Happy New Year

Wow!  This year flew by....you know the saying, "Time flies when you are having fun!".  I had a lot of fun in 2008 blogging with all of you.  I am so glad I am hooked on blogging and paper crafting.  I have learned so much this year and have been blessed to have great blogging friends.

This is the last post you will get from me until next week (year).  We are off to celebrate New Year's Eve and another Christmas at my parents.  Since my DH is in a band, he always has a gig on New Year's Eve and this year it is by his home town.  HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today, I wanted to share with you another card I made with Molly Stamps.  This stamp set caught my eye even before I became a design team member.  I love the sentiments on this set.  You can make any sentiment with the words stamp and scrap.  For this card, I used "Let's get together for a scraptacular" and the inside reads "New Year!".  Connie go to your mailbox....this one is on its way.

Below is a close up.  I have been staring at my metal rings the past few days and wanted to use one, so I punched a one inch circle and used the flower image from this set and stamp time.  I tied it on the main image with Indian Corn Blue waxy flax from CTMH.

See the ric rac ribbon.  I got a roll (3 yds) of this at Michaels in clearance bin for 49 cents.  Yes, only 49 cents.  I love looking in the clearance bin.

This is in inside of my card.  The sentiment is from Say It In Style stamp set from CTMH.

Materials used: Paper - Serendipity paper (CTMH), Solar Crest White (Neenah), White Daisy cs (CTMH), Textured cs - Dutch Blue and Bamboo (CTMH), Stamps - Let's Get Together (Molly Stamps), Say It In Style (CTMH), Ink - Black (Memento), Dutch Blue (CMTH), Markers - copics (E000, E00, E01, 0, E53, C1, C3, B21, B24, B26, B39), Outdoor Denim and Dutch Blue (CTMH), Accessories - waxy flax (CTMH), circle tag (EK Success), ric rac (American Crafts), Blue Crystal Stickers (Mark Richards), Dimensionals (SU), 1" punch (EK Success)

Happy Stamping!

Beautiful

Here is the second layout I did for my digi class at JessicaSprague.com.  At first, I thought what picture am I going to use for this one....I have boys.  

Right before Christmas, I was vacuuming and I turned around and saw my boys on their bean bag.  My youngest, Tanner, as you know loves necks.  His older brother, Tate, loves when Tanner holds his neck.  He knows it means Tanner loves him.  Just look at his face.  He is in heaven!  I left the vacuum running, so they wouldn't notice and grabbed my camera.  I got the best shot and it is Beautiful to me. 

If you want to see the journaling, you need to click the layout to enlarge.

I try to take pictures of every day events as much as possible.  That is when I get great pics like the one above.  I think I am going to take the 365 day challenge where I take a picture every day to capture our lives.  I think it would challenge me to improve my photography.  

Tomorrow, I have a card for you.  No, I didn't abandon my stamps.  In fact, I just bought some yesterday....hee hee!  That will be my last post for a while.  We are going to my parents and they do not have wireless for my laptop.  In fact, they finally got a little faster internet than dial up.  They live in the country, so I will be enjoying every aspect of that.  

OH!

Look at what my FIL made me for Christmas.  He is a master builder and loves to make presents for people.  When he first asked if I wanted him to make me something for Christmas, I said no.  What was I thinking?  I called him back and let him know what I needed.  I told him it didn't have to be pretty, just something simple.  He knew I had white storage cabinets, so he painted it for me too.  He is awesome!  Now, I have all my punhces in one place.

When I unwrapped my present, he told me to try to fill it up.  I called him after I got it home and said it is about full and he couldn't believe it.  I put it right next to my desk, so I could see all my punches and just reach out to use them.  Yippee!

Happy Stamping!

ALL SMILES

Surprise!  This is what I have been up to the last few days.  I am learning how to digital scrap.  I can't believe it!  I don't think I will ever go away from the traditional scrapbooking.  I am having a lot of fun learning more about my Photoshop Elements program (PSE).  I tend to buy a photo editing program, but never learn many of the features.  That is not the case now.  I am learning so much about PSE that I am happy I decided to take the dive into the digi pool.  

I am so busy making cards all the time, I am trying to find ways to scrap faster.  I want to scrapbook, but have to manage my time better.  I used to spend 4 hours on a layout.  I just don't have that time anymore.  Isn't funny how time is money now!

I have blogging friends that digi scrap (Hi Jeanne and Barb!), so I decided to take advantage of Jessica Sprague's 20% off sale before Christmas.  Here is her site....Jessica Sprague.

This is the first layout I created in the online class.  These are the things I like about digi:

• I don't make a mess when scrapping.
• I will be able to take my laptop to my parents and Seth's parents and scrap.
• I have a lot of every day shots that just call for one or two pics and this is a good way to scrap them.
• I am learning more about my computer program.
• It is fast!

I don't know what I don't like about it yet, because I haven't printed any of my layouts out.  I have a feeling I won't like the layout being ALL flat.  I am suppose to learn about making my embellishments 3-D on a future lesson, I will see if I like it.

I do have a few of questions for the digi scrappers out there.

1. Where do you print your layouts? (home or online)
2. Is there a certain type of paper you choose when printing online?
3. If you print at home, do you print on your white cardstock?
4. What is cheaper...printing at home or online?

If you want to read the journaling, you have to click to enlarge the layout.

Another avenue for digital scrapbooking is hybrid scrapbooking.  I think I might like that.  That is where you create a layout on the computer and add embellishments to it once it is printed.

Happy Stamping!

SK122708

I hope all of you have had a great holiday season so far. I can't believe there are only five days left of 2008. We have had a relaxing vacation so far and I haven't done much stamping, but I thought I better break out my stamps for this weeks sketch challenge.


Lynn is hosting this week with a great sketch that has challenged me to get away from my traditional 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 cards. The card she made for her sketch is 8 x 4, so I did the same. Check out her sketch gallery for inspiration and play along.





I have had this idea for a couple of weeks. I got this main image from the set heartfelt hits 1 from Gina K Designs. When I saw this image, I new I wanted to make a New Year's Eve card. I used my copics to color the image and added a lot of bling. New Year's Eve calls for bling! My friend, Norma Jean HATES little bling, so when I was adding this bling I chuckled every time I dropped one on the floor thinking of her. Hi, Norma Jean!

When I saw the number paper in the Good Times Level 2 pack from CTMH, I wanted to use it for the countdown to the New Year. Hope you like it!

Here is a close-up of the image and bling.

Materials used:

Paper - Good Times Level 2 (CTMH), Neenah Solor White for image

Stamp sets - heartfelt hits 1 (Gina K Designs), Say It In Style (CTMH), Small Friendship Alpha (CTMH - no longer available)

Ink - Black Memento for stamped image, Cocoa (CTMH)

Accessories - white organdy ribbon (CTMH), polka dot ribbon (Dashes, Dots & Checks), bling (Paper Studio), copics, twilight marker (CTMH), nestabiities (large and small classic ovals), 1 3/8" punch (SU), scallop punch (SU), small and large oval punch (SU)

I have been keeping busy scrapbooking during the holidays. I am so surprised at what I have been working on and I think you will be too! I will post soon!

Happy Stamping!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

No, we are not all musicians! My DH is in a band and the boys love to tinker with his guitars supervised, of course! Hopefully one day, they will be interested in lessons from Dad.

Hope you have a rockin' Christmas!


God bless,

Do Not Open 'Til Christmas

I love the holidays, but it sure has kept me from stamping!  I did take the time to play with the Post Office stamp set from Molly Stamps.  This set has commonly used postal remarks: fragile, do not bend, this side up and confidential.  There is also a touch of the holidays with the stamp image I used on this gift tag.  

I used Martha Stewart's star border punch.  I think these look like snowflakes too, so I punched them out in white daisy cs and adhered them to the bottom.  Of course, I had to dress them up with some bling.

Materials used:

Paper (CMTH) - Hollydays dp, cranberry cs, clover meadow cs, white daisy cs

Stamp set - Post Office by Molly Stamps

Accessories - 2" punch, 1 3/4" punch, scallop punch (SU), Stars Martha Stewart border punch, bling, cranberry ribbon, copics, white gel pen, school hand circle punch, liquid applique, silver pen

Happy Stamping!

SK122008

Sorry I have been MIA lately.  I had to work all three days of the Holiday Gift Shop at Tate's school.  The shop was a big success!  The teachers loved it and the kids had a blast shopping for their loved ones.  It was so fun to watch them carefully choose items they knew their family would like.  My favorite part was giving some kids, who couldn't affored it the chance to shop with money donated.  That is the true meaning of Christmas!

Jen is our hostess today, Saturday, with the sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet.  Just upload your card for this challenge and tag it with SK122008, so she can add it to the album.

Here is my card for this week challenge.  Since I haven't had time to stamp, I decided to use CTMH's My Stickease for a quick card.  I made a 5 x 7 card this time.

I wish you could see the elf better.  I added prisma glitter to his outfit and it looks so sparkly.  The snowflake sparkles too, because I used glitter cardstock.  

Materials I used: All materials are CTMH unless noted. 

Paper - Deck the Halls pattern paper (retired)

Accessories - Hollydays Level 2, My Stickease, prisma glitter, white daisy grosgrain ribbon, white daisy brads, pop dots (SU), snowflake punch (SU), cranberry waxy flax, glitter cardstock mat stack (DCWV)

Happy Stamping!

Let's Get Together

My PTA Presidency has turned into a full-time job this week.  We are holding a Holiday Gift Shop at school for the kids to shop for family, friends and teachers.  Edison has not done one of these before and it was my idea, so I want to make sure it is successful.  The kids are having a blast, so I am sure we will do it again.  

Soooooo, I have not had the time to play in my room....bummer!  I did make the time to use my Molly Stamps this week and I decided to play with my copics more.  I still have a loooooong way to go with my coloring.  As they say...practice makes perfect.  I don't think I will ever get perfect, but I will get better (hopefully).  

I wanted to make a simple card, since I didn't have a lot of time after coloring.  I used my snowflake embossing folder for the bottom and my nestabilities for the oval and scallop oval.  

The inside of my card reads....Let's Get Together.

I don't know if I will have time in the next two days to stamp either.....I am getting withdrawals.  I can't wait for Christmas break for the kids, because I am going to take a break from PTA too.  

Materials used:

Paper - White Daisy, Cranberry, New England Ivy (all CTMH)

Stamp set - Let's Get Together by Molly Stamps

Accessories by CTMH - New England Ivy buttons and ribbon, Cranberry waxy flax and ribbon

Other Accessories - Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder, Large classic oval nestabilities, Large Scallop classic oval nestabilities

Happy Stamping!

Teacher Gift

This is one of the gifts we are giving Tate's teacher for Christmas.  Three families have pooled their money to get more things instead of coffee mugs, ornaments and candles.  LOL!  We asked her what her favorite candy is and she told us two things: Snickers and Skittles.  I thought I would put the goodies in one of those see through paint cans and decorated it.  I got my paint can from a store we have in Omaha called Mangelsen's.  

In addition, I used the Santa made from the SU scallop circle punch.  I got these directions from Tinkerin In Ink With Tanya.  It was so easy to make and so cute!  I showed Tate and he said Santa's hat needed something, so I put a pom pom (sp?) on it.  I got that from my chalking tool kit.  The blue ribbon is from a present I got a long time ago.  I try to keep any ribbon I get.  You never know when you may be able to recycle and use it.  I don't hoard a lot, but I do hoard ribbon.  I almost forgot I used Deck the Halls paper from CTMH.  

I hope she likes it!

Happy Stamping!

Ton of Fun

Today's sketch challenge (SK121308) at Paper Craft Planet is a good one.  I expect nothing less from Adela.  She is hosting this month and she is a very talented paper crafter.  Check out the gallery here for inspiration.  Make sure you tag your card SK121308, so she can find it to pull to the gallery.

I wanted to take a break from Christmas and Holiday cards, so I made a card with Harriet the Hippo.  She is an image I colored last weekend on our trip to South Dakota.  This is another cute stamp from Paper Works Company.  When I saw this little bird and colored him yellow, I knew I wanted to use paper from Paper Temptress called mangue sparkle text paper.

I had so much fun diving into my archive of papers, ribbons and embellishments.  Here is what I used:

Paper - "Boy" Sots/Green Paper (my mind's eye), "Buddies" Dots/Periwinkle Paper (my mind's eye), silver vellum (CTMH), mangue sparkle text paper (Paper Temptress), moonstruck cs (CTMH), white solar paper (Neenah)

Stamp set - Harriet the Hippo (Paper Works Co.)

Copics - C1 Cool Gray No. 1, C3 Cool Gray No. 3, Y15 Cadmium Yellow, YR23 Yellow Ochre

Ink - Black (Memento)

Sentiment - Computer generated using text box and word art - Times New Roman font

Accessories - pop dots, yellow bling (Michaels), 1 3/8" circle punch, scallop punch (SU), silver brads (Paper Studio), blue piping (JC Penney), silver cord (unknown), Spots & Dots Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

My mom purchased a box of ric rac, ribbon, piping and cord at a garage sale this summer.  Most of it is from JC Penney.  The prices on it were $0.13 each and it was marked down to $0.05, so you know it was made a long time ago.  I have fun searching through this box for ribbon, etc.

I had someone ask a while ago what size scallop I use.  I measured it, since it doesn't have a measurement listed on it.  It looks like it is 1 3/4".  It is from Stampin' Up!  

Hope you can play along with the sketch this week.

Happy Stamping!

SK120608

Melanie Muenchinger designed this week's sketch at Paper Craft Planet.  Her work is amazing, so you will want to check it out.  I tried to upload her sketch, but for some reason Blogger wouldn't let me.  You will have to go to her sketch album to see it and while you are there you will get inspiration from others to create your own card for this challenge.

Here is the card I made for her sketch challenge.  I have been hooked on using CTMH's Deck the Halls pattern paper I bought over a year ago.  Sorry it is retired.  I am trying to use what I have before I buy a lot of new paper.  I am sure you know how hard that is, since paper is so awesome!

Materials used:

Paper - Deck the Halls Level 2, white daisy cs, dutch blue cs

Stamp sets - Bundled Up, Christmas Scripts

Ink - white pigment

Accessories - blue gingham ribbon (unknow - bought from Michaels dollar bin), pop dots, red bling from Michales too, 1 1/4" circle punch

Happy Stamping!

Nine Days Before Christmas

Can you believe there are only nine shopping days left until Christmas?  Wow!  This month is flyinig by............

AND

This is the last day left of the 12 days of Christmas challenges at Paper Craft Planet.  Melanie is hosting today's challenge.  Since it is the 12th day for 12 drummers drumming, your challenge is to make a card with 12 embellisments on it.  Check on the main page of Paper Craft Planet's site to get the details.  

You will not want to miss this challenge, because the prize is from Gina K. Designs.  Don't hestitate, go now!  Just like my Molly is doing below...go fast!

This is the card I made for today's 12 embellishments challenge.  I used Let's Get Together stamp set from Molly Stamps.  This set is great, because it has three awesome images to play with and some fantastic sentiments.  I have more Molly's to show you later.

Materials used:

Paper - Evensong Level 2 paper, cranberry cs, new england ivy cs, white daisy cs

Stamp set - Let's Get Together by Molly Stamps

Ink - black Memento, white daisy ink (CTMH), other inks from CTMH for sponging - bamboo, desert sand, chocolate, heavenly blue, crystal blue, indian corn blue

Accessories - cranberry buttons, colonial white waxy flax, cranberry waxy flax, Nature's Ambiance rub-ons, Fresh Shapes dimensional elements, computer generated sentiment, copics, red bling from Michaels, D'vine Swirl cuttlebug embossing plate, pop dots

Notice:  If you are reading this on Tuesday, December 9th you have nine days left to shop; otherwise, you have less....LOL!

Happy Stamping!

Rockin' Holiday

Here is the other card I made for the 11th day challenge for the 12 days of Christmas at Paper Craft Planet. 

This one is more cutesy than the first one I posted.  I colored the truck and little guy with copics.  On our trip to South Dakota this last weekend I colored the entire way up and back.  Boy, time flies when you color.  Some times it was a little bumpy, so I had to you my colorless blender to fix a couple of mistakes.  

I hope you can play along with this challenge.  See you over at Paper Craft Planet.

 

Materials used -

Paper - Deck the Halls (CTMH), cranberry cs, white daisy cs, dutch blue cs

Stamp set - Load of Love (SU), Loads of Love Accessories (SU), Rock-N-Roll (CTMH)

Ink - Memento black ink, CTMH black ink

Accessories - Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder, white gel pen, pop dots, Paper Studio red bling, ribbon (Craft Narrows), computer generated sentiment, copics

Happy Stamping!

Rockin' Christmas

Starting at 12:01 am Monday morning, I am hosting the 11th day of the 12 days of Christmas promotion at Paper Craft Planet.  This link will take you to the photo page of the site where the featured albums are shown.  Click on 12 days of Christmas - 11 pipers piping to get more inspiration.  Once you make your card, upload it in your photo gallery and tag is with 12day10 (all lowercase).  I will be able to find it that way and pull it into the main album for this challenge. 

If you haven't played yet, you need to join the fun!  If you are playing along, thanks so much for participating in these challenges.  Good luck!  Our sponsors have given away great prizes and the 11th day is no different.  Embellish-it is our sponsor for the 11 pipers piping challenge.  The have a great website...check it out!

On the 11th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me....11 pipers piping.  Well, you don't have to make a card with 11 pipers piping.  Our challenge on the 11th day, will be to make a card with musical instruments.

I like this challenge, because my husband is in a band and he plays the electric guitar.  So of course, I felt the need to make a card with a guitar as the main focus.  This is not a typical Christmas card, but I like it.  My hubby really likes it, of course!  I wonder which friend of his will get this one.

I will have a cute version of rockin' holiday a little later.  

Materials used: DCWV paper and Rock King Chipboard Embellishments, CTMH Deck the Halls pattern paper, Michaels black bling, CTMH bookplate dimensional elements, silver brads, silver cord, CTMH rub-ons, pop dots.

Happy Stamping!

Sour Cream?

I have been wanting to make some of these for a little while for a couple of little gifts.  They are so fun and easy to make.  ENJOY!

Measurements:

4 1/4 x 5 1/2 pattern paper

Happy Stamping!

Clip It Up

I did create today, but nothing I can show you yet.  I will be hosting the 11th day of the 12 days of Christmas promotion coming this Monday on Paper Craft Planet.  Since I will be out of town this weekend, I wanted to make sure I was ready at 12:01 a.m. Monday.  

Don't forget to head over to Paper Craft Planet and check out day six of the 12 days of Christmas promotion.  Wendy is the host today (Wednesday) and she made the cutest frame for your inspiration.  There is a prize drawing every day.

I do have something to show you today.  This is my latest purchase.  I was tired on having three different baskets for the cards I created.  I purchased this Clip It Up at Archivers with my 30% off coupon this month.  This is the bottom tier that comes with 80 clips.  When I bought it, I thought that would be more than I would need.  I was wrong!  It is full and I still have cards to display.  I will be using my 30% off coupon for the upper tier the second half of December.  I really like that I can go to one place for my cards and if people want to look at what I created they can just turn the carousel and look at everything!  YAY!

I put my cards in the clear envelopes, so the hooks would not damage my cards.  It works great!

Happy Stamping!

WINTER

After yesterday's cheery summer card, I have a winter layout for you.  We are going to make this layout at our club meeting tonight.  I wanted to create a winter layout, because our theme this month at Paper Craft Planet is holiday.  I have been making so many cards lately and neglecting my scrapbooking that I made myself finish a two-page layout.

Here are close ups of the two pages.  My boys sure love snow.  They have been wishing for it for weeks now and we haven't had any yet.

Materials used:

Paper - Just Chillin' Level 2, vineyard berry cs, ocean cs, desert sand cs, white daisy cs

Stamps - Bundled Up, Glistening Snow

Ink - ocean, vineyard berry, white pigment 

Accessories - bling, white daisy sassy strand, circle window charms

It is day 5 of the 12 days of Christmas at Paper Craft Planet.  You should check out the gallery for inspiration and play along.  More great prize give-aways!

I hope you are having a great holiday season!

Happy Stamping!

Happy Birthday Flower

I have been wanting to make a Mr. Smiley flower for a long time.  I got these flowers as a bouquet at Hobby Lobby, so I could make pens in a flower pot.  You know...the ones you see at banks, etc.  I had some left over, so I pulled them apart to use on cards.  I love how the flower frames Mr. Smiley from Today's Forecast at Molly Stamps.  

In addition, I got some awesome paper from Paper Temptress.  The piece I used is the orange sparkle paper that I embossed with the happy birthday cuttlebug folder.  You can't see it in the picture, but this paper has a sparkle to it.  Hence the name sparkle paper....LOL!  I love it!  I orange goes perfectly with the orange in the flower.

AND....I used my BIG BITE!  This is only the second time I has used my big bite and I am so glad I got it.  It puts gromlets on so easily.  I know it is the holiday season, but I had to make this cheery card.  I was inspired by Today's Forecast and the flower.  This is what I ended up creating.  I love starting from scratch and just piecing items together and until viola!

I have been taking pictures of the cards from a different angle, because I like the way it show you the 3-d look!  The inside of the card reads, "smile...it's your day!"

Materials used:

Paper - white daisy cs, balloon pattern paper from Frances Meyer, Inc., orange sparkle paper from Paper Temptress, dutch blue cs, clover meadow cs

Stamp set - Today's Forecast from Molly Stamps

Ink - clover meadow

Markers - sunny yellow, white gelly roll pen

Accessories - circle window charm, happy birthday cuttlebug embossing folder, frenzy designer gromlet from We R Memory Keepers, flower from Hobby Lobby, SU scallop punch, SU 1 3/8 circle punch, EK Success 1 1/4 circle punch, EK Success 1" circle punch

Don't forget...................

It is day 4 of the 12 days of Christmas at Paper Craft Planet.  Sankari is hosting today's challenge.  Here is the gallery for your inspiration.  Play along and win a prize from Our Daily Bread!  Wow!  Their stamp sets are awesome!

Happy Stamping!

Owl Be Home

It is the third day of the 12 days of Christmas at Paper Craft Planet.  Check out the gallery for this challenge for inspiration.  Since I love owls and I could use one for this day's challenge, I made time to create a card.  I wanted it to be somewhat of a Christmas theme and I thought of the sentiment "Owl be home for Christmas".  I love the stamp sets that play on words.  Since I didn't have a stamp to say what I wanted, I printed it from Word on sorbet paper.

Here is my card from a different view, so you can see the way I used pop dots to make the owl stand out on the tree branch.

Here is my owl close-up.  I embossed him with sand embossing powder I bought at Archivers.  They had a demo one day and I had to have it.  I am glad I finally used it....LOL!  Then I colored the white places on him with cocoa marker.  For his beak I used bamboo marker a couple different times to make it darker.  I finished him with chocolate brads for his eyes.

All materials used are CTMH unless noted:

Paper - Evensong Level 2, sorbet cs, garnet cs, new england ivy cs

Stamps - Whoo Loves You

Marker - cocoa, bamboo

Embellishements - new england ivy brads, chocolate brads, Nature's Ambiance rub-ons, chocolate designer ribbon rounds, dimensional elements bookplates, sand embossing powder (unknown), pop dots (unknown), Martha Stewart checker board punch, EK Success concave punch

Happy Stamping!