see...

And the inside of the card...

I played around just a bit with the image after printing and added a stamped apple from another set to make her more "schoolish." I absolutely love her little skirt and her chacha braids. Isn't she precious? I came up with several ideas for this image so you will be seeing her here again real soon. The sentiment is printed on my computer.

I thought this would be a great card for a sweet little girl starting back to school this fall. I had my little princess in mind but she is already back to school so I will listing this card in my Etsy shop very soon.

Well, our week is more than half over. A weekend is just around the corner. Yay! Everyone have a great end of the week. Thanks for stopping by!


Papers- Doodlebug elementary doodles and primary kaleidoscope. Stamps- SU Basket Full of Fun; ATS shy kiki digi image. Inks- Graphite Brilliance. Tools- EK circle punches. Embellishments- Favorite Findings buttons; DMC #6135 emb cotton. pens- Copic (R29, Y38, G09, E00, E02, E31, Y28) Zig (pure blue). Font- kids 16pt.