Claddagh Birthday Card

I finished up this custom order for a gentleman I met at the Celtic Gathering last weekend. It is for his fiancée (or soon to be) for her birthday. Sweet couple. This is a tri-fold pocket card. He wanted the story of the Claddagh tucked into a pocket for her and had a special sentiment picked out for the inside. All of the text was done in Word and printed. For the life of me, I can't remember where I found directions for this. Nothing really new, but still...a little credit is due.

Supplies
Stamps: Celtic Heritage (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Versamark, Tea Dye (Tim Holtz)
Paper: Coredinations Green, Naturals Cream, White, Early Espresson
Accessories: Label Die (Spellbinders), Taffeta Ribbon (SU), Gold Embossing Powder, Slot Punch, Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels) 

FWF So and So Loves

It's been tough lately with two little ones...trying to find time and energy to spend on each other. We need to make the time. No matter how much I love our little family, we wouldn't be a family without the two of us. This was Mitch's Valentine's Day card. Looking forward to many more good times to come...and a date night!

Supplies
Stamps: So and So Loves (Unity)
Ink: Rich Cocoa
Paper: Kraft, Gina K Luxury White
Accessories: Woodgrain Impression Plate (PTI), Nestabilities Label Die, Bic Markers, Linen Thread, Shimmer Mist

FWF Unity/ Adventures in Happiness

"Gray Skies Are Just Clouds Passing By."

- Duke Ellington

I know that life always throws us curve balls. Everyone has burdens to carry. Some large, some small. These are the things of life that make us who we are. We have a choice. We can choose to let those things shape us into positively driven individuals or let them break us. I have to be honest to say that I have let those experiences do both, however my determination to focus on the potential of the future, along with faith, helps me to know that I do have a happy life. I am blessed. I hope that you are able to find those blessings in your life, especially if you are going through difficult times, to forge ahead with confidence that life can be a happy place for you.

...oh, and if you don't like staples used on cards you better just move along! 

I can never get that darn ribbon to stick, so what better way than driving an office supply through it. lol!

Supplies

Stamps: Adventures in Happiness (Unity)

Ink: Rich Cocoa, Summer Sky (Memento)

Paper: DP (no clue), kraft (SU), Summer Sunrise (PTI), White

Accessories: Twill Tape (SU), Hemp Twine, Buttons (PTI). Stitched Ribbon, Kraft Ribbon (SU), Staples, Nestabilities

It's Friday! It's Friday! with Unity

While you are enjoying your blog hop I'm still at work. :) I do enjoy my job, but wish I could check just a couple blogs to break up the day. I usually don't make it completely through the hop until Sunday. Enjoying it slowly. Have a fabulous Friday!!!

Don't forget about World Cardmaking Day on Saturday! I heard a rumor that Unity has something fun planned.

Also, I'm cleaning out my craft room if you want to see what is available click here. :)

Supplies
Stamps: August KOM (Unity)
Ink: Cocoa (Memento)
Paper: Crushed Curry, Copper, Indian Summer (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Gems, Ribbon, Nestabilities, Victoria Embossing Folder (Provocraft 0 Cuttlebug)

Easter Sunday

Decided to post something while I am waiting for family to arrive. Liam is napping. Food is done. Mitch is driving back from the airport. Quiet time for me. Ah...

This will be Liam's 3rd Easter even though he is only two due to the way Easter is scheduled year to year. We started the morning with a mini Easter egg hunt. He enjoyed it...calling out the colors of the eggs as he found them scattered throughout the living room, then he hit the jackpot by the fireplace. The Easter Bunny had made a little scene with several things he had gotten in the past couple of years, so the jackpot was really not that big. All of it was new to him again. A couple things he got were Bertie the bus, a book about Easter, a brush for his animals, a Pooh bubble maker and a card from Ma'i and Da'i.

I feel in love with this vintage-type image when I saw it in Archiver's yesterday. I have never purchased a stamp by Northwoods, but I was throughoutly impressed by this one. All in all I was happy with the card except for a couple technical issues. The luxury cardstock did not seem to emboss well. (This was the first time I had dry embossed with it, so maybe better luck next time.) Also, I have been slowly collected Copic markers and didn't have any orange. What the heck was I thinking? I had to use markers to watercolor the carrot.






Supplies
Stamps: Bunny with Carrot ( Northwoods), Polka Dot Background (SU), Sentiment - Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Palette Snow (PTI)
Paper: Kraft, Gina K. Pure Luxury White
Accessories: Labels 3 Dies (Nestabilities), Copics, Watercoloring with Markers, Glitter, Souffle White Pen (Sakura)

Lots of Unity Inspiration

I broke out some of my Unity stamps for today's post. This one is Shine On, which was a freebie I got last month and also my submission for the SCS Sketch Challenge for this week.

Supplies
Stamps: Shine On (Unity Stamps)
Ink:Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: DP (Basic Grey), Pirouette Pink, PTI White, Kraft
Supplies: Swarovski Crystals, Nestabilities Labels & Tags, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Border Punch, Sakura Black Glaze Pen
Techniques: Paper piercing, paper piecing, dry embossing




And a couple more before I head to bed...


Supplies
Stamps: KOTM March (Unity Stamps), Dream Tree BG (Unity Stamps)
Paper: DP (Basic Grey), Kraft
Ink: Close to Cocoa, Black
Accessories: Large Rhinestones, Nestabilities Labels 4, Sewing Machine
Techniques: Distressing, stitching













Supplies
Stamps: Shine On (Unity Stamps), Chandelier (Amuse Art Stamps)
Paper: PTI White
Ink: Black
Accessories: Martha Stewart Border Punch, Stickles Fruit Punch, Ribbon
Techniques:

Valentine's Day Banner

I have been thinking about creating a fun banner for quite awhile, then when I saw the January/February issue of PaperCrafts magazine with Cath Edvalson's "moxie fab" article Celebrating Banners kicked me into full gear. ("Moxie Fab" is Cath's term "for something truly original, amazingly inspirational, or uber cool.") I do not tend to do much other papercrafting than cards and small scrapbook pages, so this new format has been a fun change for me. (Click on the pics for more detail.)

I have also been deliberating which banner stamp set(s) I would like for "uber cool" birthday cards this year. Papertrey Ink has one called It's a Celebration. If you have any suggestions, feel free to post in the comments.

The project was not very time consuming. I used simple supplies. Nothing complicated at all. I made three banners and hung them together. One for each of the two most important guys in my life, Mitch and Liam, and one for myself. It's pretty snazzy looking in contrast to our house in midst of the remodel.

Supplies
Stamps: Bella Toile (SU)
Ink: Memento Black
Paper: Raspberry Fizz, PTI White
Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon, Nestabilities - hearts, Pink Glitter Chipboard Thickers

A Glitter Challenge...

Anyone who knows me knows that I {heart} using glitter on my cards and projects, so when I saw the tacky glitter technique SCS challenge I had to try it! This gave me the opportunity to use some retired SU berry razzle glitter to go with my new fave Raspberry Fizz PTI cardstock as well as my heart-shaped nesties.

I have three (now two) different widths of tacky tape, which allowed me to really have some fun with this challenge even though I used simple straight lines. The main panel used berry razzle glitter and the base was edged in dazzling diamonds.

My main goal in this design (besides the obvious tacky glitter challenge) was to make a cookie that reminded me of my mom's Valentine frosted sugar cookies with cinnamon hearts. I am salivating just thinking about them. I sponged pink pirouette ink on the main heart and stamped hearts in Raspberry Fizz, then glazed the entire heart with crystal effects. I used the heart die to cut a piece of acetate to stamp the sentiment and layer to the heart.

Supplies
Stamps: Heart Sentiments (PTI); Birds, Trees and Messages ( Hero Arts)
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, Noir, Pink Pirouette, Stazon Black
Paper: White, Raspberry Fizz
Accessories: Transparency, Crystal Effects, Tacky Tape, Dazzling Diamonds, Berry Razzle

Lovin' Stickles

This card really started as a more masculine option for a Christmas card until, that is, that I used about 1/2 bottle of Frosted Lace Stickles and a dot of Xmas Red.

Supplies
Stamps: Christmas Silhouettes (Inkadinkado), Winter Trails (Inkadinkado), sentiment (Martha Stewart)
Ink: Palette Noir, Versamark
Paper: Figgy (Basic Grey), Kraft, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Stickles (Xmas Red, Frosted Lace), Gold EP, Striped Ribbon

'Tis the Season

I need to start designing our Christmas cards...strike that...I need to start MAKING our Christmas cards! This is my first attempt for the season. I have had my new Nestability dies just waiting to be used put to work. Grabbed the Spellbinder snowflake dies at Hobby Lobby for...50% off! What a deal is that? I love these great Inkadinkado holiday/winter stamp sets. Gorgeous!


Supplies
Stamps: Winter Birds (Inkadinkado); sentiment (Martha Steward)
Ink: Palette Noir
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Very Vanilla, Kraft
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Nestabilities Label 1, Spellbinders Snowflakes, Rhinestones, Kraft Ribbon, Martha Steward Border Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

A Stamper's Confession

So, how many of you purchase stamps/stamp sets and let them set for, oh, say a year, then pull them out for the first time? I, shamefully, have with this stamp set. I was intrigued by the samples posted on SCS last fall and "had" to have the set. After one long year and a color challenge I am posting my first sample of this retired set!

One thing I was happy to conquer in the card was doing a 5X5 card and using a Cuttlebug embossing folder for the majority of the background. I wish they came in squares!

Supplies:

Stamps: Gives Thanks (SU)
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Going Grey, Charcoal Palette, Green Galore
Paper: Riding Hood Red, Going Grey, White, Sweetie Pie DP (Cosmo Cricket)
Accessories: White Gel Pen, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen, Aquapainter, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Leaves, Filigree Brads, Nestabilities

With Enough Caffeine...

...anything is possible!! As many of you know I do love my cup o'joe whenever I can get one. My mom got me this great one cup coffeemaker from Melitta and it is awesome! (Mitch is not a coffee drinker.) Grid 2 TBSP of my bean of choice, heat up water in my electric kettle and pour the water over the grounds in the groovy filter that fits over a coffee cup or travel mug. I'm spoiled!

Speaking of my mom, if you check a few posts back I mentioned swiping mom's Bella stamps...well, I did! Here is Javabellas in SCS Sketch Challenge 192. The only thing I don't like about this stamp are the shoes on the bella on the left. Seriously, who wears shoes like that? Guess I'm not that cool!

This is one of my first cards using a sewing machine. I enjoyed the experience and outcome and plan on using it much more frequently. The zigzag stitch is not very apparent in this photo but it is there. I also went a little nuts with the white gel pen and dots. :)

Supplies
Stamps: JavaBella; Sentiment (Amuse)
Ink:Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel; Close to Cocoa; Blush Blossom; Certainly Celery; Burnt Umber (Palette); Noir (Palette)
Paper: Sultry DP (Basic Grey); White (PTI); Chocolate Chip
Accessories: White Gel Pen; Chocolate RIbbon, Sakura Stardust Gel Pen; Slot Punch; Corner Rounder Punch; Nestabilities; Sewing Machine

Quilter's Sampler

I fell in love with this set after seeing the many beautiful cards created with it. And not to mention reading the book The Quilter's Apprentice. I totally love that book and am going to check out the library for other books in the series. After reading it you feel the need to quilt as a way to tell the stories of your life. I hope to be able to do that through the photos I take of my family and the cards and scrapbook pages that I make. I have huge reservations about beginning a new hobby. (i.e cost, time commitment, all the other craft supplies I HAD to have...)

If this stamp set is the closest that I ever come to quilting then so be it. I loved working with this set and hope to get better aligning the squares...I know...get the grid.

I did a bit of experimenting today with my background stamp and found that I LOVE using my plumber's gasket, which I use with my Cuttlebug to put over the stamp (face up) and cardstock and brayer over top. No slipping like paper and I haven't had a smudge yet!


Stamps: Quilter's Sampler (PTI), Linen (SU)
Ink: Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, Palette Burnt Umber, Stazon Black
Paper: Ruby Red, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa, White
Accessories: Paper piercer, Nestabilities, Acetate