My Sweet Muffin Babies!

Just wanted to share this picture my husband took of me and these sweet muffin babies... We were snuggling together before bed! How sweet are they?

You sent flowers... I send a tree...

I made these for my grandmother to give as thank you cards for the people who sent flower arrangements for my grandfather's funeral. The funeral home gave her some, but there were plain and not nice at all. So I told her I would make her some. This is what I came up with. I made them small sized to fit in the envelopes they gave her.

These have a base of Bashful Blue with a layer of Brocade Blue under a layer of Night of Navy. Thank You is in Night of Navy ink. I used my markers to color in all the trees and birds, but I used watercolor crayon (Bashful Blue) and blender pen.

Thanks for looking...

Some Will Like it Hot!

They will really love it how when they light these CA-UTE candle sets! I love it and love Tanya over at Tinkerin In Ink with Tanya! Thank you for sharing your great idea with me! You rock!

I started by playing of Tanya's fall themed candles and made this. It is a sweet fall/Thanksgiving set. It is in More Mustard and Close to Cocoa. I used Give Thanks set and The More the Merrier sets. I stamped leaves all over both parts of the set (the box bottom and slider drawer. I actually colored in the stamp with my close to cocoa, more mustard, and pumpkin pie markers. I also colored in the acorn only from the give thanks stamp and stamped that all over with the leaves. I also stamped both on the front piece along with the sentiment. I used twine ties on each end. I used 4 different images for the candles all relating to a fall theme.

I am so impressed the these. Super easy! This fall one took me the longest because I had to keep coloring in the three leaves on the 3 leaf stamp. The other two I made went together in a jiffy (did I just say "in a jiffy?") and I am super happy with that!







The second project I made was this Christmas candle one. I used Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue, and Whisper White. I used a ton of stamp sets because I wanted lots of different snow flakes (Christmas Greetings, Serene Snowflakes, Christmas Punch, Pattern Pines were used). I stamped big silver snowflakes on everything, inside and out. I stamped a medium sized snowflake in Ballet Blue, and small snowflakes in Bashful Blue (and in the end I stamped the smallest snowflake in Bashful Blue ink that was stamped off once. The candles have 2 different snowflakes in both Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue (2 of each). I thought this would be a great gift to some folks (office secretaries, my hair dresser, mail person, etc.)

This is the last project that I did. I wanted a more general gift, a gift in a pinch, a birthday gift, a little something for hostess or friend who needs a little pick-me-up.

Here I started with the Live Like You Mean It set. I wanted to do pink and green. Both the colors I ended up with are retired. I used Green Galore for the box and accented with Pixie Pink and Whisper White. On both pieces I stamped the outlined flower in pink on the green. I put the whole solid flower on the front along with the sentiment. I also used pink ribbon and pink brads. The flowers are also on the candles. I love how it looks and can't wait for an opportunity to give it to someone. (I think I have a person in mind. She's someone at work who handled a big issue for me last week, and I want to let her know how much I appreciated her help.) I hope she likes it.

Thanks for looking...

Happy Fall, Y'all...

I really wanted to use this set to make some fall cards, and when I saw this week's challenge over on Stamping 411, I knew I found a great way to play with these cards!

This set is Give Thanks. It's sooooo cute! I started off with a base of Chocolate Chip. I have a strip of Old Olive, a small strip of Pumpkin Pie, a strip of More Mustard. The mustard strip has the 3 leaves from this set randomly stamped using VersaMark ink so it's subtle. I stamped the sentiment from the set in Chocolate Chip ink on the Old Olive paper. I also used a chocolate grosgrain ribbon. I couldn't decide what to use for the main image so I did one with the pumpkin and one with the basket of leaves. I like both!

I punched out the pumpkin with a 1 3/4" circle punch. I then punched 2 tab punches which, if you fit them together, make a perfect circle for behind the 1 3/4" punch! Then I used a new Sizzix die cut I got today (with a 50% off coupon.... YES!) in olive behind the pumpkin and there are two brads in that in the mustard color.

I used a 2 inch circle punch for the basket. Behind that, I used a large scallop circle out of More Mustard. I meant to sponge some chocolate ink around the edges before I put it on, but I forgot before I popped it up so, needless to say, no chocolate ink on this one.

I colored in both images using my Stampin' Markers and a blender pen. I need to find a tutorial about how to make my coloring look more natural by blending. I so don't have that technique down!

Thanks for looking...

Halloween Haunters

I got the idea for this cute punch art card from Frenchie over at Stamp & Scrap with Frenchie. She is a talented lady with tons of good ideas!

I decided to make it today because Pals Paper Arts is having a challenge inspired by Halloween, a favorite holiday in my world!

This is a black base. I used the medium oval punch and punched out 5 ovals of Pumpkin Pie and then I sponged Pumpkin Pie ink around the edges of the oval. I punched 3 more ovals in white to use for the ghosts. I used my black marker to create eyes for the ghosties. I used the branch from the bird punch to get the stem of the pumpkin (one leaf from the stem). I used a Happy Halloween stamp that I got from a dollar bin at my local craft store. I embossed that one using white embossing powder (I have a problem with the white craft ink. It NEVER dries for me. I always end up smearing it. One time, I left my cards to dry, over night, under a running ceiling fan. I still smudged them... oh, white craft ink, why do you hate me?)

Thanks for looking...

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner!

This card reminds me of a slot machine! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Seriously, though... I figured this one out when I decided to try the challenge listed on Sweet Sunday Sketch. I looked at my stamp sets, saw the Tart and Tangy, remembered my matching designer paper and a card was born!

I started off with a base of Real Red. I added a layer of the designer paper and used my scallop edge punch along the bottom. I added a strip of Bashful Blue that I ran through my cuttlebug with the polka dot embossing folder. I then added a layer of Old Olive and punched out my cherries (that I colored with my red and olive markers). Then I punched out a large oval of olive and stamped "Good luck" from Sincere Salutations on Whisper White using Real Red ink and punched it out with the scallop oval. Finally, I sponged the edges with Bashful Blue. I've been into sponging the edges lately. I do like the final product.

Thanks for looking...

Don't Bug Me!

This card is another challenge card. It's also a birthday card for my nephew, who is turning 6. Last year I made him a pirate card that he LOVED. I was trying to figure out which stamp set that I have would be good for a 6 year old.

I tried to put myself in the mind of a 6 year old boy... what do they like (besides pirates because I have to do a new card)? They like bugs, right?

I used the sketch over at the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge (on the sweetest thing blog) to come up with this card. The stamps are from the Love Bug set, and I colored the bugs in using my stampin' up markers in yellows, greens, and blues. I started with a base of Pacific Point, I layered a designer paper on top (that I don't know the name of) a layer of Garden Green that was embossed with leaves, and then another layer of Pacific Point with the bugs on top of that. I used my 1 3/8" square punch, and I popped up the middle bug. Then I used the sentiment from Happy Moments, punched it out with the word window and then used the modern label punch to punch a layer of Pacific Point.

I hope he likes it! Thanks for looking...

Fun Flowers

When I saw the Just Add Ink Challenge, I knew I wanted to play. I've been so busy at work that I haven't had time to do many challenges, but I had today off and spent it (mostly) in the studio.



I've seen this flower before and thought I would try it today with this challenge.



I couldn't decide which color to use for the background and which color to use for the flower so I tried one of each.



I started with a base of Crumb Cake. On one card I used a Pretty in Pink background layer with one embossing folder. On the other card I used a So Saffron background layer with another embossing folder. Then on each I used the opposite color flower. I used the large scallop circle and cut to the center on each scallop. Then I used the scallop circle and did the same. I popped the smaller flower on top of the larger one, and I topped each off with a 3/4" circle in the center. The grass, stem, and leaf (which I popped up )in Certainly Celery.


I used the Well Scripted set to stamp Happy Birthday in Crumb Cake on Whisper White and added a little pink gem to dot the "i" on birthday.


Thanks for looking....

Sympathy and Sorrow

Some of my time in the studio today was spent making sympathy cards. Ouch, I know. You never want to have to use these, but reality being what it is, you do need them.


In this case, I used two challenges to help me make these cards. I used the color challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary. Then I used the sketch challenge at Stamping 411. (Ladies over at Stamping 411... I miss you! I haven't been able to do a challenge in several weeks. This is a shout out to your awesomeness. You inspire me constantly... thank you!)

I started with a Crumb Cake base. I stamped the floral swirl from Elements of Style set. On one card, I used Crumb Cake ink and on the other one I used Crumb Cake that I stamped off once. I stamped the flowers from the Close as a Memory stamp set on to Very Vanilla. I used my markers to color the flowers in Tangerine Tango and the stems in Old Olive (is that cheating?) I layered that on a piece of Early Espresso. Then I stamped the sentiment on Very Vanilla and used that punch (I forget the name and am too lazy to go look it up), and I layered that on a Tangerine Tango and popped that up. I used a strip of espresso behind the flower and used the edge punch again there. I added the half pearls on the edge punch and more of those on the flower centers. It gives it a touch of class that I just LOVE. Inside the card, I stamped the message from the Close as a Memory set, which says, "Your loved one will always be as close as a memory, and the God of all comfort as close as a prayer."

The real sad truth is my only living grandfather died this past week. He'd been really sick for a while and has spent the last several weeks in a hospice home, so it isn't like it was a surprise, but it is never easy. I made these beautiful cards to give my personal condolences to my grandmother, who'd been married to him for over 59 years and their only living child, my aunt. I know they'll like them and most importantly, I hope the cards convey my sympathy and understanding of their loss.

Thanks for looking...

Terrific Technique Today...

Today I finally got a chance to play around a bit in the studio. I gotta tell you... I MISS IT! I miss doing the challenges, I miss the creative outlet that my card making gives me, and I miss creating fun, pretty cards.

I made this card using the color challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary. I really like the colors! Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Tangerine Tango- mostly neutrals with a pop of orange- one of my favorite colors.

I wanted to use the technique that Splitcoaststampers sent out this week, the reverse masking technique. As usual, I made two cards, each slightly different from the other.

I started with a base of Crumb Cake. On one card I used my Polka Dot stamp with Crumb Cake ink, and on the other I used Early Espresso ink. On each I used the same basic sketch, a bottom layer of Early Espresso (on one I used my ticket punch to mimic the frame in the center). On top of that I have a layer of Tangerine Tango, and on top of that, I have my frame from Frames with a Flourish in Early Espresso ink on Very Vanilla. The reverse masking technique was used. I stamped a background design using my Sprinkles set in Crumb Cake ink. Then I stamped flowers in tangerine. One flower is from the For All You Do set and the other is from Delight in Life. On top of each flower, I popped up a flower center in Early Espresso. Then, again in espresso, I stamped "thank you"' from the Happy Moments set.

You can't really tell, but the vanilla is on the tangerine, and that layer is popped up on the espresso. On this card to the right, I pierced a row of holes along the bottom to tie in with all the other dots. I finished both cards off by sponging some espresso around the edges of the card.

Thanks for looking...

Don't Pass This Puck...

One of the things I am "known" for is the name frames that I make. I have made them for lots of the kids of my friends and family. In addition, I have been making them for a friend who gives them to his clients and other business connections. This is such a frame.

I get some basic information for the recipient: colors, likes, themes, and of course, their name. In this case, the child is basically a new born. But the parents are hockey fans and love the Caps. I used that information to help guide my design. I don't want the frame to be an exact replica of a team (where's the fun in designing that?) I looked at some images on Google and saw the Caps have a very American looking logo: red, white, and blue with stars.

I really like how this frame turned out. I think it has the "flavor" of the caps, the colors, the stars, the black frame (like the pucks and the sticks), but at the same time, it isn't an exact replica of the logo.

In the swish of stars under the name, I used mostly blue and white stars, and I popped some random stars up with pop dots to give dimension to the piece.

I hope the family loves it.

I thought I'd make a card for my friend to give to Riley's parents. I wanted to use the same colors and same star theme. This is what I came up with.

I used my new onsies wheel. I rolled it in Brilliant Blue (retired). Then I rolled the star front onesie in Real Red, cut it out, popped it up and stacked it on top of the blue one. I colored in some of the other pieces on the onesie.

I used a new punch I got (not SU) on a piece of Real Red. That went on a base of Brilliant Blue.

Finally, I put a piece of white printer paper inside and a blue and white star.

Thanks for looking...

New Happy Home(s)

Thanks to Labor day (and the irony of not going to work on that day), I have actually gotten my first chance in over a week to get to work in the studio.

One of the things I wanted to work on today is this small housewarming gift for a few people I know who have recently purchased a home.

Once again, I read recently on another blog to use this Big on Christmas set to do more than a holiday project. The blog I saw had the "new home" as a stamp, which I do not have. I used the Rough Type Alphabet on Soft Sky (a retired in color) and a 1/2" circle punch.

I inked up my "H PPY" with my black marker, stamped it on Very Vanilla. Then I used my ticket corner punch, and layered it on River Rock. I put that on Blue Bayou (one of my favorite blues which, sadly, SU did not bring back). I used the little houses from this year's SAB. Finally, I tied a bow in some retired River Rock ribbon.

I like it and hope that my niece and friend like them, too. Both have just bought their very own first house.

Thanks for looking...

September "High Class" Class

I am so excited to offer this super classy September class. I have seen this purse on a couple different blogs. The problem is that no one has posted any directions for how to make it. Last Sunday, I tackled the project, wasted some paper, and figured out how to make this happen. Thanks for posting the pictures folks... I love a good challenge. Plus, it's a great sense of accomplishment, too. I am so happy with how it turned out!

This purse is actually quite large; when you open it, there are two pockets which hold a total of 4 cards. The pockets also coordinate with the outside of the purse and the 4 cards.

Here's the view of the inside...

This is what the 4 cards look like. We will be using the Fifth Avenue Floral set.

The class will be offered to you on Friday, September 24th at 5:00 or Saturday, September 25th anytime after 2. This is for those of you in my area (Sorry, folks... I am not at that place where I can send out kits... maybe one day). The cost is $25.00. Please let me know if you'd like to come so I can have everything ready for you. In addition, please let me know which day you'd like to come and give me an idea of what time you'll be coming.

Thanks for looking...