CreativeMoonBeam ...nightly sparks of creativity

A Switch...

2010-01-04T22:33:00.002-05:00

I've been working on a new project for a while and so excited that it is finally ready... come join me at my new blog digs...

High-flying Birthday...

2009-11-18T23:54:00.009-05:00

Happy Wednesday! The week is flying by! I'm back with the latest Embellish challenge. I am on a roll! LOL.

I stayed pretty literal to the challenge this week and used the exact shades depicted in the picture (which by the way, I must say, are always SO fab. I love how we get the polaroids of the colors in addition to the fun pics! Great job on the challenge pics, Ashley!!) So this one was, relatively speaking, probably the easiest from a color perspective for me. Scrapping and making cards for all occasions for my 3 (young) boys means lots of primary colors for me. This one is of course for another party we have coming up. Easy peasy as always, but I think perfect for the intended recipient - a soon to be 5 year old boy.

I combined a bunch of different stamp companies on this one - there's a little bit of CHF, PTI, LAD and even Rubber Romance(!) thrown in the mix for good measure. The grass was an accident actually - I was trying to figure out how to "ground" the building and I noticed a extra scrap from my place cards project that never found its way to the garbage can. I'm one of those crafters that has to clean up everything (stamps, paper and supplies) before starting the next project, so the green scrap totally jumped out at me. The brads are from SU. The helicopter body was covered in SU Crystal Effect for a bit more... effect! :)

Anyways, hope you like the card. I'm off to bed in a bit. See ya!

For the last week...

2009-11-15T23:04:00.004-05:00

This is what I was working on (when I wasn't working or with the kiddos).

My hubs, SIL and I threw a 70th surprse birthday party for my father-in-law. Tons of work, but the party was a blast. People definitely seemed to have a blast - tons of laughter, chatting, dancing (and quite few beverages too!).

Definitely a night to remember.

I made the centerpieces (I got the idea somewhere on the web and then gave it my own touch!), placecards and invites too - although I forgot to take a pic of one. I'm going to have to track one down and do that. I really loved how everything came out. I used a whole host of sets in my aresenal - lots of PTI, an SU number set and a $1 Michael's stamp (that was on the aforementioned invite... - I really wish I had save an invite!) Obviously we used a golf theme (my FIL's an avid player).

It's very nice to be winding down an amazing weekend and now I hoping I will get a breather in the week coming up. Besides prepping for the party, I've had a crazy busy time at work, parent-teacher conferences for the boys at night (they are all doing awesome in school!), on top of the usual every day fun.

Holy Cow! (or Owl?)

2009-11-09T23:18:00.005-05:00

I didn't realize how long it had been since I last posted. But I'm back and with a challenge card. I went wtih a bit of a darker interpretation of the colors for the latest Embellish Owl challenge so that it fit for a boy card (hope that wasn't stretching too much - the colors are still in the coral and green family IRL!) I used Basic Grey Archaic papers and thought it worked pretty darn well. :)

Now I must admit, this is my first and only owl card ever made (yes, I know... so behind the crafting times). In fact, I didn't think that I even had an owl stamp in my collection, but remembered this Hero Arts stamp set that I bought for Halloween pages (which have yet to be scrapped, again - so behind the times). So even though it is not a Halloween card, I still thought this particular owl would work for a birthday card I needed this past weekend. I used M's sketch to make the card (I think that I should have titled this post - "LATE," but seriously, how many times can I reference how late I always am!!). So while I know that the challenge due date had past, I just wanted Savitri and M to know that I did use the sketch.

Life is busy (as always), and I need to get sleep, so hopefully I'll see you again soon.

Rainy... with a {Definite} Chance of Sports

2009-10-24T11:47:00.008-04:00

Hello, hello on this rainy, {but not too rainy to cancel our sports line-up, but too rainy to have the other boys watch and support their brother who is on the field} Saturday. Ughh - we have had this horrible stretch of luck of beautiful weather during the week and rainy weather on Saturday and Sunday. But luckily we are getting most of the games in today.

Anyways, so since I'm at home, while my hubs is out there with one of the boys, I'll take some time to post something I made a couple of days ago. This was actually the first pink project to kick off this trend I seem to be on of late. I made this birthday gift card holder (including the handmade flower embellie) for one of Alex's friends. So about gift cards... I must admit I am a fan of them. Yes, I know that on one hand, they may seem impersonal, but it truly is the most practical way to ensure your celebrant gets what they want. And at the end of the day, let's face it... the receiver knows best what they want. :) And while I'm thinking about it, I can't imagine what I would do without registries (especially for showers) - I think they are the best thing to come along in gift giving. LOL. Do you know that the local toy store has started a registry program too - LOVE it! It's always a bonus when you can go it a store, know exactly what the child wants and can leave with a wrapped gift that only needs a card - wahoo. It can't get better than that... The owners are geniuses. Nothing like the value of convenience - which is worth a ton to me when you have birthday parties to go to almost every weekend.

So back to the g/c holder - I used one of Lauren's Timeless Templates to make this card holder. It was such a snap. I'd been planning on getting a template - I have loved each of the ones that come out every month, but just hadn't gotten around to it. But that was until the Cash and Charge Collection came out this month. I feel like she'd designed it just for me - seriously! And I love how this template actually came with 3 - what a deal. I can't imagine how much time she pours into making these templates for people like, but I absolute appreciate it very much so :)

I know these templates will get much use in my house...

Pink AGAIN!

2009-10-22T22:22:00.008-04:00

Like I mentioned in my last post, I NEVER use pink, especially the fuschia-kind-of-pink. But I saw Dawn's latest color challenge and I still had the other 1/2 of the sheet of Raspberry Fizz sitting on my craft desk, so I figured I'd take on the Lilly Pulitzer challenge (c'mon, you have to admit that a Lilly Pulitzer sweater comes to mind whenever you see bright pink and green together, right?)!

I also jumped on the make-my-own-embellie craze with my new Sizzix die that I just got from SU. I think it turned out ok and really does look like the flower I intended it to be. I even gave my flower leaves by using the largest die to ground it. I think that the card turned out pretty much how I planned it in my head, which is such a bonus to boot.

So thanks for a real challenge this week, Dawn. Now I have to get back to watching the Yankees game, which has been such a topsy turvy game... which seems to be par for the course of this series. Ughhh.

Three Birds... One card

2009-10-20T23:29:00.013-04:00

I'm in a very efficient mood in a crafty kind of way tonight :) and decided to make a card that I need for an upcoming party and try my hand at 3 challenges that are going on right now on 3 blogs I follow.

I'm absolutely enjoying my downtime tonight and relaxing while I watch the Yankees win game 4 of their series with the Angels (woohoo) and make cards after spending the day in Cleveland for a bunch of meetings for work. I travel a decent amount (relatively) for work and always love when I can get a day trip in that does not require a red eye, and Cleveland TOTALLY fits the bill. And it was such a bonus to get home before the kiddos went to bed (translation - 6:15 flight this morning!). But it was a good day at work, so no complaints. Plus my plane was early both ways... which of course means I'm in for a serious delay in the near future. And this is not that much of a stretch of the imagination considering I fly in and out of Newark - LOL.

Anyways back to the card... we have ruffles, sketches and colors for a cure going on, so with one card, I have a Moxie Fab/Embellish's Colors for a Cure & Bling/M's #2 challenges covered! I haven't done a Moxie card in a little while and I was determined not to be late on M's challenge this time and I just have been having fun with the Embellish challenges, so I was quite pleased with myself to be able to tie it all together. And I REALLY mean pleased :), given that my cards usually just find their way to the finish line so to speak, with usually not too much planning other than the 1 challenge I am usually trying to do. I also used a few stamps and ribbon that I haven't used in a while because 1. I liked to remind myself why I bought different stamps in the first place, vs. just using them when they are "new" and 2. I really have to make myself use pink - dunno why it doesn't come more naturally... maybe because I am just surrounded in a house with boys!

And OH - HOLY COW! I can't finish this blog entry without mentioning that I was actually mentioned in the wrap-up for the second Embellish challenge. Look!! (Not too surprisingly) I've NEVER won/been recognized in any kind of a "competitive" crafting blog or been in a publication, other than on PTI's GSS in a category where I was LITERALLY the only entrant... good thing I didn't get 2nd place - LOL!!, so this was TOTALLY not expected. Heck, I consider it quite the accomplishment that I can make a deadline on time - LOL!!!. I honestly do this hobby purely for my enjoyment and relaxation, so it is a pretty spiffy feeling that someone else thinks my cards, well at the very least my froggy one, aren't half bad.

So THANK YOU, Ashley, for making my day in that crafty kind of way. ;)

Deets (haven't had the chance to do this in a little while!)

Stamps: Imaginesce cupcake, LAD Sketched Sentiments, PTI Birthday Basics; CS: PTI Raspberry Fizz (I hardly EVER use this color!), SU Prints Pack (broke open the plastic on this one after having it sit on my shelf for more than 1 yr!), PTI white, Ink: Adirondack - Pebble, SU Pink Passion (again - never use this color!); Other: Kaiser rhinestones, petite scallop nestie, PTI Sweet Blush saddle stitch ribbon (all scrunched up for the ruffles!), Stardust Stickles all over the icing of the cupcake, copics

5 Hours and 10 minutes...

2009-10-18T08:57:00.009-04:00

That's mainly why this is late!

The whole fam was planted on the couch watching last night's very exciting (though at times thoroughly frustrating) Yankees play off game vs. the Angels. Yep - it went 13 innings and the Yankees finally won and are now up 2-0. We are huge fans in our house, so everyone stayed up and mostly made it. My two littler guys made it up well past regulation (maybe the 11th inning) and my oldest kiddo made it the whole way. Very fun and quality family time for all.

Anyways, I made this card for the challenge sometime in the beginning of the game - luckily my crafting area is right by the TV in the basement which means I can usually do both... except for when the game gets as interesting as it did last night ;) Plus, who can resist the sound of three boys asking mom to join them on the couch... gotta soak it all in before they get to big, kwim?

So back to the card again... I read on Naomi's blog about Savitri's daughter having her own challenge, so how could I resist (I suppose I would have found it on my own seeing as how I have Savitri's blog in my reader, but that was the sequence of events)?? It was such a sweet blog entry, as well as an easy and very versatile sketch. I know it is late, but I'll post anyway to share!!

The image is colored with copics (I really love these sunflowers) the card was finished with scraps of Basic Grey Cupcake collection, PTI CS, ribbon and a random button. That's it! Thanks for the sketch M, and I'll keep an eye out for your next one! :)

First time for this Froggy...

2009-10-13T22:24:00.006-04:00

Breezing back through again with a card for the latest Embellish challenge. Seems to be the only thing that gets me to my computer for anything non-work or PTA related these days. Sheesh!

I made this card a couple of days ago. This is most probably the 2nd circle card I have ever made - the first one I'm sure for a challenge as well. ;)

I am finally getting a chance to open up some goodies I bought some time ago (we're talking a month here at least!). And there is so much more that I still have to open - patterned paper packs, more Hero stamps etc. I think I might have even mentioned at some point either here or commenting on someone's blog (Naomi's, I think) about getting and using Hero Arts stamps for the first time... well, technically this was the first time I actually used it. Sad in a crafting sort of way, I know, but that's the way it goes in my life. But that's why I love this hobby so... it can sit for periods of time and I can pick back up where I last left it! Then there are other days (albeit few and far between!) where I will go on a tear!

Life has been very fun in all sorts of ways in the last couple of months, which means we are on the go. Travel teams have been made (oldest for basketball), middle guy threw for his first touchdown in flag football this past weekend (we were all so thrilled about that) and my middle guy is scoring soccer goals all around. I'm a professional cheerer and so happy about it.

Anyway, back to the card - I used Ashley's toot to make the card and basically followed the guidelines. What a cute little guy this froggy is. Perfect for the birthday party that one of my guys are going to this weekend. Very easy to color with my copics and a cinch to put together (my kinda cards! LOL).

Well, I'm off to bed. I'm going to be working in the city the next couple of days, which means train schedules must be adhered to (so funny how easy it is to fall out of a routine... what's the saying again - 21 days to make a habit, but only 3 days to break one or something like that?). I must say though that I love my days in Manhattan, well, as long as I don't think about the commute. ;) Later.

Dusting off my craft desk!!!! :)

2009-10-01T21:50:00.003-04:00

Trying to squeeze in under the deadline... be back with a full post in a bit ;)

Edited to add....

It's been quite a while since I have had a chance to be crafty in any way, my desk was getting a little dusty, unfortunately. Even though I work full time out of the house and the kids are in camp for most of the summer, the beginning of the school year is somehow still so very hectic for me... lots of back to school stuff, switching into new sports for the season... just a new routine all around for everyone. Plus it coincides with the end of my work fiscal year - so it is just all the more busy.

Therefore in an effort to make some time for myself, I used the first Embellish challenge to get the creative juices flowing again. Fun colors - and oh so perfect for fall. Squeezed it in with minutes to spare ahead of the deadline too. Now I just need to figure out who I'm going to send this card to in the morning...

Back to regular scheduled programming for me (ie... catching up with my PTA stuff, work, figuring out how my husband and I are going to shuttle around 6 games and a travel basketball tryout all in a 6 hour time span on Saturday, and most of all catching up with my PILLOW)...

Have a good one! :)

Happy, Happy Day!

2009-09-12T18:09:00.005-04:00

Hello, hello. I'm back from my technology hiatus (ie. vacay and start of the new school year).

I took some time to make a card based on this week's 2s4Y sketch - I think that I just made the deadline... nothing like waiting until the last day, right? I used a piece of scrap PP from my every growing pile (we all have that pile, right?). I didn't want to cut into a new one, plus I wanted to use a piece since I just bought a bunch of new PP collections last night so I want to make some room. I haven't bought in any in a relatively long time, but have been seeing so many awesome cards and scrap pages that I haven't been able to resist any longer. I also bought some new stamps... my first Hero Arts stamps ever. So excited for the package to arrive - hopefully the shipping time isn't too long for either of my packages!

Deets:

Stamps - Elzy Bells and Cornish Heritage Farms (sentiment)

CS: SU - Kiwi Kiss; Crate Paper-Zoom collections (both sides of Freeway) and PTI white

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; Distress Ink - Antique Linen

Other: PTI Scarlet Jewel button, dauber, prismas and gamsol and copics

Oh yeah, and here is the sketch I used. Thanks for a great sketch, Kazan! :)

Hello out there!

2009-09-05T19:27:00.006-04:00

I've been on vacay (well, actually staycay, since we actually didn't go away anywhere) for the last week, enjoying the last week of summer and getting ready for a new school year. As a result, I've haven't been on the computer too much at all. But I think I'm ready to join the blog land again after my nice break. :) (you need that every once in a while... at least I do!). So I've been catching up on Google Reader and saw that I still had some time for Dawn's latest color challenge. I've fallen a bit behind... but hey, those things happen! ;)

Love these colors - they get me in the mood and mindset for fall! I think it times perfectly, because up until today, the weather has been kinda fall-ish. The mornings and the evenings have been cool, which is a sure sign the fall is around the corner. My littlest guy had 2 playdates that I set up this week at the park, and we had to wear sweatshirts both days (I even wore jeans on Wednesday!). Playdates are rare for my kiddies since they are in school full day and our weekends are chock full of sports, so it was a nice treat for my youngest, who is too small to go on playdates on his own still (he's only 4).

Anyway, back to the cards. I got ambitious and made 2 (yep, count 'em 2) cards for this challenge. These were for 2 birthday parties my kids had this week (love when the challenge works for real-life needs!) I haven't had much time for stamping in the last few weeks and have only made cards that I have needed (vs. just for fun or for challenges). For some reason the first card (the all-star card), made an impression on my oldest kiddo - he said it is his fave card to date (can you believe that... and it's pretty hard to impress a 9-year boy with cards! The second care is a little card - 3x3, which was sized for PTI newest/littlest envies. So cute. I love this size. Plus it is so quick to make a card this size - so little room to fill - LOL.

Well, hope that the end of your summer has been great. My kiddos start back up on Tuesday. They are excited. I just can't believe on another school year is here already... kinda bittersweet, but overall I'm happy. :)

Just in Time!

2009-08-25T19:19:00.002-04:00

This will be short on deets to make the deadline, but I'm happy to make the Blog Hop this month. Thank you so much, Tina, for the reminder tweet! :) We were away for the long weekend and just got back this afternoon. So I just whipped up this card so that I could join in on the fun.

The theme was autumn and we were supposed to include texture. We have this wonderful bush outside our house, which served as my inspiration piece. I think it came out well all things considered - LOL.

Thanks so much and I can't wait to see all the wonderful creations! :)

TIC #6 - Better Late than Never

2009-08-18T07:00:00.004-04:00

So it's a bit late, but I was inspired by the wonderful photo from TIC #6 to create this card. After a busy week last week, that left little time for creating, I was glad to get some time to craft last night. Such a great way to wind down a day, right? ;)

My inspiration starting point this time was the arches, which made me think of this oldie, but goodie from SU. I remember when this doodle set was all the rage. I still love pulling it out and using it (hence why I have a hard time parting with any of my sets - I still have almost every set that I have ever bought!). I love the line art look of this set. I colored it with copics that I drew from the pic - purple, grey, green and the pops of pinky-red from the flowers. I love purple... I need to use it more often - so thanks for the inspiration, Tina.

Off to work - hope that you have a great day! :)

Happy, Happy Day

2009-08-12T07:16:00.006-04:00

Hello, hello and good morning! Little neglectful (think I just made up a word!) of the blogette, but I did have a card for this morning. I've been working on thank you cards for my littlest's birthday party from a couple weeks ago, and it is a bit slow going... but I'll get there eventually. So I have yet to get to any challenge cards this week (maybe tonite...).

I made this card over the weekend for a birthday party that one of my kiddos is supposed to go to today from 11-2. Well, I say "supposed" to, because he was invited. But unfortunately, he won't be going. Now I know there is no rule that birthday parties HAVE to be on the weekend, but it makes it very hard to partake when it is in the middle of the day during the work week - and you (meaning me, in this case) work. But then again, it's their party and you can have it when you want to, and there is a great part of the population of SAHMs and kiddos that are able to take advantage of it ... I'm just not one of them - LOL! Plus it's the summer, so I do get it in the whole scheme of things. So no complaints - luckily this doesn't happen too much so the kids don't often miss out. I'll be dropping off the gift at some point this week - just not during the day!!

Anyways, I hope you have a great Wednesday, no matter what you are doing! We're almost to the back half of another week already...

Mind your manners...

2009-08-07T00:15:00.003-04:00

And say thank you.

It's been a few days, but tonight I have been spending my time saying thank you (well, actually making cards that say it) to all the wonderful camp counselors that have taken great care of my kids. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I can never say thank you enough to these wonderful peeps that teach, entertain and play with my kiddies while I'm at work. Can't believe the summer is on the back end already. Tomorrow is the last day of camp and then we enter the part of the summer when we have to piece together coverage through weekly camps until I am off for the last 2 weeks before school starts back up again. Gotta get creative since I can't take 4 weeks off (could you imagine?? LOL)

This will be a quickie, so here is one of the cards I made. Used a little Basic Grey goodness to pretty much make this card and finished off with a PTI sentiment, nestied Enchanted Evening CS and some buttons. Gets the message across, no?

Well, off to bed... it has been a long week for me work-wise. Lots of late nights to get everything done (altho it never is "done," it seems, but such is life, I guess). Looking forward to the weekend... but then again, who doesn't ;)

Beach Inspired Birthday...

2009-08-03T22:55:00.007-04:00

Whew- how weekends just fly by!! I felt like it was Friday evening... and then I blinked, and now suddenly it's Monday night.

This past weekend, we celebrated my littlest one's 4th birthday. We celebrated a month later due to the hectic baseball schedule that ruled our schedules for most of July. I wanted to pick a date that I was sure we'd have all 5 of us free. Have to give everyone their time and I am a firm believer in celebrating birthdays to the fullest - after all, you just get one a year. And at the age that my boys are, there aren't very days that are more important in a year ;)

But I did make a point of carving out some time last night to get inspired. We had a beautiful pic for this week's TIC. Can you imagine having this scene out your front door? It is certainly different from the view I had in suburban America as well. The closest thing that I've seen like it in person was in Hawaii on my honeymoon. What an amazingly wonderful place to visit. We keep talking about going back, but we laugh as there is a part of us that doesn't want to go back for fear of ruining the image of Utopia that we have built in our memories. It probably will be quite different going back to visit with 3 kids - haha. I'm definitely NOT to the point where I'd be ready to eave the kiddos for an extended period of time. We've only taken one airplane trip without them, but we were still on the continental US.

Anyway, so back to the card... the first thing that jumped out at me was of course the color of the ocean and sky, but also the tropical foliage in the bottom right corner. I'm guess that is palm leaves and some other tropical plant. So those are the main elements that I used to create my card. I used this SU die of the branches and leaves and layered it on two different shades of blue. The color looks like a light blue closer to the shore, which I mimic'd with the bitty dots paper on the PTI EE card stock. And lastly I stamped the sentiment in vintage cream... like sand.

And there you have it. Thanks, Tina, for the challenge and thanks, Claudia, for the inspiration pic :)

Every Day... (RSCC13 &2S4Y)

2009-07-30T00:30:00.001-04:00

So, quick post, then I have to be getting to bed. Way too many late nights in the last few weeks (I'm due for a 9pm early bed time re-charge soon), but I do enjoy down time each night after work, no matter how late my down time starts. On a night like this, I just sit, relax and enjoy the silence while I am making a card or scrapping a page. No music needed at all. I wonder if I am the only one who will trade in much needed sleep just to have an hour or so to myself before turning in for the night...

Back with another Raspberry Suite challenge and this time I combined it with my first try at a 2 Sketches 4 You sketch. I had heard and read about the sketches from perusing all the other blogs, but decided I would try it after seeing Sharon's card (Paperfections) today. Love those apples! So about my card... I had a slightly different take on the sketch since the vertical panel had the sentiment and I didn't want to cover it up. So I just put the oval behind it. But all the pieces are there!

I made this for my husband's cousin's daughter (still following me?) who graduated from high school this year. We couldn't make it to her party (baseball game!), but still want to make sure we send her a congratulations gift.

She's off to college next year. Ahhh to be heading off to college. I remember that time for me like yesterday (even if it has been way longer than that - LOL)... what a wonderful time in my life... my history. Too bad I don't realize it fully at the time (does any 18 year old?). But you know what they say about hindsight... Do you ever wish to go back and do any of your life again? Part of me wishes I could go back, but in the end, I wouldn't change anything I did or really want to go back. My life TODAY is a wonderful gift and I can't imagine not being exactly where I am. So my goal is to work hard to enjoy each day to the fullest, because in the end you never get any of it back anyway...

Ok - that was a random tangent... this was just supposed to be a grad card! Definitely time for me to head to bed! Later.

WSC 90 (almost!)

2009-07-27T23:15:00.003-04:00

Hello, hello! Checking in with my try at WSC 90. This is one penguin who is very secure with his inner penguin! I wanted to dust of this guy this weekend to make a birthday card for young girl. So I figured that a healthy dose of pink, with some green would do the trick. (That's my story and I'm sticking to it - LOL!) And of course you can't forget the purple pail.

I used the sketch as a guide and pretty much only deviated in that I used a circle for the main image instead of the oval. The penguin wouldn't fit in an oval, so that made that easy. ;)

On a side note, I can't believe it is only Monday... Well, it just means there is that much more week to enjoy LOL (again, that's my story, and I'm sticking to it. Trying to enjoy the moment - no matter what kind of a moment it is). Have a good one!

Deets: Inky Antics Penguin; PTI - Birthday Basics (sentiment); CS: PTI: Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet and White, PP (can't remember where it's from since it was a scrap); Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: Prismas & Gamsol, Copics, Sweet Blush Ribbon, Nestie

What's Black, White and...

2009-07-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

...red all over. Answer: My card for this month's PTI Blog Hop! :)

Hello, hello... SO excited for another monthly blog hop. Can't wait to see all the creative goodies out in paper crafting blogland. This month, Nichole called for out take on texted background. So this was my take on it. I still am old school when it comes to the thinking about the newspapery text on actual newspaper - hence using Soft Stone as my base! I then out with a polka dot background (really lovin' PDB II - the spacing of the dots are fab and perfect, imo) in Fresh Snow and then stamped the scripty text in grey to finish my background.

I decided to focus on the newspapery text to ground my big 'ol red flower (get it? - red all over LOL). A perfectly picked button with a black bow and there you have it. Black, white and red all over. ;) Now I'm off to check all the other texty-creations. Thanks for visiting.

Deets: (All PTI, unless noted) Stamps - Friends Til the End, BB Text Style, Birthday Basics; CS - Soft Stone and Pure Poppy, Ink: Fresh Snow, VersaMagic Red, Versamark; Other: Button, DMC Floss, Ranger Embossing Powder

Welcome to my 1st TIChallenge!

2009-07-24T23:58:00.001-04:00

Hello, hello. Quick post before I call it a night. Busy weekend full of fun things ahead, so I need to be ready, refreshed and on my toes. They never are long enough (the weekends, I mean), are they?

I have gotten hooked on following this very creative blog for a couple weeks now, and I am finally getting a chance to jump on her weekly summer Inspiration challenge. Tina (bka as Travelingmama!) has these wonderful pics that serve as the inspiration piece for whatever you decide to make each week. Love her style, both as a papercrafter and blogger. She has a great "voice" like that. So thanks for the daily dose of inspiration, Tina! :) Here is the challenge pic and this is what I came up with for it.

I sometimes wonder if I strangle the creativity out of these type of challenge as I seem to take them kinda literally. Which leads me to often wonder how creative I really am. But in trying not to be too hard on myself and just enjoy my hobby, I just ignored the thoughts and forged on.

So here is my thought process. I was struck immediately by the wonderful colors, the arch of the door and for some reason that window (hmmm... this actually gets less creative as I type this out - LOL). I used Soft Stone as my base (reminded me of the door and window frame). I used a stamp I have had for a while and have always loved of a three tier plate of desserts for 3 reasons: (1) the handle with its loop and flourishes reminded me of the door and the general shape reminded me of the door; (2) the deserts kinda reminded of me of something you would either have or bring to a home) and; (3) I just really wanted to dust off and use this image! I then used the orangy- square to mimic the window next to my "door." And lastly I decided to use a "home" sentiment to wrap it all together. See... I told you it was pretty literal. But it was my best effort!! Ok, so this ended up not being so quick of a post, but that's ok too.

Thanks again for a fun challenge - I look forward to next Friday's! I'll be back tomorrow with my PTI blog hop entry. I can't believe I got it done sooner than the day of the blog hop (will wonders never cease - LOL)!!

Back (FINALLY!) with RSCC 12

2009-07-21T21:42:00.004-04:00

It's a been a busy last few weeks - where does the time go? Somehow, a day turns into a week in just a blink of an eye. Crazy how it just flies. Anyways... getting back into the stamping swing of things with a challenge and some new goodies. My little obsession with this whole stamping thing really cracks me up sometimes. In the whole scheme of things, it is such a random hobby for me... but I think that's why I love it so... it is sorta the square trying to fit in the circles of my life. Scrapping fits for the most part, since I have kids and lots of pics of them, but making cards... not so much. It would be so much easier and time efficient for me just to buy the cards - I'm always saying that time is flying anyway, but there is a certain something about making them... must be why I am stubborn when I comes to making them and not giving into the more sensible choice. Oh well. Just one of the many thoughts in my brain right now. The other ones being what I'm going to have a for a snack (for some reason, I'm hungry tonight) and my agenda of things to accomplish at work tomorrow...

Soooo, back to my card. Here is for Dawn's latest color challenge. I'm so drawn to doing these. I seriously can't believe how long I've personally been keeping this up (given how my stamping really ebbs and flows depending on the rest of the landscape of my life at the time).

This new PTI button set it fun and I have to say, I've never had a thing for fruit when I comes to stamping, but lately, it seems like I might be wrong about that notion (wouldn't be the first time - LOL).

A summer card for season

2009-07-09T00:26:00.004-04:00

Hello, hello! :) Here's a summer birthday card that I made this week for the daughter of one of our close friends. She turned 8 and so I wanted to put a bunch of bright fun colors together to celebrate her birthday. The thought of combining the coral and the pink came by way of a fun accident. I had 2 scraps of those colors next to each other in my scrap bag and the combo caught my eye. I thought it looked fun and just went with it. So I actually had my own color inspiration! :) I hope that she liked it and that I have a few more of these color inspirations on a regular basis.

I used a fun set from CHF - the stamps had been getting a little dusty, so I thought it was time to re-visit and use them again, especially since it is SUMMER. Normally I would color in the images, but in this case I just used stamped them on different colors of CS. I like the look and have to remember to do this again.

...So maybe the break from my CHF stamps was a positive thing creatively for me. ;) Stay tuned to see what else I can come up with creatively.

RSCC #11 - Martini, anyone?

2009-07-05T20:44:00.004-04:00

Here's my try this week for Dawn's color challenge.

Not a color combo I would think to put together on my own, but that's why I enjoy doing these. I've been on a streak - I've done a few of these color challenges in a row now (yay!). For some reason I was drawn back to this image, which was a freebie in an eP package sometime ago. I also used a combination of copics and prismas/gamsol to get all the colors in. I like the way this card turned out. Anyway, this will go into my stash of birthday cards for some figure use. Love when I can just come downstairs and find a card and be ready to go! And I think this is a card one of my friends would enjoy receiving.

Hope that you had a great July 4th weekend - I did! Lots of family time in the SUN! I can't believe the weekend is almost over. Busy week ahead, so not sure how much stamping will be going on in the following days, but I know that when I do, it'll be relaxing and very enjoyable. Have a great week ahead! :)

Deets:

Stamps: Rubber Romance; CS: PTI - Raspberry Fizz, Soft Stone; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and VersaMagic - Red Magic; Other: Copics, Prismas and Gamsol, Bitty Dots - New Leaf, SU dimensionals and Kaiser rhinestones

Lovely as a...Friend

2009-06-29T22:20:00.004-04:00

I've been working on a couple of cards for a blog contest on MoxieWorld.com. She runs contests pretty often, and they are fun to try when I have a free moment. The current one running was to create a card that somehow incorporates a tree. This is one of the cards that I made. I picked Father Knows Best as my prize for "winning" PTI's GSS from a couple of months ago. I had always liked the set, but somehow it would always get bumped in my cart when it came time to order. I used the tree from that set, along with a sentiment put together from the Friends Til the End set. I colored in the leaves with copics to give it a little extra. I liked the way it came out and will save it to send to friend, for no reason other than just because! :)

(Can you tell that I've been using all the handy dandy tricks I learned on the sideoats and scribbles blog to edit my pics? LOL)

Deets: Father Knows Best, Friends Til the End; CS: PTI Kraft, Spring Moss and Melon Berry; Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa and PTI Melon Berry; Other: Bitty Dots ribbon (Melon Berry), Spring Moss button and Copics

Inspired to Relax

2009-06-25T19:00:00.002-04:00

This month's blog hop theme was summer-inspired! We are supposed to pick something summer related and use that as a springboard. Given that it has rained all but 5 days in the month of June (a FB friend mentioned this tid-bit in his status update yesterday as it rained AGAIN!), I decided to look for summer inspiration in a magazine... where is is always sunny!

This pic called to me as soon as I say it and it definitely screamed lazy days of summer to me. How relaxing and inviting this chair looks!! I would love to curl up with a good book and kick my flip flops over the side too. :)

But since I can't, I made the card instead - LOL ... I used the colors, drink, pillow, sunglasses and flip flops and built my card around those things. I tilted the green label to mimic the pillow laying on the lounge chair. I think this makes for a fun summery way to say congrats to a friend. Thanks for checking out my try at the blog hop. Can't wait to see how everyone else was inspired by summer!

Deets:

Stamps: PTI Day at the Beach; Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; CS: PTI New Leaf, Lemon Tart and Kraft; Other: Scarlet Jewel twill, white thread, dimensionals and Kaiser Rhinestones

Something very NEW for me...

2009-06-24T00:23:00.008-04:00

I LOVE to take pics. I take them all the time of the kiddos... I try very hard to capture every moment in my family's lives. BUT, that does not mean I do it very well. So I've decided to try to get better at it (and hopefully get better pics of my cards in the process too).

This started when I stumbled upon this this really neat blog - sideoats and scribbles. It's a really neat blog... one that I'm still exploring, but the reason I stumbled up it was that I had seen Lisa's blog highlighted on someone else's blog because of the photography toots she (I think) started recently. Although she is also an amazing (and published) papercrafter too! :)

I tried the sharpening challenge this week, and in the process incorporated the white balance lesson as well. It's definitely a very beginner try at this, but I have learned so much already. I've had Adobe on my laptop, but think that before tonight had used only the automatic fixes for the pics. So let's give it a whirl with Scribbles Challenge #3.

So here is the original pic. This is one of the thank you gift card holders I made for my kiddos' teachers (I made a bunch of these, as my kids have lots of teachers to thank since they are in school and afterschool all day).

And here is my new and (hopefully) improved picture. Can you tell a difference?

I started by doing the levels adjustment, which was difficult since there was no white on my card (plus it was my first time!), so I focused on the top of the white cabinet that the card was sitting on. Then I started on the actual challenge by sharpening the images using the 2 filters. Lisa, your directions are really clear... but I definitely need practice though, as I wasn't sure how much to adjust without it getting too distorted and grainy. I had to try it a couple times, because I couldn't tell how the card was going to looking to look until I pressed "ok" to make the dialog box disappear. Maybe I should've sharpened more... not too sure yet. But I do like how the rock and roll technique I used for the limes really came through much clearer on the second pic. :)

So that ends today's experiment- LOL. I will definitely be following along Lisa's blog for both her creativity and photography tips and lessons going forward. And practicing lots too. I guess these techniques also go for photographs too, right?? (hmmm... question for another day/experiment - now it's time for bed!)

Deets:

Stamps: SU Tart and Tangy, PTI Day at the Beach; CS: Lemon Tart, Spring Moss; Ink: SU Kiwi Kiss and Always Artichoke (rock and roll technique); Other: Spring Moss grosgrain.

Another color challenge - snail mail

2009-06-23T06:49:00.004-04:00

Whew, it's been a little while since I last posted. The last couple of weeks of school coincided with a busy run at work, hence not too much creating until last night. Here is my try at Dawn's latest color challenge. Loved the colors - I don't use coral-ly colors much, but I loved how the combo came together. :) I also love how PTI has matching copics and are starting to create more coloring sets. I like the look of cards created solid stamps, but I also really love to color and the result of those kinds of cards. It gives PTI even that much more versatility to all kinds of stampers and well as diversity so that all their cards don't necessarily have the same type of look.

This is my first time inking up this fun new PTI set, and I actually have a couple of ideas swirling around, so I am going to have to give them a whirl the next time I sit down at my craft desk. Hope your week is less soggy than ours. I think there is a rain cloud just parked long-term over NJ...

Deets: Stamps - PTI Vintage Picnic; Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; CS - PTI Melon Berry, Berry Sorbet, Cream & Bitty Dots, SU Chocolate Chip; Other: PTI buttons!!, SU Ribbon, dimensionals

So Very...

2009-06-11T07:00:00.001-04:00

Hello, hello (and good morning!) Quick card and quick post for today. I like how this card turned and LOVE that it was pretty quick in the making, once I figured out my layout and used up some scraps. It's not based on a sketch or anything - I just picked up a bunch of the aforementioned scraps that I had and went from there. This was the first time my set of Star Prints saw any ink and I must say that I love all the different patterns each of the stars have. Very versatile set with many uses. I also like the font - so very different from any other set I have, so it really stands out.

Anyway, it's raining here AGAIN today. The color theme for the week here - grey, grey and more grey. Where is the summer weather from the weekend? I am crossing my fingers that summer gets here by the weekend.

I Wanna...Soak Up the Sun!

2009-06-08T22:57:00.003-04:00

Hello, hello! My week is off to a great start (maybe a spillover from the beautiful weather we had all weekend long?) and to top it off, I was able to find time to make a second card this week. Two in two days - not a usual occurrence for me, but I'll happily take it. I am still multi-taking and making another EOY teacher card using this week's SFYTT. This time I paired the sentiment, "You deserve it" with another of the phrases that come with this fun set. I think it still gets the message across to my boys' teachers. ;) I got creative and put a few colors together that I don't think I've used before (at least not that I can remember). I think it has a summery feel and I have to say that I really like Rich Avocado. I don't have that color (ie. inks, ribbons etc) other than the sheets that came in the sampler pack - I think that the color must have came out during a crafting dry spell. But I think that I will have to invest in the ribbon on a future PTI order. I was originally thinking it had a wintery or even autumny feel, but I think that it works well on a summery card too.

Hope that you're having a great Monday night. :)

Deets:

Stamps: PTI - A Day at the Beach; Inks: PTI - Berry Sorbet, Versamark Dazzle, SU-Always Artichoke; CS: PTI - Summer Sunrise, Rich Avocado, Berry Sorbet, Soft Stone; Other: PTI Berry Sorbet twill, dimensionals

RSCC #8 - You Deserve it! :)

2009-06-07T21:00:00.005-04:00

Couldn't let the weekend pass without trying Dawn's latest color challenge. I think the deadline is tonight, so I might even be on time - bonus! :) Anyway, I decided to use the colors and make a thank you card to give to one of the boys' teachers. The end of the school is coming up quickly (how did that happen?), and I need to get on our thank yous. I thought that this pair of sentiments is perfect for any teacher at the end of the school year....

We had a fun weekend - the weather was amazing - it felt like summer both days (then again it IS summer - LOL). It was great all the same.

Can't believe another work week is set to start. No travelling this week, except for a lunch in the city, and I got a couple of big deadlines (and successfully I might add!) behind me last week, so hopefully there will be a moment to create during the week. Even though I'd love to been bit more consistent in my crafting, I am thankful for the time I have (makes me enjoy it more, kwim?), and even more so for having a career that keeps me as busy as it does. NO complaints here. It's a hobby afterall. ;)

Have a great week. Hope to check in soon.

Deets:
Stamps: PTI - A Day at the Beach; CS: PTI Cream and Kraft: Ink: SU Pink Passion, Cream, Memento Rich Cocoa, Adirondack Latte (serves as a great Kraft colored ink!); Other: Targe $1 ribbon, dimensionals

Oldie but Goodie and a WSC! :)

2009-05-31T09:13:00.003-04:00

It's been a little while since I have been able to participate in a WSC - but I am going to get back into the swing of them. I used the sketch to make one of birthday cards that we needed this weekend. It was a busy Saturday... 3 games, 3 birthday parties and a bbq meant that again my husband and I split up to get it all done. :)

I used an oldie, but goodie for the main image of this card. While I love all the various new releases to be found each month (and of course always like to get my fill of them - LOL), I like reach back and use the images that I "had" to have at some point in the past. There was a reason I wanted them in the first place, right?? ;) Granted, I don't do it for all my older stamps regularly (although I should either do so or donate them so they get some use somewhere else), as my stamping style and taste have evolved, but there are some tried and trues. This IA image is definitely one of them. I think she is perfect for a card that is going to a little girl. This card for for a 2-year old. :)

Hope that you had a wonderful weekend. I'm bracing myself for a very busy workweek filled with LOTS of work and a {LONG} "day" trip to LA and back (ugh... red eye...) on Thursday. Wish me luck.

Have a good one!

Deets:

Stamps: IA (both image and BG)

CS: SU Certainly Celery, PTI Stamper's Select White; Basic Grey PP

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Other: Target $1 ribbon; SU Rhinestone Brads (Fire Circles); Dimensionals, Copic Markers

Pop of Pink!

2009-05-27T07:33:00.005-04:00

Quickkkkk post!!! It's been a busy first few days of the summer work-wise!! Day trip in and out of Cleveland yesterday, and today, I'm off to my littlest's parents celebration at school this morning (Mother's and Father's day combined), and then off on a train down to DC for the rest of the day. I feel like Plane, Trains and Automobiles - literally! :) But I WILL fit it all in - I'm determined like that.

So fitting it all in also includes Dawn's color challenge this week - LOL. Loved the colors. I'm definitely trying to break out of my blue/brown combo that I seem to fall into time and time again!! I finally using more and more of the pink papers I have in my stash. So thank you, Dawn, for this week's color inspiration.

Ok, gotta gggoooooo! See you again soon.

Stripes of Sunshine for my first Bloghop!

2009-05-25T18:40:00.000-04:00

After my excitement of being highlighted on Nichole's blog for my All-Star Team card for this month's GSS, I'm so glad to get the chance to join in the fun of this month's bloghop. This is my first PTI bloghop and I am so excited to be here! :) I have wanted to join in for one for sooo long, but something always came up, either I wasn't around due ot work, or couldn't get my card done on time. But this time I wasn't going to miss it, since with today being a holiday and us being around. I can't wait to check out everyone's creation tonight too.

I LOVE using yellow and purple together. I had this flower laying aroundas, I didn't quite fit the card it was originally intended for the first time around. But I had this idea to put yellow stripes together and I immediately thought of pairing them with something purple, and this flower jumped to my thoughts. Good thing I was able to track it down!!

Well, hope that you enjoy the card, and that you had a wonderful last day of the long weekend. We did! We had beautiful weather - it only rained once here for us, when it was origianl forecase to rain many times over the weekend. Lucky for us it only rained 1x and after dark last night. And it didn't cool the weather down at all for today (which was a good thing).

It was a great way to start of the summer!!!

Deets:

Stamps: Friends Til the End, BB - Spots and Dots, Shapes by Design,

CS: Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart, Stamper's Select White

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa;

Other: Lemon Tart Twill

Another Color Challenge {done}!

2009-05-19T17:17:00.003-04:00

Hello, hello. I'm home unusually early from work today, so I am sneaking a few quick minutes to post my two cards using Dawn's latest color challenge as inspiration! I really liked this color combo - it is one that I would definitely use again (so thanks, Dawn!) :)

Well, I'm off. The reason that I am home early is because two of my boys have games tonight, so my husband and I are following the action plan of DIVIDE AND CONQUER - Lol. We do this without fail on the weekends now, as all three boys are playing a sport {first time!} - plus my oldest is playing too, so we're following 4 sports teams in total! - Good thing I love sports.

Today is the first time 2 have games at the same time and in two different towns to boot!

Have a great night. I'll check in again soon. :)

Booglie Birthday

2009-05-17T22:46:00.003-04:00

I love this little monster from the Little Guy set from CHF. He looks like a happy little monster (despite the big eyes). I always thought he looked like he was waving his arms for attention, but when I decided to use him for this weekend's birthday card (only 1 this weekend!), I thought he could also be holding a flag. So I searched around and found this flag in an old SU set.

I had to omit a word that was part of the stamp, but it all worked out ok in the end.

Even though it was for a little boy (as my cards usually are!), I thought that glitter was in order on the stars. ;)

Hope you had a great weekend! Enjoy the start of the week.

Giving the Gridlines a Go...

2009-05-14T21:27:00.000-04:00

Hello, hello!

These were my submissions for PTI's April GSS. I've been doing submitting cards for the past couple months since I've gotten back in the full swing of stamping, and I hope to continue to do so. I submitted a card for May too, so we'll see. I might even submit a second card, if I get a chance to take a pic and get it in on time. I must admit that getting the pics edited and then uploaded is such a time sink for me. Something seems to happen to my attention space between the time I finish a card and when I eventually get it uploaded. Have to see what I can do about that! LOL Anyway, here are the cards!

Better Late than Never!

2009-05-13T21:17:00.004-04:00

This was my card based on Dawn's most recent color challenge. I was on time in making this (I finished it over the week), but missed the deadline to post. Oh well - so I figured I'd still post it anyway. I had to get creative with the Smoky Shadow requirement of the sketch, since I haven't had the opportunity to get. I didn't think I "needed" it... but guess what will be in my cart the next time I place a PTI order! ;) So my solution for Smoky Shadow - lightening up Tuxedo black by re-stamping the image in SU craft white right on top. It took the edge off the black and gave it a softer look, imo. Otherwise the card is pretty self-explanatory. I made it for my niece's First Communion, which we celebrated over the weekend.

Thanks for checking out my card!

Deets:

Stamps: PTI Everyday Blessings and Mega Mixed Messages (reach for this set ALL the time now, it seems); CS: PTI Raspberry Fizz Bitty Dot, Stamper's Select White, SU Regal Rose; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Craft White, Regal Rose (craft); Other: SU Regal Rose ribbon, dimensionals, Labels 1 and Square Nesties

First Try at a SFYTT!

2009-04-27T18:54:00.005-04:00

Hello, Hello! I gave this week's, I {Heart} to Stamp's SFYTT a whirl for the first time last night and used the sketch to create a birthday card. Now I know it doesn't look like a birthday card based on the sentiment I chose for the front (I did use a birthday sentiment on the inside though), but this card is kinda doing double duty. I made it for a friend that I have been lucky to re-connect with after many years of not being in touch. She was my grade school best friend and we have been having the best time catching up and getting close again. I had been meaning to make her a card with this sentiment (which I LOVE), and since it is her birthday tomorrow, I put it all together.

I had originally planned on used the PTI Bitty Dots paper, but then as I went along, I decided that none of the colors in the pack really worked. So I basically improvised and used the Melon Berry Bitty Dot ribbon and put a few of pieces together to make the panel as called for in the sketch. I thought it was different and hopefully adds some interest...

We have had summer weather here for the last few days - it is a HEAT WAVE. Not that I am really complaining, but we basically went straight from winter straight to summer! I have a tan to prove it and everything - and that was just from one day out in the sun for the boys' baseball and soccer games. Crazy. Sadly though, as per accuweather.com, the temps are supposed to drop more than 20 degrees to the 60s by Thursday. Again... crazy! But we're enjoying the weather while we can. I must admit, I do love not freezing while getting in and out of the car these last few days.

Hope your week is off to a great start.

Deets:
Stamps: PTI Life and Birthday Basics (on the inside), CS: PTI Summer Sunrise and Stamper Select white; Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise, Melon Berry, Ocean Tides, Spring Moss; Other: PTI Melon Berry and Ocean Tides ribbons

Make A Wish...

2009-04-23T22:45:00.000-04:00

Hello Hello! Today flew by quickly and was a little shorter work-wise than usual, as it was Bring your Child to Work Day. I brought my 2 older boys and we all had a blast. My work had a set agenda for a small part of the day, but otherwise they spent the day with me. They were great and I was so glad to have their company today and have my co-workers see how awesome they are. ;)

Tonight I whipped up this card so that it is ready for the mail in the am. I paired an oldie, but very much a goodie, with some of my newest (and almost newest) PTI purchases. I like mixing up the new with the old. I hate to think that (or fall into the habit) that I am only buying sets to use for a very short time before just moving on to the next. I like the PTI Text Boxed set - very versatile, although I must admit, after loving all the samples and buying it, I had a hard time actually using it at first. But then I just kept at it and with this set, simpler really does end up better. At least that is what works for me. All of my stuff ends up being pretty simple anyway, but I like the clean, fresh and simple look anyway.

Hope that you are having a great week. Sooooo glad another Friday is almost here. It is supposed be like summer here on the East Coast - high 80s through the whole weekend. Can't wait. We have lots 'o games this weekend. Each of the boys have a game on Saturday and then practice and tryouts for summer teams on top of that.

Well, I'm off to the next thing... which is the treadmill for me.

Have a great one!

Deets:

Stamps: PTI Text Boxed, Mega Mixed Messages, Spots and Dots (fun set!); CS: PTI Soft Stone, Berry Sorbet and Sweet Blush; Ink: SU Wild Wasabi; Other: PTI Ribbon - New Leaf and Berry Sorbet, New Leaf button, dimensionals

Doggie and Dino Birthdays

2009-04-16T00:02:00.003-04:00

Quick post to say hello and check in. These are 2 birthday cards I made - my middle guy had 2 parties in the same weekend a couple of weeks. And believe it or not, it's not that uncommon around here for any of the boys. I think we have 2 this weekend again. My kids are still at the age where everyone mostly has big parties and lots of friends.

Both cards are colored with my lovely prismas and gamsol. I really love using both the prismas and the copics - they both have such different results. I also like how by pairing Wild Wasabi with different colors, it worked just as well for a girl card as it did for the boy birthday card. I had originally bought Wild Wasabi thinking about all the ways I could use it for the boys scrapbook pages and boy cards, but just by pairing it with pink, it worked for a girl card as well. I love pink and green together, but normally don't pair the pink with such a dark green... Now I know! :)

So glad the week is half way through, but I can't believe how quickly it is moving. I have a full load at work, so the days are flying by in a blink of an eye. Which in the whole scheme of things is better than dragging, or worse not being busy at all with a job. Crazy times... So on that note, I better head to bed to be refreshed for a new day tomorrow. :)

Deets: 1st card - Stamp: Elzybells, LAD; CS: PTI Sweet Blush, Stamper's Select White, SU Wild Wasabi; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Wild Wasabi; Basic Grey PP; Other: Basic Grey brads, dimensionals; PTI Sweet Blush Swiss Dots ribbon, Prismas and Gamsol

Dino Birthday: Stamps, CHF Little Guy and Tags sets: CS: SU Wild Wasabi, Stamper's Select White, Basic Grey PP; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: Prismas and Gamsol

Teacher Thanks

2009-04-13T22:17:00.001-04:00

Hello, Hello.

I'm winding down from a wonderful L-O-N-G, 5-day weekend with the family. Back to reality to tomorrow for everybody in my house. The kids are back in school after Spring Break and I'm back to work. Today was a very nice bonus - one of those Teacher in Service days, that happened to fall on a Monday after Spring Break, which was preceded by 4 half days for Teacher's Conferences! It feels like it has been a month since my boys have been in school!

I actually made this card before the holidays. My middle guy is in kindergarten, and I know I have mentioned this before, but I just {heart} his teacher. She is so sweet and my guy is loving her class. He's learning in leaps and bounds.

Every year, his elementary school's PTA sponsors a very fun mom's night out that includes silent auction. All proceeds go to his school, so how could you go wrong. So the silent auction includes teacher stuff - most of the teacher's donate an outing doing something with them (some do pizza dinners, ice cream runs, trip to the mall for a Build-a Bear etc.). My middle guy's teacher auctioned off a trip to Barnes and Noble and lunch with her and a friend of the winner's choice. I won the auction and they recently did the Barnes and Noble outing. My middle guy and his friend had a blast, and his teacher even bought them each books. Such a NICE gesture and fun time for the boys. I was really appreciative and this was the thank you card that I sent her. Gotta love our teachers!

Have a great nite! See ya.

Deets:

Stamps: CHF - Daisy Jar and Making the Grade (sentiment); Inks: Memento Rich Cocoa; Paper: PTI Stamper's Select White, Lemon Tart, BG PP; Other: PTI Lemon Tart twill, dimensionals and copics (can I even begin to tell you how excited I am that PTI is going to start carrying copics this month AND on top of that - putting together sets of 3s to match PTI colors?! Sooooo excited!)

Happy Easter Wishes!

2009-04-12T23:39:00.004-04:00

It is the closing minutes of a wonderful Easter today, and I wanted to check in to share a card that I made for the holiday. I used the most recent PTI sketch challenge for the card - I think it's the first time I tried one of their sketches. Or if it isn't the first, then it's the first one in a very LONG while. I'm still playing with PTI's Beyond Basic Borders. I'm having fun putting the different elements together to see what combo I can come up with each time. This time the focus was more on color. I put together a combo that reminded me of spring... (which I wish would finally be here to stay, but that's a different topic!) and tied it all together with the ribbon and button.

We had a wonderful Easter day. We all slept in a little bit and headed over to 11:30am Mass (we usually go to the 10am Mass, because it is the Children's Mass) and then spent the afternoon at my FIL, which has become our annual Easter tradition. After lunch, we have our annual egg hunt, which the kids talk about for days before Easter.

Hope that you had a great day and weekend too. :)

Deets: Stamps: PTI Beyond Basic Borders, Mega Mixed Messages; CS: PTI Stamper Select White, Melon Berry, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise; Ink: Melon Berry, Aqua Mist, Summer Sunrise, SU Wild Wasabi (VERY close match to New Leaf ink); Other: PTI New Leaf Bitty Dot, Aqua Mist grosgrain ribbons, Melon Berry button

Coral Thanks

2009-04-07T01:43:00.005-04:00

Where did the week go?? It seems like just yesterday I was posting with my first Raspberry Suite Challenge, and then before I know it, here I am again, checking in with the next installment. This one took me a bit to figure out how to put the colors together, but I'm glad that I tried it. It is a fun color combo - so thank you very much, Dawn. :) I will definitely put this in the memory banks to use again.

I used this challenge to also finally use Beyond Basic Borders, a PTI set that I bought late last month (post-release rush), but hadn't gotten a chance to try until now. Fun set, and pretty easy to make a card too. I will be using this one lots, I think. I had specifically bought it to go with the Journaling set that came out for my scrapbooks, but that whole effort is temporarily on hold until my new crafting area is set back up. It won't be too much longer, as we are in the final stages of the work (although I feel like I have been saying that, but really, I think this is it!). So excited about that. My scrapbooks have been so neglected.

So here's my card, which again, came together pretty quick once I figured out how I wanted the color combo to come to life on my card....

I'm off to bed now...late night, even for me! But it seems like there is always one more thing that I want to get done before calling it a day. Am I the only one who thinks this way. You should see all the things that I still didn't get to on my list today, even though I am still up at this hour. Never ends (but in a good way, really!)...

Have a great week - check in again with another card soon! :)

Deets: Stamps - PTI Beyond Basic Borders; CS: PTI Kraft, Berry Sorbet, Vanilla; Ink: PTI Berry Sorbet, SU Real Red, Vanilla; Other: PTI Sweet Blush grosgrain.

My 1st Try at a Raspberry Suite Color Challenge...

2009-04-01T00:01:00.006-04:00

Hello, hello :) I finally got a chance to try Dawn's color challenge after missing out on the opportunity to work on her first one. I just LOVED the colors this week! I wanted to make a card for a friend who I found out recently had surgery. She has a daughter in my youngest son's class, so I tucked it into his folder so that it will make its way into her folder in the morning. Hopefully it will brighten up my friend's day tomorrow. Card is easy peasy, but I thought it turned out well. Just a little bit of embellishment - so glad to finally get a chance to use the kaiser rhinestones I bought from eP a few weeks ago. I was determined to dig them out from underneath the drop cloths once I saw the color combo for this challenge. I have been working with limited supplies, although I must admit that my "little" stash has been growing with all of my recent PTI purchases and trips down to the basement to get "just one more thing" I needed for a card! I might need a hand moving everything back downstairs from the guest room where I have been storing my crafting things, at the rate I am going!

I have actually made a ton of cards in the last couple weeks that are just waiting to be uploaded. I have to get on that. Hopefully it will be easier for me to stamp and post what I make again when I can set up my new crafting area... just a few more weekends - I can't wait!!

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI - Life (LOVE this set and can definitely see myself using it a ton!); CS: PTI Stamper's Select; Ink: SU Taken with Teal, PTI Spring Moss, Memento Rich Cocoa; Other: PTI Spring Moss Twill, Kaiser Rhinestones

Catching up

2009-03-16T06:30:00.000-04:00

Hello, Hello. It's a been a couple of weeks since I have had a chance to check in, so now I need to catch up and share all the cards that I have made in the last couple of weeks. It's been a busy time - I think it's definitely due to the fact that spring is in the air. :) Soooo happy about that. We're moving on to the next season sporting-wise, after having finished a very exciting basketball season yesterday. My oldest kiddo had his last game yesterday and the team finished with a victory in their tournament. We're starting to move into the competitive world of trophies that they earn, vs. the participation trophy. They were so excited. But I have to say, I was very proud at the the sportsmanship of the boys. The boys played awesome - they have come so far in a season and it was also wonderful to see what great team spirit they had as well. They won as a team yesterday, which made the win even better.

So onto the cards... these were for {of course} two birthday parties. This was for the parties the boys had last weekend. We had another 2 this past weekend, so I'll share those later this week. Moving onto spring sports in more ways than one... I used an IA Sporty Kids for these cards, colored in with prismas and gamsol. Sentiment is from CHF.

Have a great Monday!

Comforting Polka Dots (and in less than 10 minutes!)

2009-03-03T23:31:00.010-05:00

Hello, Hello!!

Tonight was one of those nights when I just wanted to get something done, but really not expend many brain cells. :) As a backdrop - I walked in the door well after 9pm tonight. Long day in the office. After eating a quick bite (I hadn't eaten dinner and was starving!), I decided to get creative as a means of just unwinding from the day. The kids were fast asleep already (I hate when I miss them before bed), but luckily, I saw them for longer than usual this morning because I started my day by volunteering at my middle guy's school. Today was the big community service day and we packed donated items for Operation Shoebox with the kids. FUN morning (that started at 7:45am) and it was all the better knowing that our packages were going to be heading to one of our soldiers.

So back to my late evening crafty endeavors... I decided I wanted to make a card, but I wanted to make a quick one. No long drawn out process/no agonizing over the layout to come up with something unique (well, at least for me)/no going and searching through all my stuff under drop cloths/and definitely looking through oodles of challenges on the internet... way tooo tired for that. So I just made a card - and in about 10 minutes I must add, from start to finish. Not only was it simple (which is all I usually do anyway), but quick. Very refreshing in a way (LOL). You wouldn't believe how long it can take me to make a "simple" one-layer card! And the bonus is that I like how it came out.

There's nothing earth shattering to tell about this card, other than it is for a dear friend that I have re-connected with after years of no contact for no other reason then we grew up and apart. Hey - just like my card - no drama!

I used this fun Kim Hughes/CHF set that I only got recently (took advantage of their recent Valentine's sale!).

Anyway, I'm pooped and I have to do it all over again tomorrow. Nite!

Deets: CHF Comforting Hugs; Paper: PTI Melon Berry and Stamper's Select White; Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; Other: Paper Piercer, Copics, American Crafts ribbon

Elegant Hello

2009-03-01T22:11:00.005-05:00

Happy Sunday night! I'm still having fun with my new PTI stuff (mostly because I really like all the new stuff I got, but also because I only have access to a limited amount my stamping stash!). Here is another card I made today during some free time I had in the morning before the rest of my house woke up. I love the quiet of the mornings on the weekend. It's part of the reason that I get up early even on the days when I don't have to get up.

I made a pattern with one of the images from the Damask Designs set. I thought the buttons would give some division to the card, sort of like using a different PP. What do you think? I also decided not to put any kind of twine or thread in the button holes, instead turning it so that the holes mimic'd the background I made. Just thought this would add a little interest without adding another layer of paper.

I am really loving the pink and green combo. Since I am limited to the amount of stamping stuff I have, I must say that these are 2 great colors to be using over and over, especially given this time of the year.

Well, I'm off to finish the rest of my night and get to bed. There's {BIG} snow in the forecast for tomorrow. Soooo big that they cancelled school for tomorrow already ;) Crazy, if you ask me. I'm a bit torn... I definitely do not want snow. {Where is the spring time already!???}, but, it will definitely bother me if the kids are off and this blizzard turns out to be a big dud. Actually, who am I kidding - I hope the blizzard is a big dud... then I won't have such a horrible commute into work tomorrow. LOL.

Deets: Stamps - Damask Designs; Paper: PTI Stamper's Select White; Ink: PTI Melon Berry; SU Wild Wasabi (veerrry close to the new green color released this month); Other: PTI ribbon and buttons.

Doing the Damask (and this time, I'm actually "with" the times)!...

2009-02-26T16:38:00.006-05:00

Hello, Hello to the few and the brave that check in from time to time! :)

I finally got my latest Paper Trey Ink goodies in the mail the other day and couldn't wait to try it all out. I hadn't gotten my PTI fix in a few months, but a couple of the sets this month really caught my eye. PTI has been all the rage in the stamping/crafting world (or at least the world that I follow!) ever since it debuted a couple of years ago. I have been a fan of most things PTI, and have slowly been adding them to my crafty collection.

I must to admit, I didn't realize how lucky I was to get my hands on the Damask set, until I saw the e-mail alerts that it had sold out soon after the 2/15 release. :) Like I've said before, I love all things stamping and crafty, but I tend to not be on the cutting edge of trends (definitely not one of the cool kids - LOL!) - most times I will finally catch on to stuff after most of the stamping famous have moved on to the next new thing. But this time, I'm not the last person to try something new.

I was definitely drawn to this set - I actually hadn't bought a PTI set in a while until I saw this one. I can see myself using it a lot - every card can't be a kiddie card for one of my boys, right? ;) On another thought, I also happen to visit (silently) this set's designer, Dawn, as regularly as I can. I thought it was pretty neat when I read that she was starting to design sets. I like her stamping style - love the colors she uses and her fun clean style. Obviously her first set was a success... and to think that I have one of them - LOL. Oh it's the little things... this is so why I love this hobby...

Have a great evening... I'm home from work today, so I'm off to start dinner (what a novelty during the week!) and spend some quality time with the fam. See ya.

P.S. Margot - I tried to e-mail you back, but your link doesn't show an e-mail addy. So if you happened to be back visiting my blog again... I just curved the PP with the sentiment between my fingers and then secured the part of the curve that touches the card base with an SU dimensional. It keeps it pretty secure. Hope that helps (woo hoo - I think that was my first question EVER from a reader! :) )

Deets:

Stamps: PTI Damask Designs; CS: Melon Berry, BG Two Scoops (green PP); Ink: PTI Melon Berry, Memento Rich Cocoa; Other: Sewing machine and thread, PTI buttons (LOVE this addition to tthe PTI line-up)

Shaken, Not Stirred...

2009-02-21T22:53:00.006-05:00

Checking in before heading to bed tonight!

I'm winding down from a busy and very fun Saturday with the fam. Lots of basketball, a birthday party (to be exact, my littlest was a guest - but I don't quite feel confident enough to leave him for the 1 1/2 hours!) and more moving/cleaning of the basement. You know, it's funny how you always look so forward to the weekend, and before you know it's more than half over. Oh well. Good thing that we are enjoying the time - even if it seems to be flying by.

So onto things stamping... I often shop for my crafting stuff at eclectic Paperie. Definitely one of my hands-down favorite places. There is always lots of fun stuff to choose from, and while I have never met the owners, Joy and Daisy - they seem like the sweetest people. Anyways, they have been running this promotion that if you spend $50 or more, "...you are going to get some extra eclectic Love in your order. No complicated forms. No special coupons. Just know if you spend 50 bucks or more, your gonna get some fun free stuff. It could be stamps, papers, and/or other embellishments...just a fun surprise of goodies."

My last order qualified for the promotion so I was interested to see what I would get. I never know with these "mystery" gifts - I mean, would I even like the stuff or use it? Who knew?... So when I received my order, I was kinda surprised to see what I got. First off, there was quite a bit of stuff - stamps and a pink Cat's Eye chalk ink pad as well as the re-inker for it. My first thought was that "This was pretty good!" - pretty generous and definitely more than just a token (which is honestly what I thought it would be). But I also have to admit, most of the stamps were not images that I would have naturally gravitated towards. I didn't know how I would use the images, which often dooms them to the amount of actual usage. So I pretty much put the stuff away, not really having a plan with them.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks later... I happened to be looking through the eP stamps and again realizing that I don't have many stamps like them, but this time for whatever reason, starting to think more about how I can use them and how they really do add/broaden my stamp collection (I must have been feeling the creative vibe more than usual, I guess!). On that particular day, which was actually a week ago - I wanted to make a card for my SIL's birthday. She is not the cutesy type and was certainly NOT looking forward to her upcoming birthday, as it basically just marks that she is 1 year older (LOL). But she LOVES her pomegranate martinis and that's when it hit me. This card was made using 2 stamps that I received in my $50 eP bonus. I know it is just a easy-peasy 1 layer card, but I thought it worked out ok. So thank you eP (Joy and Daisy) for knowing what my stamping stash needed. Keeps me coming back! I'm a green apple martini girl (and only with Grey Goose, of course), myself... so next time, I'll be busting out the green prismas for my drink! :) Better yet, I should make a point of enjoying the real McCoy while I make the card!

I've also made a few more cards with the stamps I received, and will have to get them off my camera and on here soon!

Deets:
Stamps: Rubber Romance; Paper: PTI Stamper's Select White; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: Primas and Gamsol, Stickles (on the dress, earrings and cherry), ribbon from Costco.

Gift for Teacher

2009-02-19T18:49:00.005-05:00

My middle guy came home with a note in his folder late last week from his teacher telling us that she is expecting. She shared the news with the kids that day and also wanted to let the parents know too. She is such a wonderful teacher - really kind and energetic, and I see my middle guy learning in leaps and bounds with her this year. So I wanted to whip up a congratulations card. She doesn't know what she is having so I kept it all neutral. I used a stamp I got quite awhile ago, and was quite the rage of SCS then. This layout, in terms of substituting the pregger for the "i" in the word "Big," is definitely cased from someone on SCS, but I really liked it and it is obviously perfect for the occasion. I paper pieced her dress and hat and used Basic Grey Two Scoops PP for the background, dress and hat. I also had to hand write the words "Congrats on your" because I didn't have that sentiment, or at least couldn't find it since all of my stuff is mostly under drop cloths. I gave her a little teddy bear (wrapping some matching ribbon around his neck. Now that I am thinking about, it seem to be on a teddy bear kick lately. Anyway, I hope that she likes it. She is not due until August, so I hope that she makes it until the end of the school year.

I actually made this card this past Monday, but only have had the time to share it now. I've been on a business trip since Monday night and it is sooo good to be home. I've been travelling a bit more recently, and this week's trip took me to Munich, Germany. The trip was short (which is great because I hate to be away from my family for too long, but bad because I usually don't get to really experience where I am), but we did get a chance to see at least a few sights around the city and enjoy some authentic Bavarian cooking both nights we were there. It was brutally cold which made walking around a little tough, but I enjoyed visiting anyway. I'd been to Germany before, but it's been YEARS.

My flight arrived in the afternoon so I was able to pick up the kiddos from afterschool today. My older guy is a basketball practice with my husband and I am home with the other two just relaxing. I was able to take care of homework duty early so now we are just hanging out.

Stamps: $1 Michaels stamps, SU So Big; Paper: BG Two Scoops, PTI Lemon Tart and Stamper's Select White; Ink: SU Kiwi Kiss; Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: PTI Lemon Tart ribbon, Two Scoops brad; Black pen.

Post-Valentine's...

2009-02-15T08:33:00.002-05:00

Happy Day after Valentines Day {LOL}!

Since is it no longer Valentines (and I am still recovering from all the Valentines made this week), here is a birthday card I made for my FIL. I actually made this a couple of months ago during my blog-free holidays, so I figured I'd share now. I haven't gotten a chance to stamp in the last few days, but I am not complaining this time at all. All of my stamping stuff is currently under big drop cloths because.... we're finishing our basement. Sooooo excited. We have been using our basement a lot as the boys get bigger. It is pseudo done (ie: we have pieces of carpet laid and there is heat pumping into it), but it is not quite the same as a finished basement. All the boys' toys and my stamping stuff are downstairs, and that's where the Wii is set up, so it'll be great when it is all done. It is going to take a couple of months, so my plan today is to go and selectively pick out stuff that I use the most and bring it upstairs to the guest room. {GULP} This is quite a task for me (it was actually my goal to get this done yesterday... but somehow the day got away from me, so I'm trying again today). I better get on it. I have a few cards I have to make before the end of the weekend! Luckily I still have tomorrow too, since I have the off from work. {Look at me already hedging... LOL}

Have a great one!

Stamps: CHF; CS: PTI Kraft and Stamper's Select White; SU Baja Breeze; Ink: Brilliance Rich Cocoa; Other: Sewing machine/thread, dimensionals, Prismas and Gamsol, paper piercer

Ready (and AHEAD OF SCHEDULE!), Get Set, Go!

2009-02-11T00:41:00.013-05:00

Hello, hello.

For once I am on time... actually better than on time - I am ahead of schedule AND did everything that I wanted to do for the kids' Valentine's school parties. :) Wahoo.

Last night I finished making all of the kids' Valentines for their classmates and teachers. For my oldest guy who is 3rd grade, I made sour cream containers (the blue ones in the pic) and put Hershey Kisses in each one. He wanted a sports theme, with no hearts or the word, Valentine. So funny, but I was happy to oblige (no need for mushiness at his age yet - I'm not mentally ready for that next stage.

My middle guy opted for the pre-made (the horror! - just kidding) so I just made teacher Valentines for him (the red sour cream holders).

And my littlest guy was giving out fruit snacks, so I sorta concocted a folded card of sorts to hold his treats. I went with a robot/alien/out of this world theme. I was pretty pleased that I came up with the combination all of my own! My little scene combined 2 different stamps sets, but I think it went together well.

The valentines all got the stamp of approval and were a hit and all the boys are excited to give their Valentines out in the morning. Final count made... 24 for the oldest, 37 for my middle guy (he actually has 2 classes that were doing Valentines) and 27 for the littlest. Whew - lots of love to go around!

And tonight I made mini heart shaped brownies for my oldest son's after school counselors. I work our of the house full-time and all the of boys stay the full day of school. We take advantage of all that our school programs. ;) I wanted to make sure that I sent something in to let them know that we really appreciate all that they do for us.

So while it has been a late night for the last two days, I am ready for tomorrow. It's been fun and I really have had a such a blast creating.

I'm offically ready for tomorrow (well, actually later this morning!). The only bummer is that I can only go to one my kids' class parties since they are all basically at the same time tomorrow morning - being in more than 1 place at a time is still on my list of things to accomplish - LOL. But not today. Oh well.

Oh Baby {Pink}!

2009-02-08T10:25:00.003-05:00

It's a beautiful day today - the temps are soaring their way to the 50s. That practically makes for a balmy day here on the east coast. I am definitely heading out for a run today - just waiting for my hubby to get out of the shower. The kids are getting bigger, but are definitely not of the age where I'd leave the house when he can't easily get to them if need be.

Anyway, since I probably will not make it down to the basement today... lots of errands and things to do, I thought I'd share the card that I worked on at the end of last week. This is the girly version using the same stamps and layout as this card. I thought the paper piecing came out really nicely on this one. I hope I'll have a reason to give this one out soon... :)

Enjoy the day!

Stamps: Elzybells and Inky Antics (sentiment); CS: PTI - Berry, Basic Grey PP, PTI Stampers Select White; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: PTI Light Pink (I'm blanking on the PTI color names right now and am not in the basement to check!), twine (maybe SU?), dimensionals, prismas and gamsol, paper snips, SU scallop edge punch, Nesties (both circles and the tag)

16 Candles...

2009-02-07T15:37:00.004-05:00

Loved that movie (what an 80s classic!)

Ah to be sweet 16 again... for me, that was ages ago! But we did have a blast celebrating a very close family friend's sweet 16 last night. She's basically the youngest of our generation of kids in our close-knit extended family. It was a wonderful evening - the theme was Oscar Night (lots of glitz and glamour) and the color scheme was black and red. Everyone looked great all dressed up - especially all of her friends. Oh how time has flown...I remember when she was born - heck i remember when her mom was still single. Her mom tells me that she even baby-sat me when I was still an infant.

This was the card that I made to hold her gift. I went with a card that I hope a 16 year old would like - sparkly and nothing too kid-ish. I chose to use a rose for the main image, because I knew from talking to her mom that she was going to have a traditional rose dance. 16 special guys in her life...cousins, family friends - like my brother (who represented our family... each take turns coming up to her to hand her a rose for a quick twirl on the dance floor. The last guy was of course, her father. It was so sweet.

Stamps: SU In Full Bloom (so fun to pull out this oldie!), Big Deal Numbers and So Very (the word "Sweet"), CS: PTI Stamper's Select White; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: Prismas and Gamsol and Stickles

Swirly and Circly Birthday

2009-02-04T23:52:00.002-05:00

Quick post for the day... this is birthday card that went out in the mail just yesterday morning for my cousin who is just 6 weeks older than me. He's a guy, so I'm hoping this has an adult-guy feel to it {hopefully!?}.

So I got the card out in time, but it is still probably going to be one day late... {sigh} You'd think that someone who likes to make cards would at least get them to the recipients in a timely fashion. But at least I sent it out and even BEFORE the actual birthday - sadly that is improvement. ;) I REALLY have to work on this. {Ask me if I made the card yet for the SIL's birthday which is TOMORROW!} Maybe I should get some kind of a more organized system. I am fabulous about this kind of stuff using Outlook for everything - but it hasn't really made its way over to my cardmaking. I might have to try and set up a tickler system at home. I'm sure that if I google it on SCS, someone will have a fabulous idea for me. No doubt a papercrafter has already come up with something...

Played with an SU set that might have been a hostess set from last year? I can never remember when sets come out... most of the time I get my stuff later than everyone else does anyway (I'm always so behind the times in everything it seems). In any case the image and sentiment come from the same set. I mimic'd the swirly circles by cutting out an imperfect circle in SU Pacific Point CS and topping it off with a button. Tried to tie it all together... Hope he likes it when he finally gets it - it is going coast to coast to sunny Cali!

Stamps: SU Birthday Whimsy; Paper: Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze (can't seem to put these 2 colors down!), Pacific Point, PTI Stamper's Select White, Scenic Route PP; Ink: SU Tangerine Tango, Pacific Point; Other: Dimensionals, Nestibilities, button, twine, paper piercer

Oh Baby {Blue}!

2009-02-03T22:15:00.005-05:00

Hope that you had a great rest of your weekend. We had another snowy day today, but not enough to stay home from work (oh well). I've started to work on my kids' Valentines - I have a ton to make this year - my kids have multiple "classes" since they are in school for the full-day, including after school programs. I'm just about done with my littlest guy's cards, so I will be sure to share when I am.

In the meanwhile, here is a baby card I made with another Elzybells image - how adorable is this bear holding his duckie under a blanket??!! Love him. And guess what, if you visit again, you'll see that I made a girl version (seriously...don't be shocked). I had fun paper piecing the blanket (it was perfect for that) and the rest of the card, as always, came together pretty easily. Into my card stash it goes... now all I need is for a friend or family member to have a baby LOL!

And speaking of Elzybells - I was actually showcased this past weekend on the Elzybells blog. Mind you, it's not like I was picked or anything - Elizabeth (of Elzybells stamping fame) showcases any cards she receives during the week. And in an effort to get out there more with my cards, I sent a couple to her (she writes on her blogs that she welcomes e-mails of cards using her images so she can see them-which I think is really great of her), but not knowing that she would actually put them on my blog. In any case, I thought it was a fun thing to see my name on someone else's blog...

Stamps: Elzybells and Inky Antics (sentiment); CS: Baja Breeze, Chatterbox (another scrap - I used both sides too), PTI Stampers Select White; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: PTI Spring Moss ribbon, twine (maybe SU?), dimensionals, prismas and gamsol, paper snips, SU scallop edge punch, Nesties (both circles and the tag)

Basketball Baller

2009-01-31T13:55:00.005-05:00

It is a cold Saturday and we are spending the day in the house playing Wii. I love when we all play together and especially love that our littlest guy who is 3 1/2 can join the fun too (instead of just holding a control and thinking that he is playing!). Right now we are playing Super Mario Party 8 and I'm only in 2nd place. :P My oldest guy is definitely getting better in leaps and bounds. He's almost 9 and there are already a few games where I can't beat him. I'm going to have to work on my Wii skills. LOL.

The only time today that we have ventured out on this cold day has been for basketball practice for my middle guy. He has basketball every Saturday morning at 8:30. It's his first year playing (our recreation program starts in kindergarten for basketball) and I am his team's coach. I'm so excited and having a blast with it. The kids are so fun, so cute and try so hard. We're still working on basic skills and it is really amazing to see their progress each week. I think that today was our best practice yet. We had a couple kids who haven't been able to reach the basket (it's set at 6 ft, instead of the standard 10 ft, I think) make a basket and kids who were afraid of catching the ball, be able to complete our passing drills. You would have thought we won the championship! We don't play actual games yet either (to focus on the skills), but do we have contests, and my team has done pretty well at that.

So I thought a basketball card would be fun to make today. This is for one of my oldest's guys' very good friends who is having a birthday party next week. He is also on the same basketball team with my son, so I guess that this card is actually doubly appropriate! :) I used Copics to color this one. I've been slowly collecting them from eP - I love the look of Copics. It's fun to alternate with Prismas and Gamsol for the different looks.

Stay warm. (No running outside for me today!)

Stamps: IA (love their sporty kid stamps - they get so much use in my house... the kids love stamping with them too); Paper: Wild Wasabi, Tangerine Tango and Barely Banana; Other: Thread (still working on those corners), Dimensionals and Copics

I am on a roll, YEAH!

2009-01-28T23:58:00.004-05:00

2 posts 2 days in a row, and 3 in the last 4 days! I am on a roll. I have to take advantage and jump on these opportunities when I can, because I always have such a fun time and plus, you never know with my schedule if I am going to have another free night soon. Although I think that I should for the next few days, at least. The kids were off from school for a snow day (it really wasn't snowy, imo - they should have been in school!) and I only went in for a shorter day. Even home before dinner - which was wonderful.

So, one more Elzybells card, which I made tonight (I tend to use the same stamps over a period of time, it seems...) - this one was for both the sketch and color challenge this week on SCS. I went back to this fresh flower cart. There is so much you can do with this image and for so many occasions. This one is a thank you card. I used stickles for the daisy's petals - sparkly! :) And I even sewed on this one (but obviously my sewing needs serious work!) I really don't know how to do corners - I kept getting stuck as to how to turn the panel to keep going, while maintaining a straight line and not ripping the paper to shreds all at the same time. I really should dig up the "how to sew" book I bought ages ago with the sewing machine, when I was deluded enough to think I was going to learn how to sew and make fun and funky things...seriously - what was I thinking?

K- off to bed. Nite.

Build Me Up, {my Buttercup}...

2009-01-27T21:42:00.005-05:00

Love that song - LOL!

I need to build my card stash up for the new year, so it goes without saying that I need to make boy birthday cards (yes, I guess technically saying something goes without saying and then saying it is kinda silly, but oh well). I really do need to make all kinds of cards,But it is always easier for me to default to my go-to and most needed I guess. I've been trying to be better about having cards on hand so I don't have to rush in the 15 minutes before we leave to make one. I hardly have any left, because I actually donated basically all the cards I had on hand over the Christmas holiday, believe it or not. I had never donated cards before - up until now it was all for my use (or for my mom who I sometimes make them for if she needs one).

Our church was asking for donations to make personal bags for a women's home in the area and the items listed include shampoo, conditioner, lotions etc and the last thing listed was cards for all occasions. Lately given everything going on in the economy, I've been much more aware of community service and charity. I've just been trying to be more aware in general because we all know it is so easy to get caught up in our own lives (and I can barely keep up with that sometimes!). This past holiday, we donated items that weren't necessarily the most glamorous things, but were a necessity and necessary to help someone maintain their dignity. We donated diapers and formula to a charity that was helping military families that were in need, and I made up 5 bags for the women's shelter. It's the least we could do. So hopefully my cards (and all the other stuff) will help someone out, even if it saves them a 15 minute trip to the store!

Anyway, I love this little guy who's doing the yo-yo. This image totally reminds me of my oldest guy. He ALWAYS wears his hat backwards - and he wears hats a lot. I can hardly ever get him to wear it facing straight, except for when he's playing baseball (and that's only because the coach tells all the boys to do so). So I colored his hair black like my son's and pretty much used the scrap piece of PP to determine the colors. What you see on the card is basically all that I had left of this whole piece of paper.

Stamps: Elzybells; Paper: Scenic Route (PP), SU Kiwi Kiss (can't get enough of this color), Tempting Turquoise, PTI Stamper's Select, Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: Prismas & Gamsol, SU Tab Punch, twine, dimensionals and button

Getting Caught Up in the New Year

2009-01-25T21:37:00.004-05:00

Whew! Amazing how quickly time flies when you are not paying attention to your blog - LOL.

I have to thank my stamping bud, Jennifer, for checking in with me. It was just the reminder I needed since has been ages since I had last posted. Once that time of the year and the holidays get started, it seems like in a blink they are done, but obviously LOTS has gone on in between. Between work and the holiday-infused home life (which was so much FUN), I did get a bunch of stamping and scrapping in, but (obviously) no blogging. I've also been running (yep, as in exercising) more. I had actually been running for a bunch of months now, but much better (as in consistent!) since August or so. I ran yesterday and got through a 5K without stopping, so I was soooo excited. I didn't even realize how far I had run until I clocked it with the car this morning. I just added an extra loop through a different part of my neighborhood and it ended up being another 1 mile.

Anyway, I just wanted to get back in the blogging swing of things to post a couple of cards that I made recently. Both use stamps from Elzybells, which I got for the first time ever sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas (they were running a free shipping promotion, so of course I couldn't resist). I had seen all the wonderful cards Paula makes with them and had to give them a whirl. They have such fun images. I bought a bunch of other images and made some cards, so I will have to post them in the future too. I colored both images with Prismas and gamsol (prismas are still experiencing their resurgence even after the holidays). The leaves that I used for the background in the second card is from Cornish Heritage Farms.

Hope that you had a great holiday and that 2009 is off to an AWESOME start.

Miss you

2008-11-02T08:01:00.005-05:00

Have you recovered from all the fun of Halloween yet? We are just relaxing this morning - with any extra hour to boot! :) So this morning, I wanted to share a card that I made during the last week. This one is going to one of our cousin's kids. We are really close to this particular cousin and they just moved away to Texas. They have travelled quite a bit due to jobs and we have tried to always visit at each new location. The closest we have lived near each other was during their most recent stretch when then lived in Massachusetts and were withing driving distance. So now we are back to travelling by plane to see each other and e-mail and cards to keep in touch.

Deets: Stamps: Little Guy, PTI sentiment; CS: SU Wild Wasabi and PP (retired), PTI White; Ink; Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: brads, prismas/gamsol, dimensionals.

Ready for tomorrow!

2008-10-30T23:28:00.006-04:00

I haven't posted in the last week, but it hasn't meant that I haven't been busy. Been stamping quite a bit and hope to get everything posted in the next few days now that I'm ready for Halloween. It's been a blast prepping this year. The Halloween costumes were picked out early, which was a good thing (my littlest guy even picked out his own costume all by himself! :) ), and I have been working the last couple of nights on the treat bags for my 3 boys' classrooms. Here is a pic of the treat bags I made.

Since they were all going to the kids, and I had to make a lot of them (I think the grand total was some 52 bags for the 3 classes), I made easy, but still festive tags. Just punched them out on SU Tangerine Tango CS with a Marvy scallop punch (the purple one - so is that mega, maybe?) and used some $1 Michael's stamps. I stamped the images in Palette Hybrid Noir Black and SU Craft White.

We don't usually make it to Mike's, but happened to be in one a couple of weeks ago. We couldn't pass them up. These are fun images and I think dress up the bags just enough to be fun but not over the top since I'm sure the kids are just digging into the bags anway!

Hope the kids all like their treat bags! Happy Halloween! :)

I got it!

2008-10-21T04:40:00.003-04:00

I'm getting ready to take off on a business trip for the next couple of days, but I wanted to quickly share the card I made last night before jumping in the black car, which is coming in about 10 minutes. I've off to the Big Easy - it's my first time visiting, and even though it is for work and not vacay, I'm hoping to get some time to explore the city, or at the very least get a chance to have a great meal. ;) We'll see how it goes...

Anyway, back to my card, which again my newest set, Little Guy, from CHF. This one came together quickly once I figured out how I wanted to give this little monster a little background. I was going to leave him a some white background, but then wanted him to pop of the page and look like he was jumping for the ball. I love his bulging eye!

Hope you have a great next couple of days! I hope to get a chance to scrap a few pages soon. I had given myself a loose target of a 2 page layout every weekend, but didn't get a chance to do that the last couple. But on the flip side, I have gotten a chance to make a bunch cards (for no other reason than just because), so I still consider myself successful on the making time for myself to enjoy my hobby overall! {Check the work/life/me time balance box!}

Deets:

Stamps: CHF Little Guy, SU (sentiment); CS: SU Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, PTI Stamper's Select White and BG PP; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Riding Hood Red; Other: Prismas/Gamsol; twine; SU eyelet, crop-o-dile and dimensionals

Cuteasaurous

2008-10-19T08:16:00.002-04:00

How cute is this cuteasaurous!? Still playing with this new Kim Hughes set from CHF called, Little Guy, Beate's Weekend Sketch and used the dinosaur, and a scrap of Chatterbox PP (called Tent Stripe) as the starting point. Relatively simple sketch, but I really like how it came out. I think that this card could be used as a baby card or maybe even a toddler's birthday card. I could probably even stamp in a sentiment to make it more personalized to the occasion above and to the left of the dinosaurs as well.

Can't believe it is Sunday already, but it's been another fun weekend so far - so no complaints. It's feeling a bit more like autumn now (I guess it is about time though), but no too chilly. Love that crisp feel to the air at this time of year. My boys are busy as always, but this weekend, I was fortunate to squeeze in some social mom time too. I was out with some friends last night - woohoo. :) Anyway, I'm off to continue on with the day today. Hope you have a great one too!

Deets:

Stamps: CHF Little Guy; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, PP: SU Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Bashful Blue, Chatterbox Tent Stripe; Other: Petite circle nestie, Copics, dimensionals

Hey Dude!

2008-10-17T19:17:00.005-04:00

Earlier this week, I got my latest CHF order which included one of Kim Hughes' newest sets, Little Guy. Love this set! It has such fun little boy images which are not too baby-ish, which make them perfect for my boys who feel that they are getting bigger by the moment! Plus I like that these are non-sporty images too (although there is a little baseball image included), which will help to give my boy cards a little variety. This is my first card so far from the set. The 2 aliens crack me up. I put this guy on a skateboard just because, and since it looks like he is waving, it seemed to be well with the sentiment too.

As always, very easy layout with some embossing with the square nestie (loves the touch it adds!). I'm am also channeling a little Paula by coloring on kraft paper. Love how the white really pops. I used to wonder what you were supposed to use a white pencil for (remember, I am so not an artist by nature at all!) And now if I could just color even a fraction as well as she does... oh well, I can wish right?! ;) Maybe it'll happen by osmosis if I continue to check in on her blog daily...

I have also been on a boy card kick (more so that usual) lately, so I have been using lots of big eyelets and buttons for embellishments - they all feel that ribbon is too girly. I'm going to have to switch to girl cards soon - my ribbons are collecting dust sitting in their drawers and jars! LOL.

Oh and by the way, CHF has this monthly drawing called "Keeping the Gallery Beautiful" They (obviously) encourage everyone to post CHF creations in the gallery and every month, they have a raffle and everyone who posts has a chance to win. The prize? - 15% coupon to use in the stores. How cool is that? And what is even cooler is that I WON THIS MONTH! :) I think that there is more than one winner each month. Can't wait to use that coupon. My CHF list is VEERRRYYY LONG and gets longer every time I check out what's in the store and all the amazing creations in that beautiful gallery!

Deets:
Stamps: CHF Little Guy, CS: PTI Kraft, Scenic Route PP, SU Not Quite Navy; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: BG button, twine, Dimensionals, Square Nesties and Prismas/Gamsol

A Beate Sketch

2008-10-13T05:47:00.004-04:00

It has been one of those weekends where this is the only card that I made - but that's a good thing, as we took every bit of advantage we could of an AMAZING weekend weather-wise. I tell ya, it felt like summer on both Saturday and Sunday. Everyone was even in shorts yesterday! Other than church, running a couple of quick errands to the grocery store and picking out the Halloween costumes, we spent the rest of the days outside. Between the array of Saturday sports, bike time and just playing in the backyard - we might have even gotten a bit tanner this weekend. And I even got in 2 runs this weekend, which was a bonus.

Anyway, so I finally got some time to do Beate's sketch challenge from the weekend and this is what I came up with last night. I am still playing with the Sporty Kids - this is the last of the images that I got and is called Baseball Brian. I really liked the sketch and it lent itself well to this scrap of SU DP from wayyyy back when. I think that this might be from one of the first packages of DP that I had bought. I still might even have a full sheet somewhere.

Deets:

Stamps: IA Sporty Kids and sentiment; Paper: SU DP, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy, Old Olive, PTI Stamper's Select; Ink: SU Craft White, Memento Tuxedo Black; Other: Prismas/Gamsol, Jumbo Eyelet, Dimensionals, Circle and Petite Scallop nesties

Sporty Kids

2008-10-08T06:06:00.005-04:00

Quick post for the 2 cards I finished making a couple of nights ago. I actually colored the images at the end of the last week, but only got around to finishing up the cards more recently.

I love these sporty kids images from IA. Fun to color and I can use them A LOT for many occasions in both my cards and scrapbooks (between the 3 boys, we have played all of these sports). I am really enjoying coloring images, whether it be with the Prismas and Gamsol or with the copics.

With the second card below, I was definitely channelling (although no where close as well) a little Paula. She is a wonderful crafter and I love checking out and getting inspired by her blog, Paper Possibilities. I love how she incorporates a background, usually around the waistline, from what I can tell from looking at a ton of here cards (here's to hoping for a little osmosis!), to add more dimension. I tried it out here.

An Eco-Friendly Card

2008-10-03T22:09:00.005-04:00

Can you tell this is a card? So I'm going to a friend from HS's shower tomorrow and it has an eco-friendly theme (along with the baby theme, of course!) So I wanted to make a card from myself and a friend that would have some other use after the shower to go along with the gift we are giving her. I had remembered seeing this blog entry on the CLASSroom and this frame and this entry on Carole (wonderful designer from CHF' s blog) and thought it would be something that would work for my "card". The CLASSroom is one of my recent discoveries and I love checking in to see the new tutorials. It is such a wonderful site to learn about new techniques, projects and so many other papercrafting things. It seems like it is basically the educational arm of Ellen Hutson's business (who is seriously an amazing crafter - you gotta see what she can do!). And the site is even cooler because she has a bunch of other crafters who regularly contribute to the blog as well. So the projects are pretty varied, but of such amazing quality all the same.

Anyway, so I made my version of the picture frame. I changed it up a bit from that project, b/c I needed to make sure they could take out my card and put in a pic of their baby when he or she was born. So I made it so that you could slip in the pic on top in between the two chipboard coasters, vs. adhering the pic permanently to the nestie circle. I also colored on the pumpkin with prismas/gamsol to try and give it a little more dimension. Working on that shadowing and highlighting to achieve more depth...

Deets: Stamps: CHF Fall Silhouettes, Four Square; Paper: Wild Asparagus pp, SU Pumpkin Pie, PTI White; Ink: Adirondack Latte, VersaMagic Tea Leaves and Pumpkin Spice; Other: Thin chipboard coasters, Dimensionals, Prismas/Gamsol (on pumpkin), SU button, Nesties Petite Circles, clear sheets, magnet strips.

Boys will be boys

2008-10-01T05:31:00.002-04:00

While I don't papercraft well or enough to really have a "style" yet, I suppose, like most people, there are types of images that I gravitate towards. And this collage image is certain isn't the norm for me. I haven't been drawn to the realistic style of images and instead usually go for more the cutesy or cartoony image. So maybe it was a combination of just wanting to try new things and the fact this is a boy image (which I always love) that made me just add one to the shopping cart on the CHF site in my last purchase. I love everything about this little guy: the age (love the post toddler, but still has enough baby in him), the outfit he is wearing and the quote. I love that it has a modern look (via the clothes and shoes), but still has a worn, shabby look.

Since getting back into card making on a steadier basis, I've been trying to work on my coloring skills. This image helped in that the shading was kinda drawn in and gave me guide to follow. I have been trying to think about shading as more than just more or less of the color in an area, but more like other colors and shades of the main color to compliment as well. For example, I tried to incorporate yellow-ish tones that had greenish-ness on the sleeves to show where the light would hit on the areas on the inner part of his arms around the elbows up to the wrist. Still needs a lot of practice, but I'd like to think that there is some progress on this front! I love that this craft stretches other parts of me and my brain... love this switch of gears after a long day of working with numbers and finance.

Deets:

Stamp: Boys will be boys collage; CS: PTI Kraft, SU Riding Hood Red and Crate Paper; Ink: Stazon Timber Brown; Other: Dimensionals, Prismas and Gamsol, BG button, twine

Lots of Dots

2008-09-28T21:12:00.002-04:00

Whew, I can't believe that it is another Sunday night already. It was a hectic week and sadly, this is the first night that I have gotten a chance to stamp since last weekend. A long day in Chicago for work, a few more late ones in the office, a PTA meeting Thursday night, the usual busy weekend, and here we are already. I know that it has been a busy week when Grey's Anatomy season premiere is still on my DVR waiting for me. But I wanted to get in a card (gave away 2 this weekend for family birthdays, so I better replenish) and at least a 2 page layout done (both accomplished!) before I cleaned up and watched that ep of Grey's.

This card is base on CHF's color challenge for the week. I don't have any of the Prism papers, which they sell, so I subbed in some SU and PTI. Tried a distressing of the edges and a little sponging again... still give myself a half hearted "ehhh" for the sponging effort. Really gotta work on it, b/c for some reason I keep wanting to incorporate it into my cards lately, but then spend all this time staring at it, and not totally happy with the results. Must practice and try again. I built this whole card around wanting to use that corner vine... and this is what I came up with for tonight.

Deets:

Stamps: CHF - Four Square, Inkadoo sentiment; CS: SU Mellow Moss, Baroque Burgundy (waaayyy retired!) and PTI Sweet Blush; Ink: SU Baroque Burgundy, VersaMagic Tea Leaves, Ranger Adirondack Latte; Other: Dimensionals, PTI Sweet Blush polka dot ribbon

Re-finding (new!) favorites

2008-09-23T23:57:00.006-04:00

I was browsing through a bunch of stamping sites I haven't had to look through in a while about a week ago and made my way back to IA. I had first found IA because of all of the adorable boy stamps they offered. I am ALWAYS on the hunt for boy stamps since I have all sons and love them for all the cards I make the pages I scrap.

I hadn't had the opportunity in months to stop by the forum or the site because I just fell out of the routine of doing so. I am so glad that I stopped by last week and saw all the new kid stamps - they had a bunch of sport stamps and I had to pick them all up. This was the first card that I made... another for the birthday card stash. My middle guy has one this weekend!

Details:

Stamps: IA Football player and Happy Birthday sentiment; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; CS: SU Pacific Point, Barely Banana, Riding Hood Red, PP; PTI Kraft, Other: Nesties (square scallops), paper piercer, dimensionals and Copics

Happy, Happy Days

2008-09-21T10:31:00.004-04:00

I've been doing a lot of papercrafting in recent weeks and this weekend is no different. Mind you, making 2 cards and 3 scrapbook pages is quite a bit for me when you consider my past volume of work!

Anyways, I used a couple of challenges done to ink up some new stamps and add to my card supply. It's nice not to have to rush and make a card EVERY time you need it.

Both cards used CHF stamps. Maybe other people are like me when it comes to new stamps and stamps companies (well, new when it comes to me). I go to my new stamps over and over again. I've made (relatively speaking) quite a lot of cards with these new sets, and I have added to my little CHF collection once again this week. :) They are running a great sale (it is actually still going on) to make room for the new products and stamp sets that are coming in.

I have never taken much notice until this year (I guess give that I am making cards on a more regular basis), but it really seems like all the paper crafting sites are discounting quite a bit. I guess my finance background never turns off. I wonder how much the downturn in the economy and overall nervousness of consumers have affected the craft industry. Even though the price points of these products are for the most part relatively low comparatively to a new home, car or something larger like that, I can't seen how it hasn't been affected by everything going on. So I'd be curious to see how much discounting is going on this year compared to past years when overall consumer sentiment is much more positive.

Well, back to the cards... the first card is based of Beate's sketch challenge this week. Fun sketch and I worked on trying to match patterns together in a more eye-pleasing way. I have a hard time with that.

Second card was just playing around, b/c I wanted to use the image and the Adirondack ink pad, both of which I picked up at CHF on sale. I have read lots of good things about the Ranger pads, so I had to check it out. Plus I was feeling in a fall sort of mood. The weather is starting to turn here now in NJ. It is getting cooler in the morning and in the evenings and is apparent that summer is on its last legs during the warmest part of the day....

Details:

1st Card:

Stamps: CHF Fall Silhouettes and sentiment; CS: PTI Berry Sorbet, Stamper's Select White; SU Kiwi Kiss, Barely Banana; Ink: Kiwi Kiss and Berry Sorbet; Other: Berry Sorbet ribbon, scallop border punch, slot punch

2nd Card:

Stamps: CHF Small Daisy and sentiment; CS: SU Baja Breeze, Tangerine Tango, Barely Banana; Ink: Ranger Adirondack Latte; Other: Scallop border punch, ribbon (Martha Stewart), Dimensionals, Paper Piercer

2008-09-17T23:15:00.001-04:00

Two more cards that I have made this week. I still am on a roll and playing with the CHF sets. I took advantage of their sale from the last couple of weeks and bought myself some more stamps (although, it's not like a I really needed the sale... I'm just saying!)

These are 2 birthday cards going out to family this week. I went for more an autumny feel (color-wise) with both cards. One is going out on my cousin's birthday (oops), but I'll also be sure to post a birthday greeting on FB tomorrow, so hopefully that will make up for it. I used LAD sentiments for both cards. I really like the laid back scripty font of that set. I find myself using it often.

Both cards are simple in layout and embellishment, but again, that's been what I've been leaning to these days when I have been making cards.

Anyway, this will be short since I HAVE to get to bed. Heading into the city tomorrow for the day, and those work days are always longer because of the commute.

Another (future) card for the boys...

2008-09-14T21:03:00.001-04:00

and 1st card for a CHF color challenge (CC17 to be exact).

I'm still trying out all of the images from the set, Making the Grade - there are so many to choose from! So I made double-duty out of this card and also did it based on the this week's color challenge. There are not a combo of colors I would normally use, but I think they worked well for a boy card. I can't wait to give them to the boys sometime soon. I think that I am going to keep making these every so often and build up a stash of cards just for my boys. I spend all this time making cards for others, but not enough for my own family, which doesn't seem right, when I sit and think about it. :P

And on the real world front, it has, by most standards, been an unprecedented day on Wall Street. As I type, I am still in shock about all the financial developments over the weekend... reading reports that Lehman is probably on its way to declaring bankruptcy (WOW is all I can say... even with everything happening over the last 12-15 months, I figured something would happen to avert this ending...) and Merrill Lynch in talks with BofA. The magnitude and speed of the fall (I had read somewhere that until June 2008, Lehman had never even reported a quarterly loss) is mind-blowing, but then again, the financial crisis is so far-reaching through the industry, it has been so hard to try and contain the problem and fix it... just ask the US government and all the other major players in the industry.

I hope that everything works out for the best for everyone at Lehman, but unfortunately it is probably safe to say that if the docs that are being prepared are filed tonight, things will look a lot worse before it gets better in the short term.

Monday will be interesting to say the least...

Details:

Stamps: CHF - Making the Grade; Ink: SU - Bravo Burgundy (craft); CS: SU - Bravo Burgundy, Taken with Teal, Apricot Appeal; Other: silver brads, dimensionals

More school cards

2008-09-09T22:49:00.006-04:00

I am still on a school kick and using my new CHF stamps, which I am totally loving! The company has such great images that really catch my attention and have this fun vibe that I want to reflect in the cards I am creating (and scrapbook pages that I have planned in my head, but haven't gotten to yet). I've signed up on their board and have been looking around the last few days. They have a great community with really friendly and very welcoming crafters. Made me feel right at home already! Like many other boards they have challenges and stuff like that which are really great springboards to getting your creative juices flowing and get people to connect and interact. So I tried one last night (last week's sketch challenge) after I finished cutting up the rest of the new stamp sets I got. I finished it, I had to wait until today to post. I was up so late doing a few different things - always juggling it seems like. I was down in DC for a day trip for work and the train I had to be on wasn't leaving too much later than when I finally laid down to go sleep. Crazy how when I was younger I could sleep until noon and it never felt like enough, and today...well, let's just it is a good thing that I don't need too much sleep to function - LOL ...Maybe it's because I know that is all I am going to get sleep-wise if I want to get everything I need to get accomplished - who knows? In any case, there is just not enough time in the day (and I know that I am not the only person who feels this way). Too bad I couldn't whip some up and create more time in the way we create cards and other paper crafting products... LOL!

Anyway, back to the card - I seem to be doing a lot of cutting lately, sometimes with paper piecing, but in this case not really so much. I stamped the wormy on some BG PP that have had for while in the scrap bin and cut him out. I stamped the apples twice - one time with Versamark and embossed it with clear powder and a second time in green for the stem. I cut the apples out and laid them together. I'm going to put this one aside and surprise one of the boys with it when something great happens at school in the near future. I know that they will love it. My middle guy loves the wormy and has stamped with it already (I think he might have inked it up first). They all love to play with my stamps and made scenes and color in the images. And I must say that they are pretty good about being careful with my stuff most of the time. They know all the rules about cleaning them and being careful with the inks.

Ok off to do other stuff before bed!

Details:

Stamps: CHF - Making the Grade, Four Square and Writing Paper Scrapblock; CS: SU Brocade Blue, PTI Cream and Lemon Tart, BG PP (don't have the name anymore since it was just a scrap), Chatterbox - the red side of Cowboy Paisley for the apples; Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy; Other: SU - Dimensionals, Clear Embossing Powder and Paper Piercer

Inspired...

2008-09-07T08:46:00.002-04:00

This is my first try at one of Beate's Be Inspired challenges. I have been wanting to try them for awhile, but I never seem to get to them during the week. And by then I am usually trying to the WSC. But I was inspired to get a second card done last night and got to work. I really loved the colors in the Pottery Barn pic this week and used that and the four drawers as my starting point and went from there. I got this single image from CHF with the other sets on Friday and thought it would work well in this card (plus I just wanted to use it!) I colored it and applied the Crystal Effects on the jar and as droplets on the flowers for added interest and let it dry over night. I love practicing with my copics. I really wish one of this certification classes would come to my area, I would totally go. I need so much practice and would love the professional teaching. Anyway, so I put the rest of the card together this morning. I like the sentiment from yesterday's card - and I thought that it worked on this one too. This could definitely be another teacher card, or just one for someone I appreciated in general, right?

Hope that everyone fared well through Hurricane Hanna. We did pretty considering that we were supposed to get lots of rain. We did get the rain, but it held off long enough to get my oldest son's fall baseball game/practice in, but not the flag football practice. Oh well, 1 out of 2 is not bad considering no one thought we'd get either in! We hung out inside and played lots of Wii with my brother and his wife, who came over, and just eat in, which we don't usually do on a Saturday night. No way we were going to brave the rain! :)

The sun is shining so brightly today - hopefully the rain is gone until another day! :)

Details:

Stamps: CHF - Daisy Jar, Making the Grade; CS: SU Creamy Caramel, Tangerine Tango, Baja Breeze, PTI Stamper's Select; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and SU Baja Breeze; Other: SU Jumbo Eyelets, Dimensionals and Copics

First Teacher Card of the School Year.

2008-09-06T16:52:00.009-04:00

The first day of school (which was last Thursday) happily went off without a hitch. The boys are sooo excited about their classes, their teachers and school in general. My kids in school for a fun day and then after-school programs and they still don't want to come home at the end of the day because they are having so much fun! I love that they are still at an age where they can't wait for school every morning. Tooooo cute.

Lots of first for us this year... This is the first year that everyone is officially in school. My littlest guy is in preschool - no more day care for our family (FINALLY... but in a bittersweet way). He looked so sweet with his lunchbox and book bag on his back... so determined to be a big boy going to school! My middle guy rode the bus for the first time this year (although I did stop by after dropping off my preschooler to make sure he made it safely to class ;) , which of course he did!). My oldest guy also started a new school, as the 3rd and 4th grader are in their own building (K-2 are in their own building). He is such a pro now and they really don't baby the students there anymore... there's no more name tags for the bus driver or teachers or anything like that. He just hopped on the bus and away he went.

As a mom that works full time out of the house, I especially am so grateful for caring and wonderful teachers given the amount of time they spend with my children during the week. I am a big believer in "spoiling" them and really letting them know how much I appreciate and value them. They are so critical to my children's development not just academically, but socially as well, when we are not with them.

Strangely enough, I had never bought a school-themed stamp set until I bought the Making the Grade from CHF. This is my 2nd Kim Hughes set in as many weeks, and I love the images in this set. I especially love the sentiments in this set, which included the word teacher and "you are appreciated." I can see myself using these sentiments many times in the future... especially when it comes to the teacher gifts at the holidays and end of the year.

I just got this set in the mail yesterday and I wanted to use it for Beate's sketch this weekend. Again, I turned the sketch 90 degrees to make it work with the stamps and idea I had. I really love Beate's sketches - they really help me out as I practice and just enjoy stamping and making cards {Thanks, Beate!}. I also used my nesties - the square scallop and the petite circle and scallops (love the petites!)

Details:

Stamps: CHF - Making the Grade; CS: PTI - Kraft, SU - Baja Breeze, Riding Hood Red, My Mind's Eye PP; Ink: SU Riding Hood Red, Kiwi Kiss; Other: Dimensionals, Nesties

Holding on to the Summer Time

2008-09-02T00:15:00.012-04:00

Whew - I can't believe that it is September. The summer is officially over, but I am still holding on tightly to this wonderful weather and fun days our family has been sharing during my vaca! Luckily, I still have a few more days.

I have been working over the last few days on 20 of these TY cards (my goal is to get them done before vaca is over, but it is going to be CLOSE), in between hanging out with the boys, enjoying the wonderful weather we have been having and getting everything ready for school. We even put them to bed at the time they would have to go to sleep for school. My oldest has an EARLY pick up for the bus - 7:18am according to the notice we got in the mail, so it will take some getting used to for the new schedule. I wanted to ease them into it so they wouldn't be soooo tired for the 1st day of school which will be this Thursday.

So as I started to write, I have been trying to squeeze in making the TY cards and had been working on them tonight, since everyone was in bed nice and early. It has taken me longer than anticipated because of all the scalloped squares and also embossed squares! Geez - I love the nesties, but I have to remember that it takes time (and a lot of it) to run the CS through the CB (and 2x for the embossed squares!) when planning a card that I need to make more than a couple of at a time. So in between all the CB'ing, I took a break and made a card with a "new" (for me at least... you know that story about how cutting edge I am with keeping up with stamp releases!) set from Kim Hughes for Cornish Heritage Farms. It was the first time I bought anything from that site, and I really like the clean and crisp images you get from their unmounted sets. I also really like Kim's drawing style as well.

This one is all about the paper piecing really. And as you can see, I am really holding on tightly to the summer. I just ordered an autumn set from Kim Hughes (taking advantage of their Labor Day promo), but I am still in the summer state of mind...

Not sure who I'll be giving this too in the near future, since summer is over, but I'll just keep it in my little stash until the right occasion/time of year presents itself.

I better get back to the other summer (TY) cards on my list to-do now...

Details:

Stamps: Summer Fun, Making the Grade (for the sentiment- Summer Fun only has images!); CS: SU - Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, PTI - Stamper Select White, Kraft, Other - Dimensionals (yes, this is a very simple card with the focus on the paper piecing, but I thought anything more would be too much!)

Monkeys Two Day in a Row!!

2008-08-30T11:52:00.003-04:00

I just noticed that I created 2 monkey cards 2 days in a row! And didn't I just say yesterday that I really am not into animal stamps? Hmmm - so I guess this must be a new phase. LOL

This morning, I really wanted to get back into Beate's weekend sketches AND use the new Sock Monkey set. Her sketch this weekend worked better at a 90 degree angle with the idea I had in my head, so I went with that.

I really like how vibrant the In-Colors are, especially Pacific Point. There wasn't any blue in the monkeys and the bananas and I wasn't planning on using it on this card, but I happened to lay all the different bananas that I had been cutting out on a scrap of the Pacific point from yesterday's card. I love how it popped out and complimented the bananas, so it made its way onto the card.

Hope you like it!

Details:

Stamps: SU - Sock Monkey; CS: SU Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, PTI-Cream; Inks: SU - Pacific Point; Other: BG Button, Copics, Dimensionals

Love this little monkey...

2008-08-29T00:40:00.004-04:00

...but it has taken quite some time to turn him into this card! I have had this image colored in just sitting on my craft table for weeks with the intent of using it for my littlest's guys thank you cards for his birthday party last month. I was so excited to use my new square nesties and copics, but then I just stopped. Don't really know why, and it's not even like I stopped papercrafting altogether - in fact its been quite the opposite! But now I really think it was because something was telling me to wait until I got the new SU in-colors in my hands. I ordered all of the inks and paper (which I haven't done with any in-colors until now) - I just loved the colors when I saw them... they were so calling out to me. And they must have been calling loudly, b/c as I've told my friend, Jennifer, I need more ink and paper like I need a hole in the head! Oh well. I couldn't resist.

Anyway, I was pretty pleased when I figured out the colors I used to color the image matched 3 of the in-colors perfectly. So the rest of the card came together pretty quickly tonight. And it's a good thing, because all in all, this card took me about 3 1/2 weeks to make. The next 20 definitely can't take that long. My goal - have them done by the time my vaca is over and the kids are back to school.

I have been trying to mix-up the layouts I used, even though they tend to clean and simple, so they are not always the same (and without just using someone else sketch EVERY SINGLE TIME - trying to get my own creative juices going for once!) This time, I made myself not put the image in the middle just to see how it turned out... I don't usually do top left corner, but I think it works.

PS - This is the first set that I have gotten from CC Designs at All That Scraps. He and other images from the set are too fun. I usually don't like animal images that are too cutesy (or too realistic for that matter), but these I could not pass up. I've actually bought a few sets from new companies (to me, I mean), like ATS, so I better get creating!

Details: Stamps - CC Designs Summertime Fun, PTI Paper Trey; CS - SU Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, PTI-Stamper's Select; Ink - SU Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Palette Hybrid Noir; Other: Dimensionals, Nesties, Paper Piercer, Copics.

Cards for a Good Cause

2008-08-28T09:38:00.002-04:00

It's been a few quiet months blog-wise, but I have actually been quite busy all around. I can't believe that the summer season is coming to a close with Labor Day coming up with this weekend. Hopefully though the summer weather will stick around much longer. It has been a great summer - the kids all had a blast at their different camps. My youngest brother got married (what a fun time) and we spent lots of quality time with family all-around.

I wanted to share these three cards that I made as part of a larger group that I sent over to Jennifer for her golf fundraiser. She has been in charge of a golf tournament that will benefit for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation. What a huge undertaking and I hope that it goes well. I'm sure that it will! :) She had asked me and her other stamping friends for card donations that she will put together for one of the prizes.

I wanted to make few cards with my IA stamps because that is how we first met - on the IA boards! I should really get back into visiting that boards (funny how things go in phases...). The gals there have always been super nice and Jackie from IA is great too. I love their fun images, and especially loved the fun monsters! And of course I had to make boy cards, which seem to come the easiest for me. But I hope that it brings some variety to the selection of cards.

All the monsters on the cards are paper pieced. The cards are all simple, but fun! I hope that whoever wins the prize enjoys my cards! :)

Details: Stamps- IA stamps and PTI (for the Birthday sentiments); Inks: Tsuneiko (light blue, but can't remember the name right now), Palette Hybrid Noir, SU - Ruby Red (craft); CS - SU Barely Banana, Creamy Caramel, Ruby Red; BG PP (Stella Ruby, I think?), PTI Stamper's Select.; Other: BG Brad (on the soccer card)

My only grad card of the season.

2008-07-05T16:07:00.004-04:00

It feels like we have celebrated every happy occasion in the last few months - Baptism, First Communions, showers, weddings... but this is our first and only graduation this year. I made this card for the party tomorrow. My husband's cousin's son (whew - what a mouthful!) just graduated the 8th grade. So I didn't want to make the card to boyish - aiming for a "cool" feel - LOL. How did I do? I hope that he likes it.

I pulled out a bunch of oldies, but very much goodies for this card. THIS is why I haven't been able to bear to part with any sets I have bought thus far :) I think that 2 of the sets used have been in a theoretical donate pile, but obviously am glad that I didn't get rid of them. I finished it up with Lemon Tart twill - I have gotten this ribbon in everyone of the PTI colors (it's by far my favorite. I find myself reaching for it a lot. Plus, it's great to use on guy cards... the twill ribbon lends itself well - not so ribbony, so it's great for boys too, IMO. I used Taylor's CC sketch for the week as my starting point, and turned it sideways to accommodate the sentiment, but otherwise followed it to a T.

Supplies:

CS - BG - the sheet is called Urban Dot ( I think it it from the Aged and Confused collection? - it's an OLD one, I think). PTI Kraft - love this!, SU - Artfully Artichoke and Buckaroo Blue; Stamps: SU Riveting, Little Layers Plus, All Year Cheer 3 (told you these were OLDIES!), and PTI Text Box; Other: SU Dimensionals, PTI Lemon Tart Twill.

No Place Like Home

2008-07-04T16:48:00.001-04:00

I just got my latest PTI order this week - sooo excited. I got Boards and Beams from last month's release, CS, ink and the twill ribbon for Lemon Tart and Summer Sunrise (I fell behind a month in accumulating my colors as well as some kraft CS and the new vanilla CS. Can't wait to dig in and try everything out! :)

So I made this card with our new neighbors in mind. We didn't even realize that neighbors around the block were moving until we saw the moving truck just the other day. That was when I realized that we probably never exchanged from than 5 words with the people that were moving. :( So sad how that can happen. We are friends with our immediate neighbors in our cul-de-sac, but really don't know neighbors beyond that. We have kinda a spread out neighborhood, but that's really no excuse when it comes down to it. So my plan is to walk over this weekend and introduce us to the new neighbors moving in. Who knows, maybe they have kids who are the same age as my boys and will become friends!

About the card... I used PTI Summer Sunrise CS and and BG Cupcake PP. I am loving this collection - the color scheme is so me, and I am finding it really easy to mix and match the different patters together. I stamped the house on PTI white CS and colored with my copics. Let me tell you, it has become much easier to blend and get the effect I want once I figured out that I really needed the Colorless Blender - LOL (duh - see, this is really why I need to find a copic class for dummies - I think that my cards would come out soooo much better if I did!). I used brads on the corners and paper pierced under the sentiment and that's pretty much it.

Hope that you are having a great 4th! We are laying low and just relaxing today. Sometimes you just need days like that to re-group and recharge... and there's no place like home to do it! ;)

Birthday Time

2008-07-02T06:05:00.005-04:00

Happy Birthday to my littlest kiddo! :) He's 3 today - my, how time flies. I'm waiting for him to wake up, before heading off to work a "little bit" later than usual. I always take a picture of the kids waking up on their birthdays. I love catching their smile as they wake up realizing today is their day. One of my weird little traditions, I guess.

Matthew is such an active little boy, sooo affectionate and has a smile that is infectious. As a 3 year old, he loves all of the usual boy stuff. Ball, cars, trucks, water shooters, running around like mad when he gets the chance (which is often)... Lately, he is never without a matchbox car in at least one hand... as recently as the end of the school year, he was on a kick where he was always carrying 2. We would marvel at his talent of always being able to hold on them both while still fully functioning! (eating, going to the bathroom, playing with other toys, even tumbling and not hurting himself, as 3 year olds often do! - LOL).

So I search high and low for a car image for his birthday card. Strangely enough, I had a hard time finding one in all of my images... I am going to have to take care of that! But I found one in the retired SU set, Travel Time (masking the luggage rack) and colored it his favorite color - RED. I stamped it twice and raised the car on dimensionals to give it a little depth. I also used this week's sketch challenge. I don't have a 1 1/4 square punch (another thing I have to take care of!), which made the challenge take a little longer, but otherwise, I liked the sketch and how my card turned out. All of the paper from is BG - Cupcake, even the base card. I also used a sticker from the BG pack from the "road." Sentiment is from PTI (love the birthday set - so versatile.). Oh yeah I also used the Memento Tuxedo Black ink, which just came in my latest eP purchase. I think I really like it so far. Didn't get the bleeding that I have been getting with the Palette Hybrid Noir inkpad.

Have a great day!

A busy weekend with Lots of "Milestones"...

2008-06-29T06:18:00.006-04:00

Hope that you are having a great weekend. We are in the middle of a great weekend - time at the town pool, great dinner last night (I went a little crazy and made a seafood dinner - blackened tilapia, clams oreganata and shrimp cocktail for the kids... all with a size of spaghetti!).

And a family highlight...we passed a (IMO) fairly big milestone this weekend - my whole family went to the movies together for the first time!! Up to this point, one of us have always had to stay home with the younger/youngest because there was nooooo way they would be able to sit through a movie. But on Friday, I got home early enough that after dinner, and we headed out to the theatre to finally see Kung Fu Panda - which by the way, was an adorable movie (Pixar never disappoints our family). We had been saying that Matthew was probably ready for the movies given that he loves watching them in the car. The second you get in and before you even have time to put the key in the ignition, you are sure to hear, "TV! TV!" from him in the back seat!! He did a great job, although he did fall asleep before the end. He was hiding his eyes on my husband's lap from the "scary part" and he ended up putting himself to sleep right there and then. He has such a blast at camp during the day, that he obviously wore himself out from a long week. But now we know that we can all go! Our next movie is going to be Wall-E, I think.

Anyway, so onto to the cards for this post. My wonderful dad turned 60 this past week and we are celebrating this milestone with a family dinner which also includes his close friends. I used all PTI stuff, except for the "60", which is SU- Big Deal Numbers (love that set!). Went for a more guy look, so I skipped any embellies. The Brilliance ink (the blue dots), always comes out so shimmery and neat, so I left it at that. I think that my dad will like it.

We are also going to finally give them their 35th anniversary gift. Their anniversary falls between mine 6/6 and my brother's (who just got married) - 6/14. We didn't get a chance to really celebrate this big milestone given the wedding, so we are going to do it a little belatedly tomorrow night as well. Wow, they have accomplished so many wonderful things in 35 years and they are so happy and content with their lives. It is a great thing. I used my first PTI sketch challenge as the starting point for the card. I used Shapes by Design. I LOVE this particular stamp of this set. It's really the reason I bought it at first, although I have used the other ones since I got the set. But, to be honest, this image is the one that is especially blackened with so much use - LOL. I also used the "celebrate" from the set and the "LOVE" from Paper Trey. I love that you can mix and match words from the different sets - so versatile, don't you think? And I used an SU felt flower and a pewter brad to finish it off.

Almost...done!

2008-06-24T00:30:00.010-04:00

My littlest guy is turning 3 (sniff sniff) in 2 weeks. I can't believe that my baby is really officially a toddler... he's potty trained (has been for 6 months now - wahoo) and ready to take on the world, starting with preschool this fall. Maybe it is because he is the 3rd of 3 boys, but he seems so independent and maybe more like a little boy than a toddler most times. And even though he has been in full-day care, it seems different that he will officially be in preschool... complete with his lunchbox, school bag and rest time mat. On top of that, he starts camp with his brothers on Wednesday. This year I have 3 bags to prepare - you know... the water shoes, towels, swimsuits, extra change of clothes etc.

I don't know why this has hit me more so tonight... this seems more like a post I should be writing in September. I guess it is because I have been making his birthday invites - which btw are, of course, going out later than it should (so par for the course!). But then again, most of the guests are family, so one would argue why I'm going through all this effort vs. an e-mail or a phone call, since I talk/im with everyone all the time. I'm almost done. But I really like making them for my kids... and of course for myself. Oh wait, I should also clarify that the party will not be in 2 weeks, {I mean, who would be crazy enough to cut it that close??LOL}... well truth be told, I am shooting to have the party on the 7/12... so I guess that's only 3 weeks-ish away... yikes - better get these out. And then we'll finally be able to settle down and relax after THIS party! :) Didn't I already say that in a previous post :P ?

So about the invite... couple of interesting points... 1. I am always so trying to make my cards look handmade and chic, like the cards you see in the stores. Most times the cards look so homemade, but this one is ok, I think; 2. I used lot of different products to make it. I finally cut into my BG Cupcake paper - love it and used a few different stamp sets from a couple of different places; 3. I definitely give myself a gold star (well, I guess in this case it should be a red one) for incorporating one of my first paper crafting purchases... the star eyelet. I think it was a nice touch to give it a little dimension (besides putting the main image on dimensionals); 4. I am going to resist the urge to always mat my main image, b/c I am realizing that I like the way it looks un-matted (change is good, right?) and; 5. I really prefer the Versamagic and Brillance inks... love the coverage and the colors look so vibrant. I don't think it gets picked up in the pic, but IRL, the "3" is stamped in the Brilliance ink in Pearlescent Sky Blue and it is so shimmery and looks very cool. Although I think that I have said #5 before (I had a bit of deja vu as I typed it LOL!)

Supplies:

Stamps: PTI - Paper Trey, SU - Big Deal Numbers, Birthday Whimsy; Paper: SU Brocade Blue, Whisper White, BG Cupcake; Inks: Versamagic Dew Drop - Aloe Vera & Thatched Straw, Brilliance Dew Drop - Pearlescent Sky Blue, SU - Real Red; Other: SU Star eyelets, Dimensionals

Back on the Sketch Wagon too...

2008-06-20T23:06:00.008-04:00

Instead of hurrying to make the cards I needed this weekend, I took advantage of a free Friday night to relax and make them while we all watched the Yankees game. They lost, breaking a 6 game winning streak. :( We are diehard Yankee fans in this house... even our littlest guy at 3 knows who they are and when we are watching a baseball game. My hubby and our oldest got invited by friends to watch a game a few weekends back and had amazing seats. They made it on TV!! We also got a chance to watch a game down in Baltimore vs. the Orioles when we were down there for Memorial Day weekend. It was a breeze and so much cheaper to get tix there... and those seats were awesome too... right down at field level. We might have to make it an annual things going froward.

Wow, so that was a huge tangent I followed... back to the cards.

We are celebrating my niece's birthday belatedly (but only by a few days). Having 3 boys usually means that when I am making kid cards, it is usually boy cards. But I have 2 nieces and I love it when I make cards for them. Lets me dig into my pink hued CS finally! So I used one of Beate's sketches to make this card. I was able to incorporate a few different tools and elements in this card. Pulled out my CB for the first time in a while, used my scallop punch as well as this stamp set for the first time.

I really liked the polka dots on this card... makes it feel soooo girly. I am going to have to remember to reach for my PTI polka dots more frequently.

The other one I made tonight was for a birthday party that my middle guy has this weekend.

I dusted off this stamp (I still so love this guy - he is tooooo sweet) and used Amy's sketch to make my card. I used some BG scraps for the card and let that guide the copics, ribbon, and brads I used. I am trying to use up my scraps, unless I know that I am going to use a whole 12x12 sheet. I promised myself that I would make a dent in the scraps pile as well as in the big (at least in my opinion!) PP collection that I have amassed before buying more stuff. Of course that just means that I will be buying more copics in the meantime! LOL. I also have to find a black ink that hopefully does not smear so much with the copics. I have been noticing the that Palette Hybrid Noir is running a bit. Maybe it has to be heat set? Who knows... I probably should just do a search on SCS... I'm sure there are threads about it {puts it on list of things to do}.

Back on the {Stamping} Wagon...

2008-06-19T23:33:00.009-04:00

Whew - almost 2 months since my last post. Where does the time fly? I guess that's a silly question, since I basically know the answer... it flies by with all the stuff that happens on a day to day basis. But it is amazing how a couple of days quickly turns into a week and then a month... well, you get the picture.

So the last couple of months have been very busy for us... I kid you not, we have probably had something family related basically every weekend since mid-May. We've had a wedding (my youngest brother) and all of the fun festivities that go along with it... bridal shower, respective bachelor and bachelorette weekends away (the girls spent the weekend in South Beach - and it is an understatement to say that it was blast! :) ), rehearsal dinner and of course the big day. We celebrated my oldest son's First Communion, as well as his birthday another weekend... 8 8 year-old boys plus my other 2 boys at a minor league baseball game - I get exhausted just thinking back on it again! Let's see what else... oh yeah, we celebrated my nephew's Baptism - and I was the godmother. So LOTS of fun family stuff, but admittedly we're glad that it is winding down ;) The last is my niece's birthday party this weekend. Then I think that we are just going to focus on just relaxing and enjoying the summer.

The kids' last day of school is tomorrow and I just finished up the teacher gifts, which I wanted to share today to celebrate my first night back to my craft table. Well, I guess that is a little bit of an exaggeration, as I have been making cards, but honestly it has been rushed in the 15 minutes that I need to make it. So I was really happy to get a chance to just relax and make these TYs - they are gift card holders. I got the inspiration from a wonderful card my stamping buddy, Jennifer, sent me last month. Jennifer is probably either ready to kill me or is just wondering if I fell of the face of the earth again. I used Dawn's toot, which btw is awesome... loved the fun music in the background too. It was so easy to follow along.

And J- if you are reading this... I am SOOOOOO sorry. You have probably e-mailed me, but I honestly have still not logged into my personal e-mail in a couple of months. I so totally still have to send you the May challenge. That is next on my list, I swear!!! I am such a horrible stamping bud {totally hanging my head in shame!} I promise I will try and be better and come up with something amazing for a June/July challenge.

So here are the gift card holders I made---2 sets, I started with the apple cards and then when I used up one sheet of the apple PP, I switched it up to change things up and use up a partial sheet of this Cosmo Cricket (I think) that I love.

And the last card I did tonight was a TY for the bus driver. Can't forget someone who take such great care to make sure that my oldest kiddo gets to and from school safely day in and day out!

But seriously...I can't believe that I just finished making END OF THE YEAR teacher gift again already!! Where did this school year go? Time is flying by faster and faster each year it seems. Is it just me??

Lovin' this image...

2008-04-21T20:33:00.010-04:00

You'd think that I would own this image, but I actually got it because I happen to be a good eP customer LOL. The image came with my last BIG order filled with 12 copics, a scor-pal (I finally got one!), that adorable space boy set from Lizzie Anne, some different ink, as well PP and embellies from BG's Cupcake and Archaic collection (lovin' these papers - I can see myself doing a lot with this in scrapbooks and cards!). So lots of fun goodies - and soooo excited. On a side note, I can't believe that I went this long without a scor-pal. I love how crisp I can now make the folds for my cards. Even when I used the scoring blade from my paper cutter, it didn't seem to come out straight and I would still get those crackles on either side of the fold. Soooo not the handmade look I am going after. My cards need enough help as it is!! And the funny thing is that I have only used it to make regular folds in my cards, and I am already so pleased with the purchase. Next I still have to try making a container or at least one of those cool folded cards, LOL!!

So anyhoo (where did that word come from - it must be a direct by product of the internet, right?)... back to the card. I made it for my cousin, who is celebrating her birthday tomorrow. She is someone I am close to - she is sooo fun and full of life. I love being around here - we are always having a ball together. So I wanted to make a vibrant and fun card for her. I wish I had a better pic to post. I struggled to take good pic (you should see the other ones - yikes). I think I better start shopping for new camera! :O

I colored with copics - I really need a lot of practice when it comes to blending, but I really like how the final product looks. I can see myself just biting the bullet and building up my collection - that is what I am doing anyway. I don't have any other markers anyway, so I will treat myself to these over time (notice how I didn't specify the time period - LOL!!!!) I used one of those cool BG glazed brads, and a scrap of PP - I think it is from the Oh Boy collection from a couple of years ago. If you even saw my scrapbooks, you would see this collection EVERYWHERE - I loved it, and only have scraps of it now which make their way onto card often, it seems. A PTI sentiment from Birthday Basics (love this verstile birthday set), a little bit of green apple ribbon and it is good to go!

Bad Blogger... but "Good" Stamper

2008-04-07T11:11:00.003-04:00

It's been a few weeks, but free time has been short and I have opted to use it crafting (hence the "good" part of the entry title). It still takes me some time to take the pic, edit and insert a watermark, so I have just been taking pics all along with the intention of uploading the pics at a later date...

So here is one that I made awhile back but haven't gotten a chance to upload until today. My February challenge with my stamping bud, Jennifer, was to make a bookmark and incorporate our oldest Basic Grey PP. I used PP from Oh Boy.

We both like to read and have exchanged book suggestions in the past. And she has a monthly book club, which is what inspired my bookmark for her. Her book club sounds like a blast and right up my alley, complete with wine, as they talk about the book selection. So I thought that this Inky Girl looks like someone on her way to my kind of book club too - LOL. Thanks, Jennifer, I LOVE IT and I love our monthly challenges!!!!

Black and White

2008-03-15T23:31:00.003-04:00

I TOTALLY jinxed myself when I last blogged saying that I had been starting my Saturdays with Beate's sketch challenge. So naturally last weekend seemed to fly by in a blink with this past week no better. I wasn't able to start my day today either with the sketch challenge - it was more like starting my afternoon with it! But in any case, after skipping last week, I used this weekend's sketch challenge for the basis of the bridal shower card that I need for tomorrow's party. A family friend from my childhood is getting married this May and tomorrow is the shower. I used her invitation as the inspiration for the card - her invite has a very classy black and white motiff with lots of swirls, which reminded me of the SU set Baroque Motiffs - so that's what I used. I don't know if I have ever made a black and white card - I don't even usually use black, I don't think. But I do like how this turned out... although considering I only used black ink (Palette Hybrid - Noir), a couple brads, ribbon, little bit of paper piercing (under the sentiment in the oval and around the big panel) and EVEN HAD A SKETCH TO FOLLOW - it still took me quite a bit of time to finish it! I have now idea why... I will sit there and fidget with my cards to no end (not that they look any better because of it! - oh well). Good thing this isn't my day job...

But I have been scrapping quite a bit, relatively speaking. I have been challenging myself to finish a page a weekend (yes, this is a challenge for me...). I have been staying on track and have even come close to finishing a 2-page spread tonight. I just love the quiet of the night - it is such a relaxing time for me, that I really don't mind forgoing sleep just to have this time to myself. I love having this time especially when I am scrapping because I get to slowly go through pictures of the people who are most important to me and maybe times, it is almost like I am seeing the pics for the first time. I have come to realize that I get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of life and the important events (baptisms, family weddings, holidays, vacations, etc.) that I am photographing that often times there are so many things that I have forgotten about already or maybe even missed the first time. I know that I really have to slow down... but it is easier said than done, right? In any case, this is why I really want to stay on top of my scrapping, because for me, the process has become just as important as the final project.

Random thought for the day...

Sunday, already??

2008-03-02T14:37:00.005-05:00

Where do the days fly? It seems liked I blinked and here I am on a Sunday afternoon with a new work week just around the corner. So before the day gets away from me again, I wanted to post this card that I made yesterday morning. Over the last few weekends, I have been getting my Saturday started with Beate's latest sketch challenge. The kids and I usually head down to the basement where I do all of my papercrafting after we get up in the morning and I have been able to kick out a quick card before I go to start breakfast and we are off to the usual Saturday activities (sport of the season, birthday parties, errands, etc - you kwim!). For this weekend's sketch, I used one of the stamped images that I got with my latest eP order. I guess this must be a Stampendous image?

I really liked this flower bunch - it is so fresh and sweet. And I used my copics for the first time to color this image! I bought 6 copic sketch markers to try out and I really, really like them. They are pretty easy when you want to color in something quick - vs. prismas/gamsol/stumps or watercoloring with re-inkers and aqua painter. I am going to have to get a few more though - most of the ones are kinda dark - more of what you would use for shading, but I didn't take that into consideration when I bought these - I just bought colors that I liked! :P Oh well. I think that I did ok with the ones that I had. I even add a little grass to the flowers, so they would look like they were planted in the ground.

Have a great week! See you again hopefully before next weekend. :)

Quick birthday tag and entry!

2008-02-26T00:37:00.005-05:00

Happy (early) Tuesday morning! Just wanted to get in one post before heading to bed. I wanted to squeeze it in after I finished my February challenge with my stamping friend, Jennifer. I can't post it yet, as she stops in from time to time on my blog and I definitely want it to be a surprise. AND I am actually getting it out during the month of the challenge - LOL Hey, it's the little things, right?!

So anyhow, back to tonight's post. Birthday parties are a very regular occurrence when you have 3 children who are all in school. I don't think it is an exaggeration to to tell you that we have one almost every weekend - and sometimes more than 1. I seriously should just stock wrapped gifts in my pantry to save myself time each weekend going out to get gifts. Luckily there is great toy store in the next town over that has a great assortment of gifts, most of which are educational and make for great birthday gifts. AND THEY WRAP and MAKE THE PRESENT LOOK GREAT there at the store. Definitely works for me. Love that one-stop shopping experience.

Birthday presents obviously need birthday cards, or lately it seems for me, tags. Quick and easy - and a bonus considering no one is keeping these cards anyway. This is the one I made for this weekend's party. My middle guy went to a karate party, so I knew which one to use right away. All I had to do was write the To: and the From: on the back of the tag and he was good to go.

I love this karate stamp from IA. It is perfect for the my kids and their friends at this age, since they are young and love dinosaurs to boot. Plus, do you know how hard it is to find karate stamps for kids? ....Well, I guess not that hard anymore! ;)

Hope you are off to having a great week!!

Stamps Used: Karate stamp from Inky Antics, Sentiment from PTI's Shapes by Design; CS: SU Brilliant Blue, Green Galore, PTI: White CS; Ink: Palette Hybrid Noir; Other: SU Ribbon and Twine, Prismacolors and Gamsol to color the dino

Birthday Shapes

2008-02-23T00:23:00.007-05:00

Happy Friday (at least that is when I started this entry, although now that I see what time it is, I'm sure it will be early Saturday morning by the time I finish!)!!

We got a few inches of snow today (ughh! - I can't wait for spring already!) and the kids had the day off from school - SNOW DAY! So I decided to work from home to save myself the agony of the commute and also so my husband could do some work that he had to get done out of the house today. I was hoping that I would get a chance to get some extra stamping in given no commute, but oh well, not meant to be. I was pretty much logged in all day and on calls as well, plus all of the stuff that goes on when all the kids are at home - getting food on the table, trips to the bathroom (for my 2 1/2 year old), answering all of their queries for all sorts of things and of course, refereeing the squabbles! ;) But I can't complain because they were overall so good today - I got a bunch of work done and I made it through all of my calls without their voices inadvertently being heard! :) I didn't get a chance to sit down at my stamping table until after I put the kiddos to bed. But that's ok, because I did get a card done and I still have the whole weekend to be with my family.

I knew exactly what I was going to use to make my card - my new PTI stuff. My order came on Wednesday, but I didn't even get a chance to open the box up until today. I got a ton of stuff this time - up to this point I only had a couple of sets and the white CS, which I loved. But as I told my stamping friend, Jennifer, I really drank the kool-aid and bought myself a ton of stuff LOL! So here is the first card that I made with my new stuff. This is the first time in awhile that I didn't use PP on my card. It took me a little while, but I came up with my own panel for the card, which is btw, based on Beate's newest weekend sketch. I used one of the new sets they just released - Shapes by Design. The floral disk is definitely my favorite image of the set, so of course I had to use it first. I also really like the font used for the sentiments of this set. All of the CS is PTI-including their 2 new colors, which I am LOVING! The colors are so pretty and I love the weight of the paper. I only use the PTI white CS now, and can definitely see myself amassing all of the colors as they are released each month. Plus with the matching ribbon and inks, how can you go wrong?

Sweet Heart

2008-02-18T22:47:00.007-05:00

Happy Monday night! Aren't Mondays are so much better when you have the day off?! ;) I had an awesome weekend with my family - just the right amount and balance of busy-ness and relaxation so that I am not too tired for work tomorrow or wishing that we made more of the weekend.

Today I made this card using AmyR's latest Friday sketch. I think that it is going to be for either my new little nephew or for my husband's soon to be born little cousin. Either way, I am really happy with the way it turned out. I've been feeling better with the cards that I've been making and I have also been making very good head way on my scrapbooking. I don't know if I ever will catch up and have books for every memory since the kids were born, but I've decided to scale down my expectations and just work on keeping current for 2008. I have done Christmas 2007, New Year's and a couple of events in January, so I'm off to a pretty good start, imo. I stamped the giraffe (isn't he just the sweetest?!) on shimmery white CS and colored it in with an aqua painter, dew drops and SU craft ink. I cut him out and popped him up on dimensionals on the layered oval. I made the oval piece with my CM oval makes and the largest Marvy scallop oval punch.

I love the style of this SU stamp set - it looks great watercolored, even if it isn't perfect. The PP is from Chatterbox (used both sides) and the base CS is SU Bashful Blue. Another scrap that goes back in the box just a little bit smaller! ;)

I hope that you have a great week, and I hope that I get a chance to drop in before next weekend.

Make A Wish!

2008-02-16T17:09:00.010-05:00

I made this card using Beate's weekend sketch for my co-worker's birthday. It is the first time that I have made a card for anyone at work. Up to this point, I have kept work very separate from my hobby... the two worlds are very different from each other, LOL. But, I have become friends with this co-worker over time - she is a mom too, so we have that in common (even though her daughter is way younger than my kids - less than a year old). She knows that I scrapbook and I showed her TY cards that I made recently before I mailed them off. But other than her and our assistant actually, there are no other women who are moms in my direct group. I don't work with too many women really. My other work friend in my group is about my age, but is single and lives in NYC, so you can imagine, our lives are TOTALLY different when we leave work at night, ;) starting with a waaayyyy shorter commute. Ahhhh to be single and carefree in the city again... but of course I would never trade my life now for that again really, I was just saying - LOL.

Anyway, I picked this Stampendous image (sorry the card is soooo bright - I am having a really hard time with my camera lately, and I can't figure out why!) for my friend, because somehow we are always the ones who decide to get some kind of dessert to celebrate birthdays of the other members of our team. I think it is the mom-instinct in us... or maybe because we look for any excuse to run out and get an afternoon snack, expecially when it is from Crumbs - their cupcakes are sooooo yummy!)

Again I used a LAD sentiment - from the same set I seem to be using over and over again. I just love the laid back font... very me in a stamping kind of way, I guess. I better find another sentiment set to use soon! Or get another set from LAD soon... :) The PP is from an SU DP from last spring... another scrap used up! :)

Glittery Valentine's Day!!

2008-02-13T23:21:00.003-05:00

I just finished putting the finishing touches on my Valentine's cards for the boys and my husband. I hadn't really done anything sparkly in a little while, and for some reason, the sparkly mood just hit me full force tonight. LOL Hopefully they won't think that I went too far overboard! :)

I didn't go too pink for the first card, which I made for the boys. Being the only girl (and not an overly girly one at that, except in very small doses) in our house, you don't see too much pink around here. But since it is Valentines, and I AM the only girl in the house, I definitely wanted to add some pink to their card. The little embelly at the bottom right hand corner of the card was made by coloring the outer chipboard circle in Bayou Blue and smooshing the heart in the middle in Pink Passion. I then dumped Dazzlin' Diamonds on the heart to have it some extra pizazz. The green DP behind it was made using the SU Tab Punch, but (obviously) not folding it up into the tab, and just using it flat. I thought it was a nice touch, right? And then Stickes on different parts all over the card for more sparkle and some paper piercing too. I combined a LAD sentiment and a SU image and just then put the card together. I think the boys will like it (fingers crossed!)

The second card is for my husband. The big heart chipboard is from SU. I inked it up with Pink Petunia VersaMagic chalk ink and then again poured Dazzlin' Diamonds all over to make it the obvious focal point of my card. I combined 2 different BG Two Scoops papers, that I thought still complimented each other. The letters were cut out and popped up on dimensionals. And then 2 green brads and that's it. I hope that he likes it too! :)

I can't believe tomorrow is already Valentine's Day and that February is already half way over! Where does the time go?? I'm keeping my fingers crossed that work coorperates and I can get home early to celebrate the holiday with the boys. Even though it is supposed to be a romantic, couply holiday, we always spend it together We have fun looking at the kids' valentine's that they get in school and then have a nice dinner together. I like it better that way - we save the couply thing for our wedding anniversary anyway. I hope that you all have a great Valentine's day tomorrow!! Enjoy!

Look what I made!

2008-02-07T06:05:00.001-05:00

***Edited to add: I actually wrote this up this morning before I left for work. But I couldn't get the pics all edited and finished in time (I am so painfully slow when it comes to editing pics - it really slows up the creative process, kwim?!). But I didn't feel like changing the narrative I already wrote, hence this prologue!! ;) ***

I saw this tote on Denise's blog and wanted to try it out. So I decided to make one and matching cards for our cousin's daughter who is going to be baptized this weekend. My hubby is the godfather, which makes the occasion that much more special. I basically followed Leslie Miller's rockin' tutorial step by step to make the tote and then set out to make the TY cards. Out of 1 sheet of PP, I was able to make the tote and 7 cards - very good use of my PP, I must say! :) I rounded out the 10 I needed with other TYs but still stuck with the floral theme. Definitely a fun project and definitely one I will do again. I think this tote and cards make for a nice add-on to any gift... gives any gift bundle that handmade, personal touch. I think that it will go nice with the necklace that really is our "real" gift to her.

I'm very excited, as today is my Friday... we have a long weekend planned as the Baptism is out of town - we are headed for the sunny and much warmer skies of Florida. It'll be so nice to get away, even if it is just for a few days, kwim? We haven't been away since last fall. The kiddos are sooooo excited! And as for me, I could barely get up this morning and am just shooting for the next later train than the one I usually take in the morning - hence the time to blog now. I probably could've make if I rushed, but why would I do that on a "Friday"? ;)

Have a great weekend!! See you next time.

They Won!!!

2008-02-03T22:50:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to the New York Giants - SUPER BOWL CHAMPS! I pretty much sat glued to my sofa watching every second of this awesome (the news reports keep referring to it as "thrilling" and "unbelieveable") game. The Giants played so well and really deserved it in the end. And hello?! - what can you say about David Tyree's AMAZING catch on his helmet - I think the whole neighborhood heard me screaming. I'm surprised that I didn't wake the kids up from their sound sleep. I can't help but smile as I sit here and watch the post-game reports. They are all so giddy with happiness and all with great reason... Kudos to them!

So since I did not move from the the sofa other than to jump up and down cheering and screaming at the TV or bring my littlest kiddo a couple of bathroom trips (aka - his latest way of delaying the inevitable bedtime on a nightly basis) - they all went up to bed at halftime, I didn't get a chance to stamp anything else this weekend. I can't wait until they can stay up a little later on Sunday night for nights like this because Monday morning can get QUITE hairy around here for my hubby when they start off the week with not enough sleep.

I did want to post the card that I made before it got too late - and before I got too much into this new episode of House. I never watch the show other than to catch re-runs on TBS or some cable channel late at night. But this ep looks so interesting and they kept talking about during the game, I can see myself watching it before heading to bed.

I made this card for my monthly challenge (for January) with my stamping bud, Jennifer (bka as mackbrad). I know that she got it in the mail, so I wanted to post it before too much time passed and I forgot to do so. This was my first one after my hiatus from the latter part of last year and I made it simple - just make a card with something that we bought in 2008. I made her a card using Two Scoops paper and embellies from Basic Grey (these brads are awesome btw, they REALLY make the card imo). I also used 2 new VersaMagicDew Drop chalks that I bought specifically to match the paper. I really love how opaque the ink comes out. I had started to buy a few of the SU classic inks at a time, but now I find myself more drawn to the craft inks from SU (I collected all 4 sets of craft spots when SU was running some special last year) and these little dew drop inks that I picked up at eP. They just feel more substantial to me, so I don't mind the extra drying time. The layout came from a sketch challenge - I think it was from SCS.

As far as other details, the card (like all my others) are pretty simple. I have to say that I'm still hoping for that "a-ha" moment when I figure out what I am all about in my creativity. At this point, I mostly just imitate styles (i.e. pp and colors combos) that catch my attention and let sketch and color challenges from other talented stampers guide how I make my cards. Oh well, as long as I am having fun and enjoying my hobby, right? I can't let something else stress me out, so... I won't! LOL :)

Have a great week!!

Details: Stamps:SU-Baroque Motiffs, LAD-Sketched Sentiments; Inks: Dew Drops-Sea Breeze and Pink Petunia; CS: SU-Barely Banana, BG-Two Scoops; Other: Prima flower, BG-glazed brads