Christmas Gift Card Holders

My friend Nancy participates in a huge holiday craft bazaar every year after Thanksgiving and has been trying to get me to make some things for her table. This year I found a pretty simple project that I'll be able do and may sell well! Once again, I was inspired by Jen del Muro at i{heart}2stamp. Check out the awesome gift card holders she made for her local coffee shop. Here are my first attempts at a much simplified version. The heat embossing takes a while, but I really enjoy doing it! If you'd like a photo tutorial on how to make this, check out this link.

Supplies:
CTMH Stamps, Ink, Embossing Powder, and white cardstock
Papertrey Ink Kraft Cardstock
Fiskars punches
Zutter Corner Rounder
Stickles

Eek! My blog has not died!!!

I know it's been forever, but this doesn't seem like a year where I'm going to get much time at my table. I did take a day a few weeks ago and assembly lined a bunch of Halloween cards for my friends at work. I got the idea from one of the blogs I regularly visit, Jen del Muro's i {heart}2 stamp. It was one of her SFYTT sketches and I did what I could with the supplies that I had! They were fun to make and fairly easy to make 10 once I got my original prototype made! Hope you like it!

Supplies:
CTMH stamps
Kraft cardstock from Papertrey Ink, colored cardstock from my stash
Nestabilities oval dies
Cricut Expression and Paper Doll Dress Up cartridge for spider
Stickles

Just Because ~ AMC07

I saved my absolute favorite for last! I picked up the Kokeshi doll stamp at Stamp Attic in Anchorage a few weeks ago. I'm actually taking a class on campus this summer, as opposed to online. (My very last class in my master's program happens to be my very first class on campus!) I just love her! I also picked up the Sakura flower to go with her. She's so dainty and girly (hard to come by in my house) and I had to have her!

Wow! 5 posts in one day! That's certainly a record for this blogger! Hope you'll leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Goodies I used:
A Muse stamps: Kokeshi doll and Sakura flower and just because sentiment
CTMH ink: Bubblegum
Papertrey Ink: Kraft cardstock
Random cardstock from my stash
Offray ribbon
Silver Stickles from Ranger
Copic markers

Sweet Baby ~ AMCo7

Here's the girl version of the baby card! I used a different sentiment and different papers, of course. I'm just crazy for that kraft cardstock from Papertrey Ink... I have a feeling more of their products will be creeping into my stash any day now...

Goodies I used:
Kraft cardstock from Papertrey Ink and random paper from my stash
Offray ribbon
A Muse stamps: Baby Line and Tiny Yawns sentiment
Copic markers

Welcome Little One ~ AMC07

Well, this sweet little card I pretty much CASEd right out of the A Muse gallery. I think it's one of Julie's designs. I adore her work and am on her blog all the time! I love the red and blue and the stitching on the paper. Who knew I would be using a sewing machine while making cards.

Goodies I used:
Random paper from my stash
A Muse stamps: Baby line and Welcome, little one sentiment
A Muse Ribbon
PTI Kraft cardstock
Copic markers

Groovy! AMC07

Here's another card for Challenge #7 at the A Muse Lounge. The challenge is to ink up stamps you have never used before. That's not hard for me, since I'm new to A Muse stamps, but totally addicted and picking them up on a weekly basis. Shhhhhh.... don't tell my husband!

I just love this little bus and the "Have a groovy day" sentiment. I immediately thought of my Lime Rickey paper for some really groovy colors and patterns. So here's another cute little submission from me!

Goodies I used:
Papertrey Ink Kraft cardstock
Basic Grey Lime Rickey pattern paper
Nestabilities Labels One die
A Muse stamps
Copic Markers

Thinking of You ~ AMC07

I had quite the amusing day with my friend Nancy. I spent several hours playing at my table! I used a whole bunch of my A Muse stamps that have never seen ink, so isn't it perfect that the challenge in the A Muse Lounge is to ink it up! I've got five cards coming that will fit that challenge just perfectly and here is the first:

I just love what sweet and simple cards you can make with A Muse stamps. I've done a lot of really layered up cards, but I think this might be more my style.

Goodies I used:
Green note card from JoAnne's
Offray ribbon
Close to my Heart ink in Sweet Leaf and Tulip and CTMH sentiment
A Muse stamps: Long Grass and Mini Flower

I'm Seeing Spots! A-Muse-A-Palooza #4

I think I'm totally A Muse obsessed lately. I just love their cute little stamps! And their sentiments are so adorable. So, the challenge for A-Muse-A-Palooza #4 this week to use the word SPOT as your inspiration. And you have to use at least one A Muse stamp of course.

Well, I have had this margarita stamp for a long time and it was way past time to ink it up! I searched the internet for phrases with the word "spot" and I knew "hit the spot" was where I'd be going with this card. I have a friend who makes wicked, drop you on your butt, margaritas, so this card will be for her at some point during the school year. I hope you like it and leave a little love in the form of a comment. And come on back, because I've already to another idea for another "spot" inspired card!

Goodies used for this card...
Stamp: A Muse margarita, computer generated sentiment
Paper: random cardstock from my stash
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMark
Accessories: Nestabilities Labels One die, Ranger Glossy Accents, Ranger Stickles in Lime Green, Copic Markers

Happy Anniversary ~ Mojo Monday 94

Hey...not bad! I'm getting a Mojo Monday card done in the wee hours of a very early Tuesday morning! I found this absolutely yummy American Crafts a la Carte paper at Big Lots in San Diego. It was only $8 for a pack of 60 sheets (score!!!) and has some really bold patterns and colors. I really like the weight too.

This is going to be an anniversary card for some special friends of mine who are celebrating their 2nd anniversary today. I'm pretty sure neither of them check my blog (they're not crafty...), so it's safe to post. If you're having a hard time making out the sentiment, it says... "All that we love deeply becomes a part of us. - Helen Keller" Does that sound appropriate for an anniversary? I think so...

Anyway, thanks for stopping by and please leave a little note so I know you were here!

Goodies I used...
Paper: American Crafts a la Carte collection, black and white cardstock from my stash
Ribbon: American Crafts
Stamp: CTMH - I don't know the name... it's not on the package! Eek!
Ink: Distress Ink - tattered rose (just a bit around the sentiment), Versamark embossing ink
Accessories: Prima flower, American Crafts button, DMC embroidery thread, CTMH black embossing powder

Inchie Fun!

I went to bed last night reading the July issue of Card Makers magazine. They had a large section of the magazine devoted to inchies. I must have had inchies floating through my brain all night, because I woke up with an idea for a card.

One of the things that I really love is that I actually whipped out two cards from the same idea. I could not decide if I wanted the card to be horizontal or vertical, so I made one of each! As I look at them, I can tell how much time I've been spending studying Kristina Werner's work. Notice the rounded corners, the kraft cardstock, and the scalloped edge. I'm sure that's all swimming around in my brain because off Kristina. I read her blog religiously!

I just love this little snail from A Muse stamps. This is the first time he's seen ink, even though I've had him since early May. I think this would make a cute gift set, but I'm wondering which version is better. Do you think the vertical, or horizontal version works better? Leave me a comment and let me know which one you like better!

Here are the Copics I used t0 color him up. When I was coloring the shadow, my five year old said, "Ooooh! You're making the slime!" I was hoping it looked like an actual shadow, but I'll take slime too! Have a fabulous day!

Recipe:
Paper: Kraft and cardstock from my stash, PP DCWV Green Stack
Stamp: Snail and sentiment from A Muse Artstamps
Accessories: hemp twine from my stash, Copic markers, CM square punch

Mojo Monday Week 92

Yeah, yeah... it's Friday! Oh well... here's my submission for this weeks Mojo Monday sketch. I've spent most of the week cleaning up my crafting area, and now that I can find things, I can create again.

I got this stamp at Stampin' Moose here in Wasilla and it's my first of the Hanna Stamps! He's quite cute and it's so appropriate for me to be making cards with a moose, dontcha' think?

I had a lot of fun creating this card. I got to play with my Copics and do paper piecing with super fun Basic Grey paper. BG is so yummy!

Here are the Copics I used to color Riley up!

Recipe:
Stamps: Hanna Stamps and A Muse sentiment
Paper: Basic Grey Urban Prairie
Ribbon: American Crafts
Cardstock: random from my stash
Accessories: sewing machine, Cuttlebug, Nestabilities

Stitching on Cards

Who knew I'd ever pull out that crazy sewing machine that Rocky bought to sew on paper??? Well, I did and I'm loving it! I think stitching on cards or layouts is a fantastic way to add interest and that extra something that makes your work just pop.

While trolling the internet for new videos, ideas, and tutorials, I found a blog with a great tutorial about using your machine to sew on paper. So if you're interested in learning more about this, I suggest you hop over to Julia Stainton's blog ~ Belle Papier ~ and check out her tutorial. Off to make a card now... have a great day!

Playing with New Toys! CAS#4 at SCS

Boy oh boy, did I go on a shopping palooza while in San Diego! I had so much fun visiting the local scrapbook and stamping stores and stimulating the economy along the way! I have two new favorite stores in San Diego~ Paper Tales and Scrapbook Your Life. If you are ever in San Diego, hit these stores and have fun! Great place to shop and spend your money... I sure did!

At Paper Tales, I had an A Muse party! I bought rubber and clear acrylic stamps. I've been wanting to get my hands on more of these stamps, so I went to town. I also bought a whole bunch of Cosmo Cricket paper, which I can't wait to dig into and do something fun with.

I also got to visit Blick Art Materials down in Little Italy, which I'm guessing is one of the Dick Blick stores I've been hearing so much about on the many blogs and websites I spend too much time reading. Did I have a blast buying up Copic markers that I've become completely obsessed with! Oh man... If my husband is smart, he will start chaperoning me to these stores. I am dangerous when I go by myself! I picked up 10 new Copics and am so happy to be home to play with them...

Not only did I have fun shoping in real life, but when I got home, I had an order from Our Craft Lounge waiting for me, as well as my CTMH hostess club order. I am in new supply HEAVEN and don't know what to play with first!

Tonight, I decided it would be my Copic markers and a great Our Craft Lounge set called Swinging By. I just loved inking up and coloring these images in a very simple card for a friend. Coloring with Copics is such an addiction and I wish I could find a local class. For now, I'm going to just have to explore on my own and watch tutorials on You Tube. Let me know what you think of the card... Honest, constructive feedback is always appreciated!

An overall view of the finished card. This is the most clean and simple card I've ever made! There are usually lots of layers and ribbon and bling on my cards. Tonight, I really just wanted to focus on the coloring of the image. I did add some paper piercing to give a little more interest to the card, which also happens to fit the CAS#4 challenge at Splitcoast Stampers. Boy am I nervous to put my work up in their galleries! They're such an amazing group of artists, but if I want to improve, I figure who else to ask for feedback?

This is a bit of a closer view of the main image and my coloring job... what do you think?

And these are the Copics I used! Wow! Such fun to play with these amazing markers. Truly the best investment I've made for my craft room.

Supplies Used:
Card base: Strathmore card for stamping
Stamps: Swinging By from Our Craft Lounge and Journaling Boxes from Hero Arts
Ink: Memento Ink in Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic markers - see above photo for colors, Zutter Corner Rounder, Tim Holtz Design Ruler, Making Memories paper piercer

My Sister's Keeper

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
Oh man... I finished this book a few days ago. It required a big boo-hoo at the end. I was so shocked by the twist at the end. Never saw it coming! I enjoy the way Picoult tells the story from so many points of view. Beautiful, touching, heartbreaking... Great read!


View all my reviews.

Welcome ~ Color Inspiration #54

It feels so good to be back at my table so often. I am getting quite the stash of cards! This card is for the color challenge at Kristina Werner's blog. Her challenges really get me going, but I have to work fairly hard at them, because I don't have any Stampin' Up papers. I dig and dig through my stash to find things that come close.

I have quite a few friends on the verge of giving birth to baby boys, so I know this will come in handy quite soon. Hope you like it! I didn't use a sketch and I moved a bit out of my comfort zone for this one.

Recipe: Cardstock is from my stash
Patterned paper: CTMH from the Emporium collection
Stamp: CTMH In The Wild
Ink: CTMH Autumn Terracotta (this is the closest I could get to SU's pumpkin)
Rub-Ons: CTMH Love Letters in White Daisy
Letters: American Crafts Thickers - Subway foam letter stickers
Ribbon: Offray
Coloring Medium: Grass is colored with Copic Sketch markers YG03 and YG06, blue shadow is Prismacolor Light Cerulean Blue

Father's Day Is Coming ~ Are You Ready? Mojo Monday 90 & 365 Cards

For once, I am! Ahead of schedule no less! I got an idea for a present for my hubbie when my local scrapbook store sent an email about an upcoming class. I'm not able to go to the class, because we're going to be in San Diego... yipee!!! I haven't even seen the final outcome of the project, but I got the gist and put my own ideas to work.

I'm hoping Rocky will like this enough to hang it up in his office. The first picture is from when Max wasn't even 2 yet. T he second picture is of a baby Jack. And the third picture is the two boys last fall on a berry picking hike in the mountains. I really love the way the wall hanging turned out!

So, I decided that of course he needs a matching card and the Mojo Monday sketch and 365 Cards blog got me going! At 365 cards, Monday's challenge was to use Red, Orange, Green, Yellow, and Blue. Thankfully, the Scenic Route paper I used for the wall hanging had all of those colors! (Yes, look closely... there is an orange stripe on that card!) Leave a comment and let me know what you think!

Recipe:
Pattern Paper: Scenic Route
Cardstock: Random from my stash
Stamps and Ink: Close To My Heart
Accessories: Bind It All, O-Wires, Cricut Cuttin' Up Cartride, Offray Ribbon, Uniball Signo White Gel Pen (THE BEST!)

USA! CPS 119

Boy am I on a roll or what? I haven't made this many cards in a loooooong time! I made this one after checking out the CPS blog and seeing their new sketch. This card jumped right into my mind. I don't know if it's going to end up being an actual 4th of July card, or a birthday card for a July 4th baby I know. This week's sponsor at CPS is Hanna Stamps. I don't have any of their stamps, so maybe I'll get lucky this week!

This was a fairly quick card. I stamped the background, cut the cardstock, popped up the "S" and the butterfly and added a little bling. I like it when something fun comes together quickly!

Recipe: Almost all products are from CTMH
Paper and stickers: Blue Ribbon
Stamp Set: Circle Around
Ink: Sunflower, Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue, Outdoor Denim
Accessories: CM square punch, random bling and ribbon found in my stash

A Year in Cards ~ May

Kristina Werner does a class at Two Peas in a Bucket called A Year in Cards. Each month, she does three cards with a similar theme. I haven't been able to participate since February, but I'm going to work my way backwards and get them all done. It would be nice to have so many cards available in my stash. This month's theme is Sympathy.

This card took the most time. Kristina's recipe calls for a 5x5 card, but I cut it down to 41/4 x 41/4, which threw every dimension off and I had to spend a lot of time cutting and re-cutting to make it all look right. All of the cardstock came from my stash. I've been told I may not buy any more cardstock until I use up the mountains that I already have, and I'm really wanting some Stampin' Up! cardstock. So everything I do from now on will be cardstock heavy!

I used the From Me To You and Argyle Backgrounds CTMH stamp sets for the flower and the dots at the bottom of the card and a Hero Arts stamp for the sentiment. I colored the Flower with Copics Y11, Y15, and Y17. I'm not too good at working with Copics yet, but I'm trying. I really hope they'll come up to Anchorage one day to do a certification class.

This card uses more of that cardstock stash, both for the base and the butterflies. I made a circular mask and used CTMH Spot On Backgrounds for the circle on the card as well as the butterflies. Of course, my favorite pen the Uniball Signo, is used for all of the faux stitching and the hand written sentiment. I'd say that is the scariest thing that I've been doing on cards lately. I don't especially like my handwriting, but I've been doing my best to copy the way the fabulous Kristina Werner does things, so I went for it.

This is pretty much the easiest card ever! Again, CTMH stamps from the With Love set for the flower and Hollyhock CTMH ink. My new favorite product - Thickers in Sprinkles white vinyl - for the sentiment, and a random strip of red cardstock, again from my stash!

Thanks for looking and if you haven't visited Kristina's blog, get over there are get inspired! She rocks!

Party On! Mojo #89

It's about time I've actually gotten to my craft table. It is summer after all and I've got all kinds of free time! I think I've rested enough and am really ready to let the creativity flow. I made this card for the Mojo Monday challenge. It's a 5x5 card using mostly Basic Grey and CTMH. Don't look to closely at the stitching please! I'm still working on turning corners and sometimes it goes all wonky on me.

Recipe: CTMH stamp Good Times and ink Star Spangled Blue
Pattern Paper and Stickers: Basic Grey Cupcake collection
Ribbon: Offray
Accessories: Nestabilities Large and Small plain circles, thread

Nineteen Minutes

Nineteen Minutes by Jodi Picoult

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars
I enjoyed this book, even though it disturbed me deeply, especially as the mother of two boys and a teacher. I know how important it is to identify bullying behavior and put an end to it early. It's so damaging to a young person's psyche. I was bullied quite a bit by girls I went to middle school with and I know how deeply it can damage your self image. It took me years to get over the painful things that were said and done to me. I'm one of the lucky ones. How many kids end up committing suicide or killing others?

Yes... I do something other than cut up paper, run with scissors, and sniff glue! I'm loving the Goodreads website. Have you been there?

View all my reviews.

Two New Layouts

Whew! I feel like a new woman having spent some time with scissors, my ATG, and some fun paper products. I went to a crop yesterday for National Scrapbook Day, and the ladies at the Craft Garden decided to make it a whole weekend event. Wish I could have been there all three days, but I had to settle for Sunday only. Oh well!

Here's my first layout...



This is our darling little Jack Russel Charlie. He was our very first furbaby and we loved him something fierce, but boy could he be destructive. This was a pile of mail that we left in the bedroom with him. Big mistake! He shredded it better than our cross-cutting paper shredder. And then he just looked at me like "What mom?"



Now... I know I'm supposed to give credit to everyone's products and I'll try. But as you know, I'm new to this and obsessive compulsive about throwing trash away, so I don't have the packaging for some of the product I used and I don't know who it's by... hang in there with me.

Recipe:
Pattern Paper: BoBunny
Felt Fiesta Buttons: Buttons & More
Chipboard Letters: Close to My Heart
Chipboard Alphabet Letters: Basic Grey... I think!
Cardstock: Random from my scraps
Paint: Making Memories Lime
Stamp and Ink: Close to My Heart
Thread: Coats and Clark
Punch: Fiskars Threading Water

This next layout is one of the most basic layouts I think I've ever done, which makes it that much harder for me. No paper layers, I piece of pattern paper, some Making Memories paint, chipboard letters and random buttons I have in my stash and a quick little date stamp. I love this picture of my boys and I think I will put this one in a frame and hang it up in my scraproom.



During the crop, we took a little field trip to the shop and I picked up the Making Memories paint. I hadn't ever bought any, and I'm so glad I picked up five colors to play with. I think it was fun to use it as the mat for one of my favorite photos of the boys. And, I like the contrast between the fun colors in the paper, paints, and buttons and the black and white photo. I'd really love to hear some honest feedback about this one!



Recipe (Or the best that I can do):
Paper: Forgive me... I can't find the strip I cut off the bottom, or remember which brand. Yikes! Finally figured it out! Paper is Fancy Pants Designs - Sparkle Daily Grind and can be found on Two Peas In a Bucket!
Paint: Making Memories
Stamp and Ink: Close to My Heart
Chipboard Letters: Came from this huge pack I bought at Michaels (threw away the wrapper without making a note of the company)

I think I'm going to have to keep a small notebook in my tool bag and write things down as I open them.

Anyway... hope you like what I've done and hope you had some good paper fun this last weekend. More to come once I wrap up this school year! Although, I do have a few cards I need to make before the end of the year... Maybe I'll get those up soon!

I'm a HORRIBLE blogger!

Oh my gosh! Time for paper crafting has been totally lacking lately. Nothing new to show, just an acknowledgement that I know I haven't posted anything in forever! I do have two cards I made at our last CTMH hostess night and I'll get those photographed soon.

And I need to give a shout out to someone I met live and in person at my favorite LSS Scraptique here in Wasilla. I went in to take a quick peek and see if there was anything I just couldn't live without (of course I picked up some Distress Inks and Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man paper) and I was actually recognized by the darling gal working there! I was so flabbergasted at being recognized by her that I totally forgot to ask her name. But hey there my dear! It was fun chatting with you!

I am going to an all day crop for National Scrapbook Day and will surely have something to share after this weekend.

Here is something I haven't ever shared on my blog before... my way to store my Stickles! Enjoy...

Have I Fallen Off the Crafty Planet?

Nope! I'm still alive and kickin', but crazy busy with school and school. You see, I am working on my master's degree in educational leadership. This is the last month of my internship and I am behind in hours and behind on my homework. So, for now my poor craft table is feeling very lonely and my creative spirit is being quite neglected. Fortunately, next Saturday, I get to combine both my internship and my love for paper and adhesive. I'll be the administrator on site for our Scrap For Our Schools event. I'll be crafting and getting hours as the same time! Yipee! I will hopefull have something fun to share after that day.

My Big, Fat, Creative Weekend - Part Three

Yes, I do still do layouts! I made a bit of progress on Jack's Baby album, which is encouraging considering he's turning 5 this coming Friday! I also worked on putting pictures in some of the layouts we've done at our CTMH hostess club. I really like the one from our vow renewal ceremony. It was something very different for me and I think it turned out pretty well!

My Big, Fat, Creative Weekend - Part Two

Here is our little work area for the weekend and where we spent three days, laughing really loud, getting a lot of work done, and having a great time!

This is my buddy Nancy!

This is Betty...she's "un-sewing" at the moment.

And here's Jodi hard at work making a duffle bag for her niece that I want really bad!!!!

Here's Nancy and a finished quilt! I'm so impressed!