One of my First Papertrey Ink Cards

I now have four Papertrey sets and this is the first chance that I have had to use one of them. Believe is such a great set! I haven't even used it to it's potential! This is the first and rather simple one. The base is shimmery white cardstock, which cannot be seen well in the photo. I can't wait to get my fingers inky with this one a bit more.

This is a super easy design! I simply stamped the tree in Versamark on the shimmery white base and embossed it in silver. The sentiment in the lower right hand corner was also stamped in Versamark and embossed in silver as was the dove on a separate scrap of SW CS. The tree leaves, berries and trunk were colored in with markers. (Don't worry, if you get some of the ink on the embossed areas the paper will wick it away from the embossing in a few minutes.) The tree will take time to dry because the shimmery white CS is a coated paper. It will smear! Trust me! I added dazzling diamonds to all of the berries using a glue pen, then for my finishing touch I cut out the dove and used a zot dot to adhere it to the tree. :)

Supplies
Stamps: Believe (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Real Red, Glorius Green, Versamark, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Shimmery White
Accessories: Silver EP

A Late Start on Christmas Cards

I love doing Christmas cards! I design more styles than I would ever send. I normally would have started working around Halloween, but Liam is taking precedence over everything lately. ;)

This is the one that I have decided on, although I feel like it needs something else. I am mass producing all of the pieces right, so if I want to change anything I still have time. I picked up the shimmery cardstock from Archivers in a charcoal, gold glimmer and ruby colors.

Supplies
Stamps: Holy Triptych (SU)
Ink: More Mustard, Blush Blossom, Red Copic, Versamark
Paper: White CS, Shimmery White, Shimmery (Ruby, White, Charcoal), Basic Gray
Accessories: Gold EP, Ticket Punch, Stickles, Snowflake Punch, Ribbon

It has been too long!!

With the jobs of motherhood and teaching this is the first opportunity since school started for me to hop onto my blog. I have created only a few cards since my last post. I am hoping to get into my stride with school and my beautiful baby, so I can continue creating cards for the ones I love.

I am going to be teaching a papercrafting class beginning tomorrow afternoon to a group of 19 8th graders. Yes, I know...I am a music teacher. They wanted to spice things up a bit for the 8th graders with classes like quilting, claymation, traveling the world and music composition using new music software. This is my first year teaching an 8th grade arts class, so the other music teacher had some great plans to engage those kids. I am up for something different. Biggest issues...planning and cost. You know what I mean!!

Hope to post some of the things that we are creating along with my own creations!

Baby Boy

I received this adorable stamp set from my friend and SU demo Barb as a baby shower gift. The bear is sooo cute. I had big plans for this bear. I was going to cover him in Fun Flock but did not have the adhesive recom
I also used a couple Studio G stamps, which are the $1 acylics found at Michael's. I have decided to refrain from purchasing anymore $1 stamps as I have not been doing a very decent job of using them in my designs. I want to a "stamper" not a "stamp collector". Not that there is anything wrong with it if someone else were to choose to do it. Just not for me. ;) Hopefully, I will start using them more. :)
Supplies
Stamps: Bundle of Joy (SU), "baby" & "boy" (Studio G)
Ink: Black, Charcoal, Close to Cocoa
Paper: Patterned Paper (Deja Views), White, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Blue Grosgrain Ribbon, Cuttlebug, Sakura Stardust Clear Pen

Jayden's 1st Birthday

Ok, I am almost embarrassed posting this one, but it is my first truly whimsical creation with little animals, balloons and things of that nature. (Believe it or not I don't post everything that I make.) This was made for my husband's cousin's son's 1st birthday.
It seems pretty random to me but, again, it is a first, so I will learn from my mistakes. ;) However, I do like the stamps I used from Fiskar's party set (the "1" candle and the balloon).


Supplies
Stamps: Wild About You (SU), Island (Michael's $1), Party (Fiskar's)
Ink: Wild Wasabi, River Rock, Basic Brown, Close to Cocoa, Charcoal
Paper: Textured (DCWV), White, "Happy Birthday" (DCWV)
Accessories: Sakura Stardust Gel Pens (Blue, Red, Gold), Small Googly Eyes

Blue Bloom

Love, love, love this patterned paper by Reminisce! Coupled with my Fresh Bloom stamp I couldn't lose with this one. No one else my like it...I'm ok with that. ;) Can you believe with my 4 month old being fussy all day that I actually did this AND (yes, "AND") grabbed a sledge hammer and smashed up some masonry around our wood stove? No kiddin'!

Supplies
Stamps: Fresh Bloom (Stampendous), Warm Word
Ink: Versamark, Blue Bayou
Paper: Patterned Paper (Reminesce), Blue Bayou
Accessories: Stitched Grosgrain, Tarnished Gold EP, Prima Flower, Pearl, Cuttlebug Textile

Tasty Treats

I had to have this yummy stamp from Stampendous and have had the main image stamped and colored for quite awhile and finally finished it off last night. The card measures about 4.25" square. (I used a scrap for the base, so whatever size it was I focused the card around.) The shape reminds me of the stack of chipboard coasters that I have setting on my cutting table awaiting assembly. (Thanks, Barb!) Since I totally stink at using scalloped scissors I incorporated an idea that I picked up from a fellow stamper's blog. (Sorry...can't remember where I picked up this tip.) I used my mega square scallop punch for the mat of the Tier of Treats. At the time, I didn't have the giga scallop punch, which would have been a lot better. I was cutting it close with the mega.

Supplies
Stamps: Tier of Treats (Stampendous), Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU)
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black
Paper: Patterned Paper (Su), Close to Cocoa, Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Sakura Stardust Pens, Mega Scallop Square Punch, Cuttlebug Scallop Circles, Polka Dot Grosgrain, Corner Rounder

Illuminating Hope

I love the elegance of the script in this set. It reminds me of script in early Christian writings and such like the Book of Kells. Before I left on vacation, I picked up a package of 6X6 Basic Grey Infuse patterned papers, which I used as a background on this card. Layered to the "Basic Grey" paper is SU's new "Basic Gray" cardstock with white grosgrain that I dyed by running the ribbon across my Basic Gray stamp pad. I think that I will be using A LOT of this elegant Basic Gray color in future projects.

Supplies
Stamps: Illuminations (SU)
Ink: Basic Gray
Paper: Basic Gray, Infuse (Basic Grey), Blush Blossom, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Pearl Brad (K& Company), White Grosgrain, Red Stardust Pen

Our 5th Anniversary

It is hard to believe that we have been married for five years along with all of the changes that we have made in our lives in addition to our marriage. New home, new baby, new job...We are constantly in denial that we are adults with all of the responsibilities of life. We seems to be balancing it fairly well at this point. We hope that we are continually blessed as you have been so far.

We arrived home from our vacation in VA on Saturday night and our anniversary was on the 10th, so I didn't get a chance to make DH a quickie card until Sunday afternoon. The vacation was a blast even though we had to rearrange our plans due to the heat that we experienced there. (It got up to 103 F!) It was WAY too hot for Liam - and us for that matter - to be out at Williamsburg so we made a detour to the Air and Space Center of Virginia where DH played in a flight simulator and we watched the new Harry Potter movie in 3-D at the IMAX theater. Very cool! Our trip consisted of other historical and natural stops: Appomattox Court House, Historic Jamestown, Virginia Beach (super quick as Liam did not like the ocean waves), Shenandoah National Park, Michie Tavern and a visit with my mom's cousin and her husband.

Ok, onto the the stamping...I had a sinfully large stamp order waiting for me when we stopped at Mitch's brother's house on our way home. (Thank goodness for stamp recycling or our pocketbook would be quite pinched!) I spent all Sunday cutting rubbah. Ah, how relaxing. This card was made using my new Illuminations set as well as Rhonna Farrer flourishes.

Wedding Cards

I have so much to catch up on!! A couple of fun cards that I recently created and a splendiferious Stampin Up catalog review to do. :)

I needed to create a card for my friend Katie's upcoming wedding on 07-07-07. I always want to making something special for each person, so I thought I would use Katie's wedding colors at my inspiration for her card. Ironically, these are also colors from a recent color challenge at Splitcoaststampers.

Groovy Flower
Stamps: Flower (Rhonna Farrer), Whirly Gigs (TAC), Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU)
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Basic Brown, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Old Olive, Whisper White, Confetti Cream
Accessories: Pearl Brad, Cuttlebug Wavy Frames

Ok, really liked that one, but as I was looking for wedding and reception details in Katie's invitation I feel in love with the color scheme and the shimmery green cardstock. So, I chopped up her wedding invite for parts (lol) and created this card, which was the one that I finally decided to give her.

Dream Wedding
Supplies
Stamps: Natural Beauty (SU)
Ink: Versamark
Paper: Shimmery Green, Going Gray, Whisper White
Accessories: Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Flower punch, Flower Brads, Silver Embossing Powder, Scallop Circle Punches, Ticket Punch, Cuttlebug Dry Emboss Stylized Flowers, Stardust Gel Pen Clear

Beautious Blooms

I love the Full Bloom stamp from Stampendous! I an sure that I have will several more cards posted using this stamp. I really think this is one of my favorite cards that I have made so far. Could be the stamp, but I like the feeling of the entire piece. It was DH's idea to distress the blooms. (I always ask his opinion when I am thinking about what to do next. He says that I never take his advice when I ask for it. I did this time!)

The bloom stamp was stamped onto scrap white CS, colored with coral and celery and accented with the clear stardust pen. The blooms were cut out and distressed with basic brown. The vanilla panel was was stamped with flourishes, select flourishes were colored with turquoise and accented with clear stardust pen and the edges distressed with basic brown. The celery card base, polka dot grosgrain and tag were also distressed with basic brown. All pieces were layered together as pictured.

Supplies
Stamps: Full Bloom (Stampendous), Flourishes (Rhonna Farrer), Fancy Flexible Phrases (Su)
Ink: Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, Chestnut Roan (Chalk Ink), Basic Brown, Temping Turquoise
Paper: Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla, Scrap White, Vanilla Tag
Accessories: Stardust Gel Clear, Copper Brad (Making Memories), Chocolate Polka Dot Grosgrain

Carte Postale Color Challenge

I decided to play with a new color combo today while Liam was sleeping. :) Ruby Red, Elegant Eggplant and Certainly Celery...how fun!

The stamp for the edges (Deco Deisgns - TAC) was colored with celery, black and ruby red and stamped on the vanilla card base. The flowers were watercolored in with eggplant and outlined with a gold gel pen. The eggplant circle was dotted with the gold gel pen, then embossed with a Cuttlebug folder. The celery circle was stamped with leaves from the Carte Postale set, inked edges with celery and dotted with the gold gel pen. The ruby circle was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder and edges inked in ruby red. The center image was stamped on vanilla CS watercolored with celery, ruby red and eggplant, then outlined in gold gel pen. The image cut out using a circle punch. Leaves were stamped on a scrap of vanilla, watercolored in celery and cut out. All circles were layered together. Sentiment (Butterfly Kisses - Papertrey) was stamped in black. The edges of the card base were inked in eggplant.

Supplies
Stamps: Carte Postale (SU), Deco Design (TAC), Butterfly Kisses (Papertrey)
Ink: Ruby Red, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery, Colorbox Chalk Charcoal, Basic Black
Paper: Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Elegant Eggplant, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Stardust Gold Gel Pen, Cutterbug Embossing Folder Textile

TAC Deco Bird

After my month lag, I am back and making small strides to create amidst all of the feeding, burping and diaper changing going on at the Sweeney residence in the second month of little Liam's life with his mommy and daddy. My creations are being made during nap time in between laundry, dishes and vacuuming -- ok, I cheat on the vacuuming...my MIL got us a Roomba. AWESOME!!!!

I purchased the Deco Designs set from The Angel Company several months back. This is the first time I have gotten it out since I cut it. Sad. I am in love with it! It has so much potential with a nice classic look.

A cameo coral circle was punched with the giga scallop circle punch. A certainly celery circle was punched with the mega scallop circle punch. The cameo coral circle was stamped in black with the leaf stamp. The celery circle was dotted with a Sakura Stardust Clear gel pen. The shimmery white paper was cut by the Fiskars circle cutter, stamped in black with the bird image - flowers colored with cameo coral and the edges were sponged in cameo coral. The three circle layers were adhered to each other.

The white card was stamped with the floral stamp near the edge of the card. The flowers were colored in with cameo coral with an adhesive rhinestone in the center of each flower. On a separate scrap I stamped the floral stamp again, colored the flower in coral and cut them out. One flower was attached to the shimmery white circle and one to the grosgrain ribbon using popdots.

The layered circles were attached to the card, then the ribbon. "Happiness" was stamped in black to finish off the card.

Supplies
Stamps: Deco Designs (The Angel Company), "Happiness" (Stampin Up)
Ink: Cameo Coral, Black
Paper: White, Shimmery White, Certainly Celery, Cameo Coral
Supplies: Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Hero Arts Rhinestones, Sponges, Scallop Punches, Fiskars Circle Cutter

Spongerfly

I stopped in at Archiver's with my SIL yesterday and picked up one of their beautiful card samples. I was trying to figure out how they achieved such a soft coloring that resembled chalk. I found out that they sponged ink into the image using daubers on a shimmery white paper. This is my first attempt at that type of sponging technique. I actually used the tiny sponge daubers that are for chalks rather than the large fingertip daubers. I also picked up the Essential Glue Pad and stamped the Swirly Gigs (TAC) with it and sprinkled it with Dazzling Diamonds.
Additional pic .


Supplies
Stamps: Ruffled Butterfly (Stampendous), Whirly Gigs (TAC)
Ink: Regal Rose, Cameo Coral, So Saffron, Stazon Black
Paper: Regal Rose, Shimmery White, So Saffron
Accessories: Polka Dot Gingham, Dazzling Diamonds, Essential Glue Pad

Mother's Day Creations

I can't believe that I had time to create Mother's Day cards for my mom and my MIL since this will be my first Mother's Day. Little Liam (arrived on 4/3/07) has been keeping mommy very busy lately. I never thought that I would be able to get any stamping done. Luckily, I was able to slip away while he took a nice, long nap over the weekend. :)

I have fallen in love with a few gorgeous Stampendous stamps. I purchased poppies, fresh bloom, ruffled bloom and ruffled butterfly. (Thank goodness for my eBay sales or I would be spending WAY too much money...recycling is a good thing!) I also purchased the Paper Salon Tailored Tin Mother's Day set at Archiver's, which has TONS of cute floral stamps along with greetings and a vase.



Poppies

The ruby red card base was stamped with the Fresh Bloom (Stampendous) stamp and parts of the flower colored in with a gold Stardust gel pen, then a piece of gold cardstock dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Divine Swirls folder and adhered to the ruby red card base. The poppies stamp was stamped on a white panel, colored with watercolor crayons, highlighted with the gold gel pen, sponged the edges with regal rose ink, stamped "my mom" (SU) in black and attached black ric rac.



Stylized Flowers

A celery panel was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug stylized flowers embossing folder, then all of the flowers traced with a glue pen and covered with dazzling diamonds glitter. Using the Paper Salon Mother's Day stamp set, I stamped "Happy Mother's Day" and a flower on the scalloped oval. The flower was colored with Cameo Coral and So Saffron markers. The scalloped oval edges were sponged in celery and dotted with a silver Stardust gel pen. A floral background was stamped on white CS in Cameo Coral, then the vase stamp was stamped in black onto the background and cut out. A small flower was stamped in cameo coral and a yellow brad placed in the center and attached to a glittered flower. The vase was adhered below the flower on the stem. Black gingham ribbon was wrapped at the top of the celery panel. The celery panel was attached to the vanilla card base and the edges of both were sponged in celery ink.

Lovin' This $1 Stamp - Preggo Card for a Friend

This was a different sketch for me, which I found to be a challenge because I made quite a mess of this card as I was creating it. Once I was finished all of the individuals elements for this card I realized that I wanted to mat the embossed background to a piece of celery cardstock. I had already cut and punched the notches for the original dimensions, so I had to then keep wacking it down until everything fit correctly again. (Card base, mat, embossed BG, etc.)

I LOVE using Primas but had noticed after putting a brad through the large pink flower that it looked...well...a bit odd, so I pulled out a strip of stitched flowers that I had picked up a long time ago at the local fabric store. It's nice to have pieces tucked away when you need them. ;) I simply cut of of the flowers off of the ribbon and centered it with the brad to the original flower.

I hope my friend enjoys this card as much as I enjoyed making it for her.

Supplies
Stamps: Michael's $1 Maternity Stamp, SU Fancy Flexible Phrases
Ink: Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Black
Paper: Glossy White, Whisper White, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery
Accessories: Apricot Grosgrain, Silver Brad, Prima Flower, Stitched flower, Circle Punch
SCS Challenges: Color Challenge 104, Sketch Challenge 115

Ok...Last One for Tonight...I Promise!

Do you ever just try something and it comes together just as you had imagined? For me, I would say "not very often". For some reason this card did! Woohoo! I LOVE the colors and simplicity of the sketch.

The background reminds of antique embossed ceiling tiles gilded in gold. I used the Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder, Versamark and gold Perfect Pearls to create the effect. The background glossy white paper was first sponged with three inks (celery, rose and saffron), dry embossed with the texture plate, dabbed with Versamark then dusted with the gold Perfect Pearls. The background was then layered onto the rose card base.

The focal point was colored on the stamp with light rose (outlined with a deeper rose shade) and celery. The sentiment was stamped on top of the flower stems in black. The edges of the vanilla cardstock were sponged in the light rose color, matted with celery and embellished with the apricot grosgrain and gem. Love it!

Supplies
Stamps: SU Happy Harmony
Ink: Certainly Celery, So Saffron, Regal Rose, Rose Red, Black, Versamark
Paper: Glossy White, Regal Rose, Certainly Celery, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Gem (Hero Arts), Apricot Grosgrain, Cuttlebug Textile, Gold Perfect Pearls

Cool Color Combination

While trying to choose a SCS color challenge I ended up making my own. Thank goodness that I can be creative on my own. ;) I used Cool Caribbean, So Saffron and white. The real inspiration for the colors came from the patterned paper that I used as the secondary layer.

I am going to head off to try another challenge! Either that or take a nap. lol.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU Happy Harmony
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Basic Black
Paper: Cool Caribbean, White, DCWV Patterned Paper, So
Saffron
Accessories: Apricot Grosgrain, Primas, Gem Brads, Cuttlebug Script

A "Cuttle" of my Bug Creations

Bah...it's funny, right? Ok, only to a gal whose due date with #1 was today with no signs of anything happening. Anyhow, back to the good stuff...here are a couple of my Cuttlebug Creations. One is a birthday card for my favorite (and only) niece Kamala and one for DH who actually braided the copper for the card.

I completely loved the patterned paper from Die Cuts With a View. It came pre-glittered!! How can I argue with genius like that?? I used the Happy Birthday embossing folder on the patterned paper and also a sheet of shimmer white, then cut out "happy" and "birthday" from the latter sheet and adhered it to the patterned paper. I layed the patterned paper to a SU orchid opulence card adding a prima with a gem brad and a strip of apricot grograin ribbon.


Supplies
Stamps: NONE
Ink: NONE
Paper: DCWV Posies, SU Orchid Opulence, Shimmer White
Accessories: Cuttlebug Happy Birthday, Apricot Grosgrain Ribbon, Prima Flower, Joann's Gem Brad



The inspiration for this card was actually the braided copper wire to the left of the main image. DH likes stripping old electrical cords, saving the copper and decided to braid a few of them for me to use on cards and things.
I used brushed copper paper and the Textile Texture embossing folder for the sheet metal look beneath the celtic cross image. This was then layered onto the green card base. The braided copper wire was attached with two copper brads. The card was finished with hemp twine tied at the base of the copper embossed sheet.

Supplies
Stamps: Celtic Cross
Ink: SU Basic Brown
Paper: SU Brushed Copper, SU Glorious Green, SU Very Vanilla
Accessories: Cuttlebug Textile Texture, Copper Brads (Joann's), Hemp Twine, Copper Wire

Cuttlebug Crazy!!

Thanks to DH for forwarding to his family my birthday gift request I now have a Cuttlebug! I know that sounds horrible..."birthday gift request", but generally DH is always asking what I want, his family is asking him what I want and a lot of times the message never gets out. This time it did!!! How awesome! My SILs Loretta and Shari went in together to get me this great gift. From what I understand from Loretta it was quite a fiasco finding it not to mention finding a store that would honor the coupon and have the product.

I didn't have any dies/embossing envelopes until yesterday when DH and I headed to Columbus to return/exchange so baby items before I was unable to do so. Conveniently enough, there is a Michael's right next to Babies r' Us and a Joann's right down the road from Michael's. Both carry the Cuttlebug accessories, however, I found that Joann's prices are at least $1 less per item than Michael's. In addition, all of Joann's Cuttlebug accessories were 25% off. (Bonus!) Because I stopped at Michael's first and purchased one embossing folder, then headed to Joann's I had to make a return trip that same day to return the more expensive one to Michael's. I totally wore myself out!

When I got home yesterday afternoon, I (took a nap first) decided to break out the EF (embossing folders) and try them on a few different paper thicknesses and some metal.
Results:
Patterned Paper: Likes to crinkle a bit unless you put a little bit larger piece in the folder. This was a fairly thin patterned paper. Firmer PP may not yield the same result.

SU Cardstick: Perfect. Nice and firm paper with deep impressions

SU Metallic CS: Nice firm paper with deep impression, however, the faint squares on the EF showed through slightly on the finished product.

Metal Adhesive Duct Tape: A bit thin, but still a great impression. Not sure how well the impression will stay after adhered to project.

Copper Flashing: Wonderful deep impression on this firm surface. Again as with the SU Metallic CS the faint squares/rectangles on the EF made an impression on the finished product.

I am so excited to keep experimenting with the dies and embossing folders as well as trying various brands of the same products with the Cuttlebug. As the result of my first review I am completely "impressed".

Baby's Birth Announcement

Since I am at the end of week 37, I thought it wise to get the birth announcements pre-made to take the hospital with us. All we will have to do is fill in the information and pop them into the pre-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes and send them on their way.

This is the (again) simple design that I came up with last night at my friend Kerry's house, whilst stamping at her kitchen table. There are many other baubles/embellishments that I could have added, but I don't really want to deal with any complexity at this point it time. Since baby's gender is still unknown (our choice) I went with the celery color as something neutral. DH picked out the elephant and I used the "information" stamp from a baby set given to me at the last shower. The card has no inside to it. I could actually simply send it as a postcard, but am a bit leary about that idea at present. It would be less expensive...

Supplies
Stamps: Wild About You (SU), Bundle of Joy (SU)
Ink: Burnt Sienna (Palette Ink), Certainly Celery (SU)
Paper: Chocolate Chip (SU), Very Vanilla (SU), Certainly Celery (SU)
Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Punches, Sakura Stardust Clear Gel Pen, Chocolate Ribbon

Simple Baby Shower Card

My second baby shower was on Saturday....only one more to go, which will be next Tuesday after school. In all honestly, I am glad to see them coming to an end. I am sure I will miss everything baby shower and bridal shower as I get older, but at this point I am worn with showers. ;) Saturday's shower had all relatives and friends of DH's side of the family. Can't wait to post pics of the cake that my SIL made! She is so creative!

This is actually the card created for gifts that I received in the mail between the shower for my side of the family and the shower over the weekend. I see myself getting progressively more fatigued, thus my cards are getting much more simple. I hate to think that they will look like after the baby is born. lol!

Supplies
Stamps: Hero Arts (Baby Set), Stampin Up
Ink: Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Black
Paper: White
Accessories: Celery Grosgrain, Dazzling Diamonds, Glue Pen

My First Baby Shower

I know it sounds funny....my "first" baby shower. I actually have three baby showers before the big day. While I completely appreciate all of the showers I am not much of a "party for myself" person. I know...the shower is really for the baby, but at this point I don't think that the little one is very appreciative. lol.

That said, we received many wonderful gifts for our baby who we will get to see in about five weeks. (I can't believe that it is going to be that soon!) With gifts come thank you notes that I needed to get out to all of the fabulous gift givers. Luckily, we didn't have school on Monday for President's Day, so I went to work designing and creating the thank yous. (Side note...we didn't have school today either...I think we will end up going to school through June at this rate.)

My inspiration for this card was a blanket given at the shower using the same colors and dots, although the blanket is MUCH more beautiful than the card. I also saw some gorgeous scalloped tissue paper stuffed in a bag that I had to use as an inspiration as well. The card is more like a postcard. I wrote a personal note on the back of each card, which was layered with a piece of Very Vanilla CS.

Supplies
Stamps: Dots (Hero Arts), Noteworthy (Stampin Up), Label Classics (Stampin Up)
Ink: Basic Brown
Paper: Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Sponge, Chocolate Rick Rack, Prima, Brad (Copper Mini Brad - Making Memories)
, Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Scissors

Choco-Red Cupcake

This card really had be stumped. It just didn't seem complete, but I just went with it anyway. I always thought that red chocolate cake looked scrumptious so I decided to make a yummy cupcake with, of course, sparkly sprinkles. I layed chocolate grosgrain ribbon with the red gingham to give the gingham a border. The stamps for the bottom border are some of my $1 Michael's finds...what a wonderfully inexpensive option!

We have had school cancelled for the past two days due to wind chill factors and unfortunately I have been pretty sick during this time as well. I was soooo excited to have a couple days off to do lots of stamping. My body had other plans. :( At least I got one done yesterday...

Keep warm!

Supplies
Stamps: Chocoholic (The Angel Company), (XOXO & flower with heart)$1 Michael's stamps, Very Punny (Stampin Up)
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa
Paper: White, Chocolate Chip, Real Red
Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Dazzling Diamonds, Chocolate Grosgrain, Red Gingham, Stardust Red Gel Pen

Flowers & Butterflies

Just a quick post before getting to my evening beauty routine. lol. (And boy, do I need it!) Using yet another Rhonna Farrer clear stamp set I created this fun card. The flowers in the corner are one big stamp. It only seemed appropriate that they be highlighted that way. ;) The images were stamped with Versamagic black chalk ink, then traced with a Stardust gold pen. I really like how it turned out.

Supplies
Stamps: Rhonna Farrer, Autumn Leaves
Paper: White, Night of Navy
Ink: Taken with Teal, Night of Navy, Versamagic Black Chalk, Not Quite Navy
Accessories: Stardust Gold Gel Pen, Scallop Punch

Blue Valentine

I am loving this color challenge. I am off to create a few more after finishing this little blog entry. Actually, I am going to change my contacts first. Things are a bit blurry right now...not a pleasant way to create cards.

We had a beautiful snow day today! It has been flurrying gently all day. Our neighbor was just down with his tractor to clear out the lane and our driveway. I have a feeling that by tomorrow morning all of his work will be in vain even though it is supposed to stop snowing soon. Blowing and drifting seems a good possibility.

Well, here is my card for the SCS color challenge this week.

Supplies
Stamps: Hearts & Stars (Rhonna Farrer - Autumn Leaves), Dreams Come True SU
Paper: White, Taken with Teal, Night of Navy
Ink: Taken with Teal, Night of Navy, Black
Accessories: White Grosgrain Ribbon, Flower Brad, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

After thinking that I was going to do another cool color challenge like the Blue Valentine above I came out of my stamping room with this one. I was simply a bunch of random ideas put together.

I am a sucker for pinks and chocolates. I used my chipboard scrap as a template to sponge the heart shape on the card. The ink is a monochromatic pad by Dee Gruenig called Shades of Rose. I used Close to Cocoa to doodle around the heart to frame it, then did a little doodling in the stripes with my clear Stardust Gel Pen. This was just a fun card with very little direction, but turned out to be a lot of fun.

Supplies
Stamps: Sage Advice SU
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Paper: White, Striped
Accessories: Copper Brads, Primas, Word Window Punch, clear Stardust Gel Pen, Grosgrain Ribbon

I've Been Tagged!

A - Available or Taken: Taken
B - Best Friend: DH Mitch & my friend Patty - The best friends anyone could ever ask for. :)
C -Cake or Pie: Pie - I love baking pies...and eating them.
D - Drink of Choice: Iced Tea
E - Essential Item You Use Everyday: Water Bottle - I have been drinking at least 64oz a day and carry it with me all of the time.
F - Favorite Color: Cool Caribbean
G - Gummy Bears or Worms: Bears
H - Hometown: Sherwood, OH
I - Indulgence: Frozen Coffee - Panera/Starbucks
J - January or February: January, I like seeing all of the Valentine's Day decorations and making V-Day Cards. By the time V-Day rolls around everything is down.
K - Kids & Names: ETA March 27 - Don't know the gender. Girl - Maura Grace (The jury is still out on that one.) Boy - Liam Thomas
L - Life is incomplete without? Family and friends....ok, chocolate and stamps are good too.
M - Marriage Date: August 10, 2002
N - Number of Siblings: Two Brothers, both younger (Christopher & Ian)
O - Oranges or Apples: Apples - Honey Crisp are my current seasonal fav. If I can't get those Gala are good too.
Q - Fave Quote: TBA
R - Reason to Smile: Having a good life that God has given to me.
S - Season: Fall...I like the cooler temps. I am much more of a long sleeve and warmer clothes wearer. I love the smell of leaves (not burning ones). Candy corn. Hayrides. Ohio State football games with friends.
T - Tag 3-4 People: Looking...
U - Unknown fact about me: I like slighty burnt popcorn.
V - Vegetable you don't like: Brussel Sprouts...I tried, honestly.
W - Worst Habit: What would DH say? lol. Impatience. Probably not a habit, more of a character flaw.
X - X-rays: It's been FOREVER. I think my most recent ones were from the dentist's office.
Y - Your Fave Food: Fish and Chips
Z - Zodiac Sign: The Fish ;)

Inspiration has Struck Again...Thankfully!

I have a 2-hour delay from school this morning, so I thought I would blog a bit. I should be sleeping.... :) Until a couple days ago I had been suffering from a terrible case of "stamper's block". I sat for something like an hour and an half in my stamp room and flipped through various colored papers, tools and stamps with nothing springing to mind. I even went to the SCS challenge forum and couldn't get inspired, then it hit me and I have been off and running!!! What a wonderful feeling!

I have created several cards since Sunday evening, which is rare enough during the work week. I think God heard my prayers of frustration. I wanted to create and felt nothing. I have been chalking it up to pregnancy hormones. lol.

Here is one card that I made as soon as I got home from work yesterday, while engrossed in the History Channel. The rest have been uploaded to my SCS gallery.

Supplies
Stamps: SU Sage Advice, SU Natural Beauty
Paper: SU Cameo Coral, SU Certainly Celery, Black, White
Ink: Versacolor Midnight Black, SU Basic Black, Cameo Coral, SU Certainly Celery
Accessories: Making Memories Copper Pewter Brads, Cuttlebug Dies, Dazzling Diamonds, White Grosgrain Ribbon
The white ribbon was dyed using my Cameo Coral stamp pad. This is a GREAT way to spend LESS on coordinating ribbon and think the results weren't too shabby!

More Clear Stamps...

I picked up a few of the $1 Autumn Leaves clear stamps by Rhonna Farrer to play around with last week at Joann's. I couldn't pass up such a great deal! I have, however, found at least one disappointing thing about acrylic stamps...they do not accept dye inks very well. The images are splotchy and watery looking leaving the images incomplete and uneven. I believe that I read Julie HRR made a recommendation for chalk inks, which I am in complete agreement. The images are much more clean and crisp. I would also imagine that pigment or craft inks would work just as well for coverage.

I wasn't sure that I would end up actually using this stamp, but I have created a few cards using it already. DH actually named the file..."bird poo", which I haven't bothered changing yet. lol. Come on...it's kinda funny! I am ready for a relaxing weekend of cleaning (I know...how can cleaning be relaxing???) and a little bit of stamping as well.

Supplies
Paper: Smooth White Cardstock, SU Cool Caribbean, SU Almost Amethyst
Stamps: Autumn Leaves "Bird" by Rhonna Farrer, SU Wonderful Words
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink (Wisteria), SU Almost Amethyst, SU Cool Caribbean, SU Basic Black
Accessories: Brad, Prima Flower, Stardust Clear Pen

Addicted to Clear Stamps

I picked up some clear stamps at Hobby Lobby for 50% and am LOVING them. The 50% off sets are by Autumn Leaves (Rhonna Farrer) and another set I grabbed up was at Archiver's by Art Warehouse (Danielle Johnson). I can't believe how versatile they are. I made a card for my husband a small "thank you" for all of the pregnancy work he has been doing for me. (Lifting and moving things, etc.) I can only imagine what a pain it has been for him, yet no complaints. *How sweet!*

I need to stop blogging and get stamping!

Supplies
Paper: SU Whisper White & Crisp Cranberry, generic pink, patterned paper from Hobby Lobby
Stamps: My Heart Flowers, Art Warehouse (Danielle Johnson)