Mellow Flowers

This card was inspired by patterned paper by Basic Grey called "Mellow". The three flowers were cut out from the patterned paper and dusted with some dazzling diamonds. (Difficult to see in the photo.) The dimensions of the card are 4.75" X 4.75". I used my corner punch to create the scallops on this card. The green panel is stamped in Versamark with swirls from the SU set "Priceless". The elements in the corners and word were stamped using Palette ink in charcoal.

Supplies
Stamps: SU Priceless
Ink: Versamark, Palette Charcoal
Paper: Shimmery White, Mellow Moss, Ruby (Paper Company), Mellow (Basic Grey)
Accessories: Rhinestone Brad, Corner Punch, Dazzling Diamonds

What a Wonderful Christmas!!

Everyone is doing much better here. We have all recovered from sinusitis and me from that and bronchitis. What fun! However, we managed to finally get the Christmas cards out and have a wonderful holiday.

This was Liam's first Christmas! He was a little to young to fully appreciate all the excitement of unwrapping presents. Although, he loved swimming in the wrapping paper when we are at his Grandma and Papaw's Sweeney's for Christmas Eve. We were fortunate enough to have Christmas Day at our house. My parents, brothers, aunt and uncle, cousins and in-laws were here. We had a potluck sort of meal, which was nice so everyone could bring a favorite holiday dish. Lots of variety! Our third Christmas was at Mitch's Aunt Diane and Uncle Ross's house on the 29th, which was for his mother's side of the family. Also, a potluck sort of arrangement with the ever popular gumbo shimmering on the stove when we arrived.

We have been truly blessed this year with the birth of our son, our financial stability and the health of our family. I can only hope and pray these precious gifts in this new year. Love to all of those who we were unable to see. Keep checking this site and Liam's site for updates. As those of you with little ones know, it is difficult to get away to the computer and actually collect your thoughts long enough to write something. I will try my best!

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