Nutcracker

Yesterday, everyone was wearing spring jackets and today school was canceled due to snow.  YAY!  I was hoping to get a bunch of stamping done today, but the boys had other plans.  We went sledding and played games.  I did get my Christmas All Year 'Round challenge done.  Whew!  I always seem to complete this challenge at the end of the week, but at least I am not behind on my Christmas cards....LOL!

This is another great sketch from Maria.  I don't know where she comes up with all of her ideas on a WEEKLY basis.  Once I picked my stamp, I knew I wanted to use the big black brads I got a while ago.  

I used a Deedle-dee Doodles image from her Christmas Decorations stamp set.  I really like these images, because they are fun and easy to color.  Diana made them with coloring book images in mind, so crafters could use whatever medium they wanted and get a great finished look.  Isn't he cute?  We have two nutcrackers, so I grab one and started coloring.  Once I had him finished, I searched for the perfect paper.  Check out Diane's blog!  She is working on some new sets that are at the top of her sidebar.  CUTE!

I wish you could see the sparkly red paper like I can...and....the shimmer of the pearl paper right behind the nutcracker.  Both of these papers are from Paper Temptress.  They added just the right amount of shimmer and sparkle to my card.

Supplies used: Paper - red sparkle and off-white glimmer (Paper Temptress), black and moonstruck cs (CTMH), solar white crest (Neenah), gold (Scenic Route Paper Co.); ink - black (Memento), copic markers; stamp set - Christmas Decorations (Deedle-dee Doodles); Accessories - big black brads (unkown); white gel pen (SU), pop dots (unknown), D'Vine Swirl embossing folder (Cuttlebug)

Hey ~ Did you see my new blog banner?  I felt like something different.  I made it myself in PSE and I need more training.  I am considering having someone design a blog banner for me, but I don't know what I want it to look like, especially if I am going to pay for it and keep it up for a while.

Happy Stamping!

Pop Top Can

I have a quick post today.  I am still working on Valentine Gifts for my family and PTA "stuff".  I am chairing teacher & staff appreciation week this year, so I am busy making plans.

I took the time to finish Tate & Tanner's Valentine Day gift.  Since they get enough candy on a regular basis and at school, I decided to give them one little bag of M & Ms and $5.00.  I put their goodies in this fruit can that is sealed.  Yes, it is magic!  See the pop top below.  They are going to have fun opening these babies.

Before you ask...yes, I did do a tutorial on this; however, it is a paper tutorial with pics and it will appear in one of the upcoming Paper Craft Planet newsletters.  Don't forget to check out the weekly newsletter on the front page of the Planet's website.  It has a lot of good stuff in it.

I used a bunch of leftover materials, so I don't have a supply list for you today.  The Be Mine stamp on the tag is the the All My Love stamp set (CTMH).

Happy Stamping!

Valentine Goody & RAK

If you haven't taken advantage of the Valentine's Day kit at Paper Craft Planet, you still have time.  I made this treat bag for Seth with the kit.  He loves Hot Tamales and I thought it was a cute idea to put them in the gift bag with this sentiment.  I used hot pink staples from CTMH to attached the designer paper to the cello bag.  This was the easiest gift I made yet.

If you are running behind with your Valentine's Day gifts and cards, this is the perfect kit.  I know some of you might have concern with how much ink it takes to print the papers, but I didn't think it was that much.  I have a Canon printer that has individual ink tanks for the colors and the red ink didn't move much at all.  I thought I would have to replace it.   You get a lot of cards and projects for only $5.00.  You can even use it next year for different people.  Click here to purchase the kit.  You won't be sorry!

Here is the cutest Valentine card I got from Jeanne Tomshack in the mail yesterday with a neck warmer.  Isn't the card the cutest?  Jeanne, you sure used your creative juices on this one.  The wings have glitter on them and sparkle.  Adorable!

Okay, I couldn't make this picture too big, because it is scary to put a picture of myself on my blog.  My picture on the sidebar is so little, so you can't see me very well.  

Here is the neck warmer Jeanne sent me.  I made a comment on her blog that I am always cold and she remembered that and sent me something to stay warm.  AWESOME!  It works!  I was toasty last night.  Whenever I get a chill, I put my warmer on and am good to go.  It is brown too!  Love it!  THANKS, Jeanne!

Happy Stamping!

Fall Into Fun

Finally...I took the time to work on my digital scrapbooking.  I finished lesson 2 from the Now We're Rockin' with Photoshop class at JessicaSprague.com.  We learned SO much in this lesson that I am going to make this same layout with Tate's pictures.  Normally, I could just switch the pictures, but I want to create it twice hoping the techniques will stick in my head.

These are some of the techniques I learned creating this layout:

• Add a grungy-edged mask to a photo
• Create a circular photo block with four "pie pieces" using a template
• Create a reversed-out journaling strips
• Re-color and blend an overlay to match it to the layout
• Darken the layout and paper edges for a dramatic effect (burned)

Whew!  My brain hurts...LOL!  I will be back tomorrow with a Valentine treat bag for my hubby, an awesome RAK from my friend, Jeanne, and a cute card she sent me too!

Happy Stamping and Scrapping!

CELEBRATE

Here is my sketch for this week's sketch challenge at Paper Craft Planet.  I was inspired by the new Cupcake Sprinkles stamp set from CTMH.  This is my favorite set from the 2009 spring catalog.  When I saw the CELEBRATE sentiment, I knew I wanted to stamp that along the side.  I decided to add it to the inside of the card, and show when was open and closed.  Soooooooooooo, I created the card below.

Check out the gallery at Paper Craft Planet for this sketch challenge here for more inspiration.

I really like this card!  When I was creating it everything just seemed to fall into place.  My mojo was working...LOL!  The card base is 8 1/2 x 5 1/2, scored at 4 1/4.  Then I cut 1 1/4 inches off the front, right side.  After stamping the CELEBRATE sentiment in juniper ink, I wrote on the letters with my 2 way zig glue pen.  Then I added prisma glitter to make it sparkle.  

The sprinkles on the cupcake were made with a 1/8" hand punch.  I adhered them to the cupcake with the same zig glue pen.  This took longer than just stamping the sprinkle images that comes with the set, but I wanted to make my sprinkles stand out.  Love them!  For the recipe, see below.

Mom cam

See the glitter....pretty!

I remembered I only had one bigger brad of each of those colors left in my stash.  What do you do with one brad in a color?  You can mix them with others to match the pattern paper.  I got lucky with this one.

Supplies used: All supplies are CTMH unless noted.  Paper - Key To My Heart January Promotion pattern paper, colonial white cs, juniper cs; Ink - juniper, creme brulee, juniper marker; stamp set - Cupcake Sprinkles; Accessories - tulip paper clip and bigger brad, creme brulee designer ribbon and bigger brad, juniper bigger brad, sorbet ric rac, prisma glitter, mat pack paper piercing guide (SU), pop dots (unknown) 

I hope you can play along with me this week.

Happy Stamping!

Christmas Sketch 21

I got another Christmas card made today for the Christmas All Year Long Group created by Maria Bell.  I tell ya the Christmas stamp sets designed by Deedle-dee Doodles are perfect for these weekly sketches.  They are so fun and easy to color!  These images are perfect if you want to practice coloring with your copics or any type of medium.  This Christmas tree is from the Christmas Decorations set.  

In addition, to the Deedle-dee Doodles image I used the following CTMH sets:

• Joy - santa and reindeer (retired)
• Beauty of Christmas - snowflake (retired)
• Spot on Backgrounds - background in back of Christmas tree

When I was organizing my stamp studio the other day, I found my tag maker by Making Memories.  I used it today on the three little tags.  I am so glad I found it!

Supplies: Paper - Green Plaid (by Jeanne Mooney), Cardstock (tulip, crystal blue, white daisy) by CTMH, Solar Crest White by Neenah; Stamp sets - Christmas Decorations (Deedle-dee Doodles), Joy (CTMH), Beauty of Christmas (CTMH), Spot on Backgrounds (CTMH); Ink - crystal blue (CTMH), black (Memento); Accesories - whte pearl (Hero Arts), silver tags (Making Memories), crystal blue organdy ribbon (CTMH), copics, EK Success concave punch, pop dots (unknown)

Tomorrow, I am hosting the sketch challenge on Paper Craft Planet.  Stop back here tomorrow to check out the sketch and card I made for this.  Don't forget to head over to Paper Craft Planet tomorrow to see the gallery.

Happy Stamping!

Anything is possible

I had so much fun making this card today.  I embossed the butterfly wings three times before I decided on this one.  This set of wings and sentiment "Anthing is possible" is from the Wings and Things - Small set made by Molly Stamps.  I know the groundhog saw his shadow this week and we have six more weeks of winter, but we are supposed to have 40 and 50 degree weather for the next few days.  That will make it feel like spring, so I think of butterflies.

I really like the paper I used for this card too!  It is the new paper pack, Unforgettable, from the CTMH 2009 Spring Idea Book.  I love the colors and the flowers.

See the pink lace trim I used on the top and bottom of the brown, flowered paper.  These are so pretty!  I got them from Diane, owner and designer of Deedle-dee Doodles.  I adhered the lace trim on the card with liquid glass and wrapped it around the back so it wouldn't fray.  I wish you could see this card in person, because the textures are so nice.

Here is a close-up (mom cam) of the butterfly.  I stamp the wings in versamark on pattern paper from Unforgettable and embossed them with gold embossing powder.  I used retired My Accents beads from CTMH for the body and check out the antennas.  Remember when I told you my mom found a hug stash of ric rac and ribbon at a garage sale.  I got the pink and gold ric rac from that, thanks Mom!  It matched perfectly!  The ric rac was from JC Penney and it only cost 13 cents at the time.  Now, you know how old that ribbon is and it is in all the original packaging.  Thanks again, MOM!  Oh, I just noticed how you can see the lace trim really well on this pic too!  If you are interested in purchasing a package of lace trim in various colors, please email me at stampfest@cox.net and I will contact Diana.

Since our theme this month at Paper Craft Planet is Friends/Friendship I wanted to tie this card to that theme.  When I thought of the theme and saw the sentiment I used on the front, I thought finishing the card "With Friends".  Boy, I have been using my printer a lot lately.  I used cocoa color (R-117, G-104, B-87) and Black Chancery.  I print my sentiment on regular printer paper, so I knew where it will be and then I attached my cardstock over the words with dotto (removale adhesive) and print again.  Perfect every time!  I got this idea from Diana Gibbs, a fellow Paper Craft Planet DT member.  Thanks, Diana!

Supplies: All products are CTMH unless noted. Paper - Unforgettable Level 2 paper; Stamp set - Wings and Things - Small; Ink - gold embossing powder, juniper, cocoa marker, Accessories - pink ric rac (JC Penney), My Accents beads, pop dots (unknown), gold brads, pink crocheted lace (Deedle-dee Doodles), chocolate designer ribbon, creme brulee designer ribbon; Tools - EK Success corner rounder without guard to make scallops, computer, printer, Black Chancery font, 1 3/8" circle punch (SU), scallop circle punch (SU).

Happy Stamping!

Great cards

I did created last night, but I can't show you what I made until Saturday.  I am the host this Saturday for Paper Craft Planet sketch challenge.  I made the sketch and then the card.  I don't usually create that way, so it was a challenge for me.  In addition, I have been working on our taxes.  Yuck!  I don't know how accoutants do it.  I don't like the job, but my DH hates it worse than me.

I have a few cards to show you that I got in the mail lately.  I love to go to the mailbox and get handmade cards.  It is so fun to open them and cardlift...LOL!  These were made by my upline, Chris Shouse and my blogging friend, Pam Volk.  Thanks, ladies!  Love them!

Chris Shouse

Chris Shouse

Pam Volk

My last post was about the awesome Valentine's Day Kit at Paper Craft Planet.  You can still purchase this great kit for only $5.00 here.  I showed you how the cards look just printed from your computer.  These talented ladies kicked it up a notch and use embellishments to make their cards look fantastic.  Check out what they did with this kit!

Tammy Hershberger

Melanie Muenchinger

Wendy Price

Jen Tapler (co-designer)

Happy Stamping!

Valentine's Day Kit

Paper Craft Planet is offering a F-A-B-U-L-O-U-S Valentine’s Day Kit that is all about covering your bases. You get four different, gorgeous cards that will work for anyone in your life -- a significant other, a child, a teacher... anyone! They even threw in a couple of quick and easy candy boxes, including Hershey Nugget labels, and two treat bags for those last minute gifts. All you need to complete this kit is white cardstock, a color printer, scissors and adhesive (pop dots optional). You're welcome to dive into your ribbon and button stash or leave the cards "as is". You do NOT need Photoshop or any other fancy program. The entire kit is a pdf file that will open up with Adobe Reader (which you probably already have on your computer.)

“Hybrid” is just a word that means “computer meets traditional tape and paper crafting.” That’s what you’re doing here -- harnessing your most powerful crafting tool (your computer) and using it to simplify your paper crafting. The best part is that you’ll never run out of these cards -- you can print 20 treat bags for the cost of just your printer ink and paper.

Susanna Boyd and Jen Tapler created some printable pages that you can use to recreate the cards with very few additional supplies. If you want to dress them up, we’ve given you some ideas there too. All you have to do is hit “print”, cut out the embellishments, add some tape and you’re done. You can look like a superstar in under 15 minutes.  Guess how much all of this costs?  Nope!  Not that much...Just $5.00.  That's right...The kit is only $5.00.  Holy Moly!  Endless printing for just a bill with Lincoln on it.  Even honest Abe would say that is a deal...LOL!

Just click here to buy this kit...you won't be sorry!

I needed some quick cards for the teachers at school, so I got this kit and was so happy with the quality and the designs.  Below are three of the four cards and the pizza box.  I didn't have any nuggest to fill the pizza box yet.  I printed the nugget labels to show you how they will look printed on office labels.  All I have to do is peel them off the sheet and adhere them to the nuggets.  Looks like I have to make a trip to the store for some nuggets!

Aren't the colors vibrant?  All from my computer and printer!  I popped the hearts with pop dots.  I didn't add any other embellishments, because I wanted to show you what the cards will look like just from the printer.

Okay, we aren't giving this to a teacher!  I guess my DH will get another card this year...LOL!

This is really cool, because you can see the striped paper when the card is closed.  Jen Tapler and Susanna Boyd really outdid themselves with this kit.  Love it!

Inside of the card above!

Here is the cutest little pizza box you can put chocolate nuggets in for your Valentine.  I posted a video in January on how to make a candy box and here is another option.  Let me tell ya...this one is waaaay easier.  Just print the cute paper on one side of your cardstock and the cutting diagram on the other side.  You get two boxes on one piece of cardstock.  I am going to use this one for a PTA member, who is organizing the Valentine Day parties at Tate's school, as a thank you.

This pizza box meaures 3 1/4" x 3 1/4".  Just so darn cute!

 

Here are the labels for the chocolate nuggets.  Thirty labels on one page.  I printed mine on the office labels 1" x 2 5/8".  You can print them on cardstock and cut them out, if you don't have office labels.  Jen and Susanna gave you that option too!  They thought of everything!

Okay, don't delay click on the link above and get crafty!

Happy Stamping!