What's That Saying About The Best Laid Plans?

I had planned to make about five cards tonight, but that didn't happen. I made ONE card in response to Beate's Be Inspired Challenge #29. The challenge was to use this photo as the inspiration for a card...



...and here's what I was inspired to do. I started with a card base of Kraft CS. I added a layer of Chocolate Chip CS and used the scalloped edge punch along the bottom. The images, from the "Pocket Silhouettes" stamp set, were stamped in Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze and Kiwi Kiss. It doesn't show up in this photo very well, but the Whisper White panel at the top is scored every half inch to duplicate the paneled look of the wall in the inspiration photo. The horizontal slot punch was used so the Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon could be run behind the image on the top panel. Three half-pearls from the 'Pretties Kit' were added to finish the card. Hope you like it! Toodles!

I've Been Inspired!

Today, I received this beautiful card from my brother and sister-in-law, Eric and Alysia. I loved it first because it came from Eric and Alysia, which always excites me. Eric is one of three birth brothers, all of whom I was able to meet for the first time last summer. The second reason I loved this card was because glitter outlines each of the larger butterfly wings. The third reason I loved it so much was because it absolutely screamed "Flight of the Butterfly", which is one of the new stamp sets in the current Stampin' Up! catalog. It was also one of our free sets for attending convention this year and I had only used it a couple of times before today. When I saw this card, though, I was just beside myself with excitement. I couldn't wait to get off work so I could come home and play!! I have NEVER made a card with no layers, which is difficult for me. I RARELY make a card with no bling, either, so adding the Dazzling Diamonds to this one was right up my alley. I'm not going to list each color I used because the list is so long. If you'd like to see the full list, though, you can view the card in my Splitcoast Stampers Gallery. Once you get there, just click on the image to view the details.
This is a perfect example of the versatility of Stampin' Up! products. You don't have to have lots of layers, embellishments, and tools to create a beautiful card. I DO, however, encourage you to buy all those products FROM ME just in case you need them. ;) (Proceeds will, most likely, be used to buy a plane ticket to see my baby brothers and their families.) Hope you like my card and a big THANK YOU to Eric and Alysia for inspiring me!! Love you! Toodles!

The Rest Of Today's Projects

Before I get started, can I just get an "OOH" and an "AHH" because these guys are just so darned cute (when they're sleeping)? This means that they weren't in the middle of my stamp table, trying to take a nap under the warm bulb of the Ott task light. Not sure how I managed to make three cards undetected... they must have been pooped!!








This card is the same as one I made last week, only I made a small change. I couldn't decide if I liked the look of the jumbo eyelets and ribbon on the original card, so I switched it up a little. I'm still not sure which one I like best.








This is the Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge (TECC39) for this week. I started with a card base of Pink Pirouette and added strips of Bella Rose DSP matted on Chocolate Chip CS. The cupcake stamp was colored with Chocolate Chip and Pretty In Pink Stampin' Write Markers and then stamped on Whisper White CS. I punched those out using the 1 3/8" circle punch and matted each one on a Chocolate Chip scalloped circle. I tied three little bows using the Chocolate Chip taffeta ribbon and added them to my card using mini glue dots. The cupcakes have Dazzling Diamonds sprinkles, although you can't tell in this photo. It's much prettier in real life.








This is my favorite card of the day. I used this weeks color challenge (Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss, & Pink Pirouette) and this weeks sketch challenge from Splitcoast Stampers. I used the "Snow Swirled" stamp set and added dazzling diamonds to the larger snowflakes (see next photo). I added a rhinestone brad to the center of each of the Chocolate Chip snowflakes. A piece of Pretty In Pink taffeta ribbon was added to the Kiwi Kiss panel. The Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette panels were embossed with the Cuttlebug snowflakes A2 embossing folder. I really like the way this one turned out! Toodles!

A Onsie And A Tu-Tusie...

I saw this idea for a "onesie turned tu-tu" at a craft show not long ago and knew I wanted to try it (Click on image to enlarge). The very next week Hobby Lobby had tulle on sale for half price so I knew it must be a sign. I sewed three layers of tulle around the waist and only sewed the crotch into it two times. Thank goodness for seam rippers!! After adding all three layers of tulle, which was gathered, I sewed a piece of ribbon around the top layer to give it a more finished look. The little flower on the right side is a piece of wide white grosgrain ribbon that I gathered into a circle. I added a pink flower shaped button to the center of that and sewed it on the onesie. It turned out pretty "onesie tu-tu cutsie", but I'm not sure I'll do another one unless I have requests. Hope your Sunday is just splendiferous! Thanks for stopping by and toodles!

Simple Birthday

Amy came over to stamp today and, once again, I chatted more than I stamped and didn't get ANYTHING done. I decided to go back to the stamp room later tonight and give it another shot. This card is the outcome of that attempt.

This layout is Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge #63. I started with a card base of Certainly Celery. DSP is the retired paper called "Cutie Pie". The cupcake image was colored with Basic Black and Rose Red Stampin' Write Markers and then punched out using the 1 3/8" circle punch. I layered that over a Basic Black scalloped circle punch. Images are from the "Party Hearty" stamp set. In true Beate fashion, I added the photo corners punch in the upper right-hand corner. Her cards are WAY prettier than anything I've done, so you should check her blog out sometime. She's absolutely AMAZING!! Toodles!

Last Of The Weekend Projects

This is the last card I'll share for the weekend. This is another 3" X 6" card with a base of Old Olive. I used Au Chocolat DSP matted on Very Vanilla and Chocolate Chip CS. Ribbon is Old Olive 5/8" grosgrain. The sentiment is from "Hugs & Wishes" and was stamped in Chocolate Chip classic ink on Very Vanilla CS. It was punched out using the new wide oval punch from SU!. I punched another wide oval from Chocolate Chip CS and layered the sentiment over it, offset slightly. This card was so simple that I feel like I cheated!!

When I finished making this card, I stood up from my work table and turned to put some supplies away. I had no idea Smith & Wesson were even in the room, let alone sitting on the second shelf from the ceiling staring at me! Sorry I didn't take the time to correct the color of their eyes... it's getting late and I'm pooped!! Toodles!

I'm Hooked!

I think it's safe to say that I'm hooked on faux embossing! This card was created for Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge. My card base is Pacific Point and was faux embossed with the snowflake image from the "Winter Post" stamp set. I stamped the main image on watercolor paper with Jet Black StazOn and watercolored it with markers in Pretty In Pink and Old Olive and my Pacific Point classic ink. The main image was matted on Kiwi Kiss and Pink Pirouette CS. I thought, for sure, that I had already ordered the "Felt Flurries" from the Winter Mini. After turning my stamp room upside down looking for them, though, I finally decided that I hadn't really ordered them. Then it dawned on me that I had some white felt and an old Sizzix snowflake die. So I said to myself... "Self... since you own the Big Shot, why don't you make your own Felt Flurry?" And that's how this little felt flurry came to be. After I had run my felt through the Big Shot, I used a spray adhesive and covered the snowflake. I then sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds over it and Wah-Lah - A Dazzling Felt Flurry! (Click on images to view larger)

You can really see the shine on the snowflake here. The ribbon is the new Kiwi Kiss/Very Vanilla Satin (to-die-for) ribbon from SU! I added one piece to the Pink Pirouette matte and then folded another small piece into a bow. I used my Crop-A-Dile to punch a hole in the bow so I could add my Ice Rhinestone brad.






Here's a closeup of the main image. I added Dazzling Diamonds with my glue pen to the cuffs of the girl's sweater and to her hat brim and pom-pom. This card measures 6 1/2 X 3 1/4 and will fit in the open ended envies from SU! I hadn't ever made a card this size and I REALLY like it. You should try it the next time you get a chance! Toodles!

Faux Embossing ROCKS!!

For some reason I hadn't gotten around to trying the faux embossing technique. Well... tonight I did and all I can say is "OH... MY... GOSH"!! I am loving this and can't wait to try it with some other stamp sets.

This card was made for today's "Limited Suppy Challenge" at Splitcoast Stampers. The challenge was to use only cardstock and stamps with one piece of ribbon and eyelets as the only embellishments. Oh... and we were supposed to use the color blue on our cards. As much as I love the faux embossing, though, it looks to me like this card needs a little something else. Suggestions and constructive criticism are welcome, so leave a comment if you have any good ideas for me! Maybe the ribbon would look better if I used black. Hhhmmmm.... I almost think the card would look better if I left off the ribbon and eyelets and just went with the simple stamped image. Anyhooty... My card base is Pacific Point. The image is from "Upsy Daisy" and was stamped on Kiwi Kiss CS with Whisper White craft ink. The image was then offset a little and stamped again with Kiwi Kiss classic ink. The Stamp-A-Ma-Jig comes in super-duper handy-dandy for this technique. The stamped image is matted on Basic Black and Whisper White. I used the Crop-A-Dile to set my jumbo eyelets and added the Pacific Point striped grosgrain ribbon. Be sure to let me know what you think! Have a splendiferous weekend! Toodles!

Fall Is Here!

It started raining yesterday afternoon when the temp was about 70 degrees. The temperature started dropping not long after that and by the time I went to bed last night, it was probably in the mid-50's. I left the windows open all night, so I woke up to CRISP fall air this morning. I LOVE THAT!! The only thing better would be to wake up at my parent's place (they live out in the woods) and smell the fall leaves. Some things just aren't the same in the city! The temp in my house when I arrived home from work, this afternoon, was only 60 degrees, and we're expecting a low tonight around 38 degrees. I've got the windows shut and have put my dearly loved sweat pants on and am enjoying a steaming cup of french vanilla cappuccino. I'm thinkin' chili sounds good, too!! Maybe tomorrow night...


Pizza anyone? Jen Del Muro posted this FABULOUS mini pizza box template not too long ago and I've been wanting to try it out. Tonight, I was flipping through my SU! catty and saw a sample similar to this and knew that was how I wanted to decorate my pizza box. I used CS in Basic Black, Whisper White, and Pumpkin Pie. The stamp set was "Tasty Sweet" from the current catty and the ribbon is Old Olive grosgrain. The decoration is actually a belly band and will slip right off the box so the lid can be flipped up to reveal the contents. Isn't it great that SU! offers so many great ideas in the catty? And that our fellow stampers in the stamping community are so willing to share their ideas? I love how this turned out and may have to make several since they're so quick to make. Toodles! (Click on photos to view larger)

A Few Spooky Things

Here are a few things I've been working on lately. I've been trying to come up with some ideas that I can use in my PMS class this weekend. We'll be creating some of these projects. I just haven't decided exactly which ones yet.
I've been seeing these Frankenstein cards on Splitcoast and just loved them. They're so super-duper simple to make and are just adorable. I made a matching bag topper for a small bag of candy corn.


This is the ever-popular nugget box. It holds three Hershey Nuggets, which are all wrapped in DSP. The box has a cover that slides on, which you can barely see on the right side of the photo.



This is a small basket, which also holds a bag of candy corn.


I'm still working on getting this perfected. I got this idea from fellow blogger, Jami, and just HAD to try them. This one turned out super cute, but I want to make several in varying sizes and use them for a centerpiece on the table for Saturday's class.









And this little guy has been seen quite frequently around Splitcoast these days. This little spider is made entirely from punches and has a Peppermint Patty between his front and his back side. He's a real cutie-patootie!!

I need to get to work on some other projects, so I'm going to keep this short. I have several cards I need to get made for upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, expectant families... OOOOHHHHH... have I told you that my brother, Tim, and his wife, Tiffani, are expecting their second child? Peyton, their daughter, was born last September and can expect a little brother or sister next summer. How exciting!! Toodles!

Here's your post, Christy!

Christy has been after me again to post to my blog. I admit that I've not been very faithful in keeping up with it since I moved. I don't know if it's because my blogging surroundings have changed or if I'm just not quite settled in yet. Anyway, I'm going to make a better effort to blog on a regular basis.

Isn't this cute?? Well, you're not getting any deets (details) on it because this is one of the projects we're going to be making during October PMS (Paper-crafters Monthly Support Group) on October 18th. If you haven't reserved your spot, you'd better get your rear in gear... seating is limited and you're gonna LOVE, LOVE these projects. The cost of the class is $10 and that includes products used for the projects as well as detailed instructions you can take home with you for future use. If you have basic supplies and don't mind to tote them to my house, you can bring those. If you have your own scissors, paper cutter & scoring blade, bone folder, adhesive, etc., you don't have to wait on everyone else to finish with mine. If you bring a friend who is a new customer to me, and they place an order of $25 or more, you can both attend the class for $10. Class will begin at 2 PM and will (ideally) end at 5 PM. If you've been to these classes, though, you know that you can leave as early or stay as late as you'd like. E-mail me if you need more details or need directions to my house. Toodles!!