10 Lords a Leaping

Yes, I still make cards!  I have been so busy taking my online classes that I haven't stamped in over a week.  In fact, I didn't stamp this image today.  It is another cute critter from the 12 Days of Christmas set by Penny Black.  I colored this back in January.  That is what I like about bringing my images and copics with me on vacation.  When I am busy, I refer back to images I have colored and start creating from there.  

Of course, I am still behind in my Christmas cards from Stampin' Christmas All Year Round.  For this one, we didn't have a sketch.  We needed to design our own card.  I used the Creative Basics Everlasting paper pack with white ric rac ribbon.  

I printed this sentiment from my computer in cranberry ink.  I have the updated custom CTMH colors for my computer now.  Thanks, Carolyn!

Supplies used: All products are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Creative Basics Everlasting paper, cranberry and white daisy cs, Solar Crest White (Neenah); Stamp set - 12 Days of Christmas ()Penny Black; Ink - black (Memento), copics; Accessories - red and clear bling (unknown), white ric rac ribbon,  large scallop circles (Nestabilities), pop dots (unknown)

Happy Stamping!

Easter Colors

I know, I know...I haven't been blogging lately.  I have been busy, but I haven't been stamping.  

Friday, I spent most of the day out of the house, because we had our shingles and sheeting replace on our roof.  Last summer, Omaha had a big storm and we are finally getting our roof fixed.  There was so much hammering that Tanner and I took one of his friends to the mall to eat and play.  I took a book I have been reading (one of Tate's) and just watched them play after lunch.

Ealier this week, I watched my Twilight movie.  Oh, I love that book series and I can't wait for the next movie.  I think if you read the books you get more out of the movie, because you know details they don't show you.

Finally, I am trying to take my online classes I purchased at JessicaSprague.com.  I am still on Now We're Rockin' with Photoshop and my Digi Deep classes are currently available.  In addition, I signed up to take her photo editing class.  As much as I take pictures, I want to ensure they are the best before I print them.  I already see my pictures could be better, since I started digi scrapping.

This layout is festive for the next holiday...EASTER!  These are pictures from 2004.  See I am behind in scrapping too.  I don't ever expect to get caught up.  What fun would that be?  LOL!  In these pics I am pregnant with Tanner and look at my hair.  It is long for me!

I learned a lot in lesson four of my Rockin' class:

• Create a two-page layout using a single Photoshop document
• Color-correct and add "pop" to photos
• Mask patterned papers with a scalloped template
• Mask a photo with a handmade mask
• Crop accent photos without cropping
• Add grungy effects to photo edges
• Create a quick title from an alphabet using shortcuts
• Cut and save your layout as two files for printing

Click photo to enlarge

Have a great weekend!

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

so blessed

This week I used Jen's Scrappy Sunday challenge as my inspiration for my two-page Thanksgiving layout.  I did change it up some, but I kept the same picture format.  I think I used all free products on this page also.  I am lovin' that.  I like the challenge of trying to find products that didn't come in a kit and make them work together on a page.  

You can click on the pages to read the journaling.  I used the same technique that I learned on the "90 Years Young" page.  I took a picture of the table before we ate and I used it as my background by changing it to soft light and playing with the opacity.

Tate was not a happy camper in our main picture.  Grandma kept trying to get him to smile.  I told her just to take the picture and he would see how he looked.  When I was putting this layout together, he asked me if anyone else was going to see it.  Of course, the whole world...LOL!  I think he will be happy next time.

Materials used:Paper - mbennett-cottagedaisy-sp2, sqscraps_faith_paper_ylw, zpearn-littlepersimmon-pp-stripes;Frames - kcroninbarrow-justbeyou-frame, aslagle-summersend-frame;Accessories - mbennett-cottagedaisy brownribbon, ASO_Ponder_Embl_Button, RPENN_expressyourself-dreambig, scarling_dinnerparty_tabyellow; Alphabet - Shabby-Princess-Kristie_SF_Alphabet

My fellow Papercraft Planet Super Nova, Jen Tapler, is hosting a challenge on her blog with over $250 worth of blog candy up for grabs. You can read all the details HERE on Jen's blog. Jen's father has Alzheimer's disease and by participating in her challenge, you will be helping benefit the Alzheimer's Association. All you have to do is create a card, post a photo of it with a link back to Jen's challenge, and then mail Jen the card. In May, to kick off her Annual Stamp Out Alzheimer's Event, Jen will be hosting a charity auction where she will be auctioning off decorated Card Organizer tins full of all of our handcrafted cards. The money from those auctions will go directly to the Alzheimer's Association. Check it out!

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

5 Golden Rings

Still catching up on my Christmas cards!

Here is another image I colored while we were celebrating Christmas at my parents in January.  This set is so cute!  The name of the set is 12 Days of Christmas by Penny Black.  Some of the DT were using this set, when we had the twleve days of Christmas challenge last year.  They made the cutest cards and I knew I had to have this one.

These colors are so untraditional for Christmas, but I like how they worked with my colored image.  The paper is from the Caprice Level 2 pack by CTMH.  I made the gold rings with DCWVgold metal paper.  I punch a 3/4" circle and then punch a 1" circle around it to make a ring.  I used chocolate bigger brads to carry the circle pattern from the pattern paper and the circles stamped on the chocolate cardstock.  This card is ALL about the circles for the "5 Golden Rings". 

I continued to carry the pattern to the inside of the card.  I thought of the sentiment inside, "May your Christmas be filled with memories to treasure", because I wanted it to go with the "5 Golden Rings".  That is why I chose the word treasure.  

I used my computer to print the sentiment on colonial white paper with chocolate ink.  I have a spreadsheet that shows custom colors from CTMH ink.  It isn't updated with the newest colors from last fall.  If you would like me to send it to you, email me at stampfest@cox.net.    

Supplies used: All products are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Caprice Level 2 paper pack, gold metal paper (DCWV), white solar crest (Neenah); Stamp set - 12 Days of Christmas (Penny Black), Solo E, Solo H; Ink - black (Memento), chocolate, copic markers; Accessories - chocolate bigger brads, crystal blue organdy ribbon; Tools - 1 3/4" ciricle punch (EK Success), 2" circle punch (Fiskars), 3/4" circle punch (EK Success), 1" circle punch (EK Success), mat pack paper piecing kit (SU), photo corner punch (SU), Round Tab punch (SU)

 

Happy Stamping!

Photo Shoot

I really like Jen's Scrappy Sunday challenge on Paper Craft Planet.  It makes me try to complete a layout eah week.  I won't always be able to make one, but if I do it is nice to start with a sketch and some examples.  You can participate in these challenges if you are a digi or a traditional scrapper.  In addition, you can complete the one page sketch Jen's posts or you can take the extra challenge to make it into a two page layout like I did this week. 

I took my original page, flipped the pattern paper and moved the brads to start building the second page.  To read the journaling, click on the page to enlarge it.  If you find a typo...please, please, please let me know.  Jeanne found one on my last layout and I am so grateful.  I hadn't printed it yet and I would have never caught it.  Thanks, Jeanne!

Materials used: 

Paper - sqscraps_faith_paper_bwn3, saraamarie-whatsyoursignAO-paper-bluedot, JSprague_EchoesofAsia_lightBlueSolid, fjardine-retroboy-paper1

Photo Frames - saraamarie-sugardo-frames, Shabby-Princess-Kristie_SF_DotFrame

Alpha SP_HarvestSpice_Alpha

Accessories - ASO_Ponder_Embl_Brad Grn, ASO_Ponder_Embl_FileCard, sclingerman-grabbagtags-5, sqscraps_faith_stitching, ASO_Ponder_Embl_Staple, KPertiet_StickPinzRndTag

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

Relax....it's your day!

Happy Birthday, Terese!

Today is one of my friends, Terese's birthday....40th in fact!  I can say that, because I am going to be 42 this year.  She doesn't look 40, so no one would ever guess.  In honor of her birthday I made a birthday card...AND I used one of my House Mouse stamps...YAY!

I have had this little bunny colored and on my desk screaming to be used for awhile now.  When I saw it today, I knew how I wanted to use it.

Inside sentiment

I need to make time to color more often.  I love it when I do!  I am finding myself outside more, since the days are longer and nicer.  Tomorrow is the first day of spring and my boys think it is awesome!  I know the next question....When is the first day of summer?

Supplies used:  All products are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - white daisy cs, grey wool cs, crystal blue cs, white solar crest (Neenah), Caprice pattern paper; Stamp sets - The Spot Light (House Mouse), Happy Day (retired), Baby (retired), Solo R; Ink - crystal blue ink, crystal blue marker, grey wool marker, copics; Accessories - crystal blue organdy ribbon, white pearls (Hero Arts), concave punch (EK Success), round tab punch (SU)

Happy Stamping!

For You

I can't believe I have this week's sketch challenge that Tammy is hosting at Paper Craft Planet created already.  I turned the sketch vertically and used a 3 1/2 x 8 card base.

When I was I cleaning my stamp room, I found the bottom of my stamped image (leaves, stem and For You) already stamped and matted on olive cardstock.  I decided to work with this instead of throwing it away.  These images are from the From Me To You stamp set by CTMH.  

I am still going to my pattern paper scraps before cutting a new sheet and I had enough of the Creative Basics Boom-Di-Ada paper to make this card.  In fact, all the paper except for the card base is from my scraps bin.  Woo Hoo!

Supplies used: All products are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Creative Basics Boom-Di-Ada Collection, buttercup cs, olive cs, white daisy cs, bubblegum cs; Stamp set - From Me To You; Ink - black, olive, bubblegum, buttercup marker; Embellishments - bubblegum organdy ribbon, floral lace border punch (Martha Stewart), pop dots (unknown)

Happy Stamping!

This Side Up

When I was at my sister's Friday night, I made this card using the Post Office set from Molly Stamps.  Then I go to my Google Reader on Saturday morning and read Lynn's post and she made this card.  Lynn is a fellow designer for Molly Stamps.  Great minds think alike...LOL!  We both used the post office set out of the box for a sunny, flower card.  Isn't her card cute?  So when you see a set try to think outside the box and how you could use it.  That is the fun part about stamping.

Inside of the card.

Supplies used:  All products are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Boom-Di-Ada Level 2 paper pack; Stamp sets - Post Office by Molly Stamps, Because of You; Ink - autumn terracotta; Embellishments - hollhock ric rac, CTMH buttons and colonial white waxy flax, silk flowers from Hobby Lobby. 

Happy Stamping!

Ninety Years Young

Another lesson from my Now We're Rockin' Digi class from Jessica Sprague.  Wow!  I learned a lot from this one:

• Create a layout using a sampled color scheme
• Cut patterned paper without cutting
• Sharpen photos
• Create a mask with a combination of brushes and drawing tools
• Cut and paste to resize frames
• Create a custom brush from an image file
• Add a semi-transparent photo to the background of our layout

Whew!  I am glad I have videos to refresh my memory when I need them.

My plan is to print four copies of this layout in 8 x 8.  I am going to give one to Great Grandma, Grandma, Aunt and Uncle and one for us!  This was a very special moment and am glad I can share it with others.

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

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

Spirit of Christmas - sketch 6

Whew!  Now, I am just one week behind in my Christmas card club.  This sketch by Maria allowed me to use many layers and patterns.  I used the Everlasting Level 2 paper pack from CTMH.  I used four different patterns and they all coordinate.  YAY!

All the products for this card are CTMH.  Again, I didn't have the exact color of organdy ribbon I needed, so I combined holiday red and ponderosa pine to make it work.  

Here is the inside of the card and the rest of the sentiment.

Supplies used:  Paper - Everlasting Level 2 paper; Stamp Set - Festive Thoughts; Ink - Cranberry; Embellishments - holiday red and ponderosa pine organdy ribbon, dimensional elements book plates, new england ivy bigger brads

I am off to my sister's to play......

Have a great weekend!

Happy Stamping!

Merry Christmas - sketch 5

I am getting caught up from not stamping at all last week.  I am three weeks behind on my Christmas Cards All Year Round group.  This sketch is from a couple of weeks ago.  Since I am playing catch up, I have opted not to use images I have to color in after stamping.  I like it when Maria used small circles, because it makes me use my Making Memories tag maker.  

I have another Christmas card to show you this week and I am taking my online digi classes, so I have another layout too.  I hope to post before I go to my sister's tomorrow, Friday.  YAY!  I can't wait to visit and stamp.

Here is my take on this sketch.  The recipe is below.

Supplies used: Paper - Evensong Creative Basics paper pack, cranberry cardstock, white daisy cardstock; Stamp set - Vintage Christmas; Accessories - white gel pen (SU), Making Memories tags, red bling (unknown)

Happy Stamping!

Elegant Floral Thanks

Last weekend, I organized all my pattern paper and cardstock, so I would know what I have.  I kept the most recent Level 2 packs together; otherwise, I broke them up and put the cardstock with my bulk cardstock.  I am glad I did this, because I tend to forget what paper I have in "my stash".  Since I found some past pattern paper (say thay three times fast), I decided to use Elegant Floral Level 2 and the coordinating stamp set for today's card.  Both the paper and the stamp set are retired.  You can make this card with any flowered paper and stamp set you own.

I used Lori's sketch this week at Paper Craft Planet's weekly sketch challenge.  Click here to see the gallery for inspiration to play along.  Once you upload your card to your photos, tag it with sk030709, so Lori can add it to the gallery.

All the products I used for this card are Close To My Heart except the punches and bling.  It is so nice to have everything match.  I didn't have cranberry organdy ribbon, so I used ivory organdy ribbon over holiday red to tone it down.  This way I could use red, but not have it too bright for the color scheme.

Mom cam

You know I love pop dots!

What do you think of my pictures?  I hope you like them.  I don't have to wait for the sun or clean windows anymore.  The sun would come sooner than the clean windows.  You know my motto..."A clean house is a sign of a lazy stamper."  LOL!  I purchased the light box on Ebay.  I use my Ott Lite to get true colors and the light box came with four backgrounds.  It is so cool!

Supplies used: Paper - Elegant Floral Level 2; Stamp sets - Elegant Floral, For Every Occassion; Ink - cranberry, garden green; Accessories - red bling (unknown), ivory and holiday red organdy ribbon; Tools - Flourish and 1 3/4" punches (EK Success), 2" punch (Fiskars), small and large oval punches (SU)

Happy Stamping!

Just Me

I'm baaaaack!  I am glad to be back to MY schedule.  I am caught up on laundry and taxes, so I get to play again.  This weekend I took a couple lessons from my online classes, organized my computer and participated in Jen's Scrappy Sunday.

Here is Jen's sketch for this week.  I had fun creating my layout from scratch using Jen's sketch.  This is the first time I have taken a sketch without a template and created a layout.  AND I scrapped about ME!  I decided to finally break down and create a page about my favorites.  To check out the other layouts for this challenge, click here.  

Here is mine!

I used the photo I took with my neck warmer from Jeanne.  I am still using it and love it!

Supplies used: Paper - (blue) fjardine_retroboy, (orange) evakipler -being fresh, lgrier_pengielove, lgrier_turn it up 3, (brown) lweifenback_fresh start, lweifenback_java jitters; Ribbon - Shabby Princess Kristie_SF_button fjardine; Buttons - fjardine_he monster; Flourish - mmartin_carnival beadswirl; Title - evakipler_being fresh; Journal Strips - Carrie Stephens_SD_old paper strips; Font - Calibri

Happy Stamping!

You Have To Make One

I made a few of these for ladies at Tate's school.  Eveyone wondered how I got their chocolate and gift cards into the can.  It was so funny!  It was fun watching them try to figure it out.  You have to make one of these for someone.  It is better than just putting a gift card in a card.  

This one is a Campbell's Chucky soup can.  The bottom picture is the top of the can.  I had to cover NFL writing on the top, so I used coordinating cardstock and punch out a semi circle for the tab.

When I saw this pattern paper, Lazy Days (retired),  in my "stash" I knew Today's Forecast from Molly Stamps would work perfectly!

The sentiment on the Lilac Mist cardstock reads "thanks for all you do".

I am still really busy with Teacher/Staff appreciation week, so this is the only post I have time for this week.  I will be done with taxes and appreciation week soon....YAY!

If you want the directions for making these pop top cans, email me at stampfest@cox.net and I will get them to use as soon as I can.  Have a great week!

Happy Stamping!