Live~Laugh~Love with {ippity}

"Live your life at its fullest,
Laugh at all the things that don’t matter,
Love with all that you have & more."

-Unknown

Have a fabulous Monday!
Like this {ippity}?
Order it here!

Supplies
Stamps: Simply Home {ippity}
Ink: Dessert Sand, Tuxedo Black
Paper: Kraft, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories: Nestabilities, Lime Green Stickles, Buttons (PTI), Ribbon

My First Sewing Lesson and Project

So, I have this pretty nifty Husqvarna Rose sewing machine that my mother-in-law is letting me borrow as she had acquired a beast of an embroidery machine a few years back and has not use for it. (Borrowing because she wants my niece Kamala to have it, but Kamala is not very interested in it at present. I lucked out!) Up until today the sewing machine has done little more than collect dust in my craft room.

Previously my sewing machine skills were limited to basic functions such as: turning it on, adjusting stitch lengths, sewing straight stitches, sewing zig-zag stitches and turning the machine off. (My sewing experience was limited to paper...never used it on fabric.) Given lessons by my friend Kerry today I added to my repertoire the abilities: to create a seam, create a top stitch, wind bobbin thread, pin fabric and create rounded corners. As a result of this great lesson, I was able to make a double-sided baby blanket. Woohoo! I actually did something productive on my first time out! (Of course it is not the best specimen of blanketry, but I'm not complaining.)

My only frustration is that I was not able to learn how to properly zig-zag stitch edges because the tension (that I paid $90 to have repaired MONTHS ago!!!) on my machine is completely out of wack. Looking back at the blanket, it is pretty obvious that something was wrong with the tension at that point. (Or I would prefer to think something is wrong with the machine as I would like to have something to blame my sewing imperfections.)

Anyhew, I'll be giving Kerry's sewing machine repair guy a call on Monday to see if things can be repaired or if I am a dunce and need to simply press one of the bizillion buttons on my machine to fix it. I will be sooo antsy until it is working properly. I can't wait to get my hands on more fabric for my cards and other projects!!

Kerry - Thank you for being such a patient and encouraging teacher. I tend to be a bit of an anxious student and your instruction made it easy for me to remain calm and confident!

Inspired by a Friend Friday/CPS155

Actually, it was on Tuesday that I was inspired by my friend Barb's color choice for our stamp club project that night. TEAL! How refreshing. (I need to post the fun mini calendar we created with the SU bird punch. Love it!) It has been so cold and muted lately that bringing some color to the party was appreciated. I also used the CPS sketch for this week. Check out the list of today's blogs at Unity!!!

I'm on a kick with the scripture from the {ippity} Devotion set! I can't get enough of it!




Supplies
Stamps: Devotion (ippity by Unity)
Ink: Craft White, Taken with Teal
Paper: Kraft, Taken with Teal, laser cut paper
Accessories: Half Pearls, Prima Flower, Kraft Ribbon, embossing folder

My First H{ippity} Hop!

It's Monday!!! (Actually, it's Sunday evening, but I needed to get this posted and didn't trust that Blogger would do it at the correct time.) Doesn't seem to have the same ring as "It's Friday". ;) That's okay at least we aren't under 12" of snow this particular Monday. That is definitely a blessing!

I'm sharing with you a card I made with the Ippity set Devoted as well as my first excursion using fabric on a card. The background is fabric except for the card base in additional to the die cut butterflies. The ribbon and fabric was picked up on my shopping trip yesterday. The quotes in this set are absolutely beautiful and appropriate for times when only God's Words will do.

Supplies
Stamps: Devoted (ippity Stamps)
Paper: Kraft
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Orange Memento
Accessories: Fabric, Brown Grosgrain, Colored Rhinestones, Nestabilities Labels, Cuttlebug Butterfly Die, Prima Flowers
Challenge: Splitcoaststampers Ways to Use it 258

Goodies and a Gift

Just thought I would share a few goodies that papercrafters may appreciate in addition to beautiful handmade items by Kerry. (Right now I am over the moon that she is going to show me some sewing projects next weekend!!)

The gorgeous bag Kerry made for me!!!

The reversible bibs that match the bag.

Got this ribbon at Hobby Lobby. It was a grab bag of 30 yards for $1.99!

Found these at Joann's as Kerry was helping me pick fabric for next weekend.
They are 5" X 5" swatches of fabric for quilting projects that come in coordinated groupings.
Three of each pattern fabric with ten different designs per package.
I was picking up fat quarters, then saw these are realized that even though there would be a price difference per yard I really didn't need yards of fabric rather variety in small pieces. On to of that each package of fabric is coordinated! After holding fat quarters to fat quarters to try and coordinate I was relieved to find something brainless on the shelf!!
Perfect! I grabbed three different packages!!

Happy Birthday, Mom! This Flair's for You!

I have always felt that I didn't give enough time to birthday cards for my immediate family. I feel like I create and create for the sake of creating, then when the time comes to make something special for someone special I just don't deliver. I was hoping to change that with mom's birthday card this year. I love her for some many reasons...she supports me in everything I do, loves my husband and son, bakes like nobody's business, shows interest in my hobby when I know her true love is knitting...so many things.

All in all mom and my dad are truly wonderful people. (The previous post was my dad's birthday card...ironically, his birthday is after my mom's. Who has been procrastinating? lol!) They're not perfect parents. Mitch and I aren't perfect parents, but we all have done and are doing the best we can for our children. It is amazing the perspective you get when you have your own children and look back on what your parents have done for you.

Ok...done with the sappy part of my post. Hope you enjoy the card and all of the other wonderful creations by Unity customers. Go here to start your adventure with Friends with Flair.

Check out the new {ippity} stamp SALE here!

Supplies
Stamps:
Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa
Paper: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Kraft, Wisteria (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Large Flower (Prima), Shimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Butterly Punch (Martha Stewart), Fabric Flower (K & Company), Leaves Die (Sizzix-SU), Border Punch (SU), Gemstones, Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (ProvoCraft)

Live

I couldn't resist this paper when I was at Archiver's on Monday. It is Little Yellow Bicycle's Lucky You line just it time for lovers of all things Irish such as myself to enjoy before St. Paddy's Day. My last post also included the use of the same Cuttlebug Embossing Folder used on acetate. (I have a weakness for that lately, too. Should have gotten more acetate while I was at Archiver's!)

In addition to my paper inspiration I also used the Friends with Flair Unity Challenge for this week. I know I should wait until Friday to post, because I will inevitably run out of time and ideas before it comes around. Oh well...life goes on.

Supplies
Stamps: December KOM (Unity)
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Night of Navy
Paper: Lucky U (Little Yellow Bicycle), Kraft
Accessories: acetate, cuttlebug embossing folder, buttons (PTI), wild wasabi stitched ribbon, nestabilities

{ippity} Winter Release 2010/Valentine's Day Card

I'm excited to share the new {ippity} Stamp release with you! After some technical difficulties you can click below for ordering and pricing. I have two great sales going on for the new and previous releases as well as FREE SHIPPING! Thanks for visiting!

{Order Here}

Secondly, this is the Valentine's Day that I made for Mitch. All in all it was simple, but I really like the finished product. I used embossed a 1/2 sheet of acetate, scored it and folded it around a white card base. On top of the white card base is a piece of shimmery red cardstock to help the embossing really pop. The acetate is attached with pop dots. On the inside I used a piece of silver cardstock large enough to cover the inside panel and allow for the decorative border to show along the side.

This was tough to photograph. I think the glare from the acetate made it a challenge possibly causing it to be a tad blurry.




Supplies
Stamps: None!
Ink: None!
Paper: Shimmery Red, Gina K. White Base, Acetate Sheet, Silver Cardstock
Accessories: Red Stickes, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Pop Dots, SU Border Punch

Ippity Candy Winner and Pre-Release Sale!

Gwen said:

This teapot card is adorable! Love the colors!

12:53 PM

Gwen will be receiving this fabulous {ippity} set! Thanks for playing and check back soon for more {ippity} fun!

Please send me your mailing information I will have this in the mail to you asap!!

Keep checking out the official {ippity} blog for release sneak peeks!!!

Remember I always provide free shipping on {ippity} orders of any size!

Pre-release sale:
All current sets are 20% off with free shipping!!!
Click here to order!

FWF Tweet Pots - Part 2 - Ippity Candy

Ok...here is another one of the many birthday cards I have been making for our "birthday season", which runs from February through May. Happy hopping!

Also, check back soon for new ippity releases! In preparation for the release I will choose one comment at random to win a current ippity set! A winner will be posted on Saturday.

Go here to check out the sneak peeks of new releases!!!

Supplies
Stamps: June KOM (Unity), Bevy of Butterflies (Unity), Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Rich Cocoa, Dusty Durango, Sage Shadow, Bordering Blue
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Ivory (Gina K.), Sage Shadow
Accessories: Moroccan Screen (Cuttlebug Embbossign Folder), Birds and Swirls (Cuttlebug Embossing Folder), Labels (Nestabilities), Border Punch (Stampin Up), Pearl Shimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), watercoloring supplies
SCS Challenges: Sketch 267, Color 257

Heart-Shaped Valentine Cards

I haven't had school since last Thursday, so I figured now would be the perfect time for Liam and I to get our Valentines done. :) These are a sampling of what I did. I really do like how they turned out. The sheet music I used was from my grad music history class over the summer. Somehow more therapeutic than usual. I will be posting pics of Liam's Valentines using PTI's Tiny Treats: Valentine set. He's two, so they are what they are. :)

For those affected by the snow storms/blizzard, keep warm and stay safe!!


Supplies
Stamps: Say it With Style (Papertrey Ink)
Paper: Whisper White Cardstock, DP: Simple Valentine (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Raspberry FIzz, Old Paper
Accessories: PTI vintage buttons, music scores from grad school, string, heart nestabilities, circle punch