Stationery Box

Well, I blame it on the medication (LOL!) JUST KIDDING! But I tried like three times before I finally got it right. (Third time's a charm, right?) Well, it was for me this time, anyway!
I know everyone has been making these.
And I know a lot of people were even using the Afternoon Tea Designer Series Paper (which I *Lurve*!) but I just had to be a copycat and do it, too. Sorry! I had a very little bit left and had to do it. It's a gift for my mom, who loves every little thing I make for her and keeps and uses everything. I swear!

I used the Pocket Silhouettes stamp set, which I think went well with the paper here.
I also used the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, the Scallop circle punch, and a Sizzix Tag die. The organza ribbon is from Really Reasonable ribbon and the Dark Chocolate Swiss Dots ribbon is from Paper Trey Ink.

Off to pick up the hubs for lunch...

I hope you're having a great day!

Thanks for visiting!

Cupcakes

I found this adorable set of stamps by Impression Obsession. I love cupcakes (real and otherwise). Thankfully the stamps are calorie-free. :)

Stamps:
Impression Obsession Cupcakes
Paper:

Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Paper Trey Ink, Sweet Blush
Ink:
Palette Noir Black, Copic Markers
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots & Swirl Embossing Folders, Paper Trey Ink Swiss Dots Ribbon (Sweet Blush), Stampin' Up! Ticket Corner Punch, Circle Nestabilities

Well, I spent most of yesterday up to my eyeballs trying to organize my craft area. My craft area is currently one-third of my living room. Ugh. I totally hate this arrangement and I miss the days of having my own craft room. I have way too much stuff to work this way and end up having to store things in three different rooms. Not fun. I didn't get much done yesterday at all. I'm so not looking forward to the actual moving portion of this move.

Yes, we have movers who come and pack it all up and move it for us, but the thought of them touching my stamps and papers and stuff and having all of that in transit and storage for weeks on end just makes me go into a panic attack.

I actually ship my scrapbooks myself at our personal expense. The movers never touch those. I've heard too many horror stories of wedding and baby scrapbooks being packed and lost to allow ours to disappear. My husband thinks I'm crazy, but I just give him THE LOOK and tell him, "Our babies are in there!" and he'll usually relent.

Postage has gone up quite a bit since our last move, though, so we'll see what his reaction is this time. Also, we were able to carry more luggage with us on the airplane. Now they are limiting you to one suitcase, I believe, per person. We'll see what it's like when we actually fly. We've got some time before we have to start worrying about it.

I hope you're having a great day! We're halfway through Intercession here in Hawaii! :-D Wii Fit is giving our girls a great workout!

Thanks for visiting!

Challenge

The Challenge, if I chose to accept it, was to create a card using the following sketch.

I rotated the sketch 90 degrees to the left and accepted the challenge.
Here's my card:

Whaddaya' think?

Stamps:
Verve Abundant Blessings
Paper:
Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip, Blue Bayou, Soft Sky, Georgia Pacific White, Basic Grey Offbeat
Ink:
Palette Noir Black, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ribbon from Reasonable Ribbon

Very fun sketch!!

Thanks for visiting!

Gotta Get It

I love Nicholas Sparks... And I'm a sucker for a man in uniform... A particular man in uniform... But still.

Nicholas Sparks has a new book out "The Lucky One" and I've got to get it. It looks like it's going to be a good one! It's about a Marine! I'm torn between waiting for the local library to get it and saving my money... Or rushing out and buying it! Ugh! I'm so impatient!

We have a big move coming up (or in our house that's a four-letter word so I should maybe I shouldn't say it, but spell it...) M-O-V-E {sigh!} So I really should be saving our pennies for that.

It's TORTURE, I tell ya'! Hmmph!

Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge

I know it's Monday.



It's the first day of "Intercession" or Fall Break. (What is "Intercession" anyway?) That means there is a house full of 12 year old girls here and I'm lucky to be posting. And my husband is lucky to be at work. Right? LOL!

So here's my version of Beate's Weekend Sketch...




Wait. Here's the sketch. (I never said I was in my right mind. Sheesh!)





And HERE is my version of the sketch... I'm rockin' it Christmas style heh!:

Stamps:
C.C. Designs Rubber Stamps Lucky's Christmas Wish
Paper:
Stampin' Up! Chocolate, Soft Sky, Basic Grey Offbeat, Georgia Pacific White
Ink:
Palette Noir Black, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Cuttlebug Swirl Embossing Folder

I just love that little puppy! 'Cause he doesn't chew shoes! LOL! Actually my puppy doesn't chew shoes (or carpet) anymore. She learned REAL quick that was a no-go in our house. And my puppy isn't really a "puppy" anymore. She still acts like a puppy most of the time, chasing the broom when we're trying to sweep (that's funny stuff right there - I don't care who ya' are!).

ANYway! It just got really quiet so I better go check things out and make sure everything's okay with the girls. Oops! I spoke too soon! :) All is well again! :)

I hope you're having a great week of INTERCESSION wherever you are! And I mean that in the most sincere way. Really.

Thanks for visiting!

World Cardmaking Day

In the South, they say you can say anything about a person as long as it's prefaced by "Bless his heart!"

Well, my husband... "Bless his heart!" supports my stamping addiction completely (for the most part anyway).

When I mentioned to him that yesterday was "World Card Making Day" he made the typical nods and grunts that would be expected of a man. ;)

Later, referring to yesterday, he called it first, "World Federation Stamping Day," then, "National Scrapbook Stamping Day," and then, "City, County, National, World Federation Stamping, Scrapping, Card Making Day."

What a joker.

When I woke up, there was a card waiting on my desk for me... made by him, with scrap paper from my trash can. I couldn't believe it.

DH: I made it for you! For National World Card Making Day!

Me: Wow! That's great!

DH: (Big Grin)

Me: How many tools did you use?

DH: Four!

Me: Four?! Really? Which four?

DH: Scissors, my thumb nail to score like you use that Scor-Pal thingy, Scotch tape, and a pen!

Me: I'm so proud of you!

DH: Me, too! I got all of the paper from your trash can!

How can I not love this man? :-D

I spent a few hours making cards for deployed troops. Gina K hosted a promotion on her blog and it is very near and dear to my heart. I know this means a lot to those guys over there to receive these cards in the mail and I'm honored to participate. I created this stack of 20 Christmas cards to send out.

Stamps:
Cornish Heritage Farms Heart Warmers
Paper:
Prism Green, Gold unknown, Georgia Pacific White
Ink:
Palette Noir Black, Close To My Heart Markers, Topiary, Holiday Red, Chocolate
Handmade Envelopes

And thennn...

(Because 20 cards was not enough ya' know!)

I had to create something using this Unity stamp. I bought it weeks ago and had yet to use it. You know how that goes... HAD to have it... Anyway! I LOVE this quote! It is painted on the wall at Leilehua High School and I think it just means SO much. Really. I love it. And that paper! I cannot get enough of that paper. Basic Grey Offbeat. Seriously. I think I need a 12-step program.

Stamps:
Unity, Be the Change
Paper:
Paper Trey Ink Dark Chocolate, Stampin' Up! Soft Sky, Georgia Pacific White, Basic Grey Offbeat
Ink:
Stampin' Up! Chocolate, Stampin' Up! Blue Bayou
Accessories:
Bling, Circle Nestabilities, Stampin' Up! Corner Punch, Paper Piercer

And if the fact that yesterday was WORLD Card Making Day was not enough... I mean come on! Like we need an event or occasion to stamp? Teri, a local gal who helps me with my SU! addiction {wink!} , sent me this CUTE!! card, which I got yesterday.

Thank you, Teri!!

So, now it's Sunday and the kids on the island are all out of school for Fall Break for the next week and a half. YAY!!!!

I hope you're having a great day!

Thanks for visiting!

Aloha Friday & a little Mojo

Well it's already Aloha Friday here and I'm just getting around to sharing my Mojo Monday card with you! Where does the time go?!

I really liked this sketch! I had some new Stampin' Up! stamps to play with this week, so it was a lot of fun! Here's Julee's sketch: And here's what I created with it:

A close-up look at the dimension on the front of the card:

Stamps:
Stampin' Up! Pocket Silhouettes
Paper:
Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy, Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Grey Offbeat
Ink:
Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy
Accessories:
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch, Gelly Gems Bling, Stampin' Up! Ticket Corner Punch

I hope you're having a great Friday with great plans for the weekend! No huge plans for us... Maybe a trip to the beach if we're lucky and the weather holds out. If not, maybe I'll get lucky and get more stamping time in! ;)

Thanks for visiting!

It's Your Birthday!

I saw this card from Shannan Teubner's and had to CASE it. Here's my version of it:


Stamps:
The Cat's Pajamas
Paper:
Close To My Heart, Paper Trey Ink, Georgia Pacific White, American Crafts Pattern Paper
Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Square Nestabilities, American Crafts Ribbon

I hope you're having a great Thursday!
Thanks for visiting!

Going Places

So I have had this stamp for months it seems, and it was just sitting there un-inked! {Gasp!} I Know! Right?!

My ribbon is a little screwy, but it was the best I could do. Sorry!

Stamps:
My Favorite Things, Going Places
Paper:
Prism Island Mist, Stampin' Up! Western Sky Designer Series Paper, Georgia Pacific White
Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Cuttlebug "Swirls" Embossing Folder, Ribbon unknown

Thanks for visiting!

Bella Halloween

When I saw this image, I couldn't resist snagging her right up!
I think she's adorable in her little Pumpkin costume, don't you?

Stamps:
Bella Trickortreatabella, Stampin' Up! Stitched Exotics, Imaginisce Happy Halloween Snag 'Em Stamp
Paper:
Close To My Heart Black Cardstock, Bazzill Orange, Georgia Pacific White
Ink:
Tim Holz Black Soot Distress Ink, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Bella's Baubles, Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon (monthly ribbon club!)

Thanks for visiting!

TECC35 Bella Cupcake

I recently received an order from Stamping Bella and I just love this little cupcake girl! The name of the stamp is "Is that a cupcake on your head?" LOL!
Anyway! I thought I would try my hand at Taylor's Cupcake Challenge again. Here's the sketch:
And here's what I came up with:

Isn't she adorable?!

Stamps:
Stamping Bella "Is That A Cupcake On Your Head?"
Paper:
Prism Nautical Blue, Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy, Georgia-Pacific White, American Crafts Patterned Paper
Ink:
Versafine Onyx Black, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Square Nestabilities, Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" Embossing Folder, American Crafts Ribbon

Thanks for visiting!

Army Families - Army Strong!

This is not stamping related but I found this video very moving and wanted to share...






Hats off to all of our Army Families!
Thanks for visiting!

Verve Birthday

Hi!

I wanted to make some birthday cards with this set using darker, more masculine colors.

Stamps:

Verve Birthday Surprise

Paper:

Stampin' Up! Navy & Olive, Basic Grey Two Scoops, Georgia Pacific White

Ink:

Versafine Onyx Black, Copic Markers, Sakura Glaze Pen, Sakura Stardust Pen

Accessories:

Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch, Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder, Offray Ribbon, Robin's Nest Dew Drops

Thanks for visiting!

White Ink Comparison

I'm always on the lookout for the whitest white and blackest black inks. Below is a comparison of the white inks that were recommended to me.
This is a Cornish Heritage Farms rubber stamp, stamped on Close To My Heart Black cardstock.

The bottom two images (Palette and Versamagic) are close, but I think the Brilliance is the whitest. What do you think?

I know the results can vary depending on the type of cardstock I'm using, so I may try a different kind to see how that looks.

Well, I've got to run and feed the family. (No matter how many times a day I feed them, they keep coming back and asking me "What's for dinner??" What's up with that?!) ;)

Thanks for visiting!

Just Celebrate

Not celebrating too much here in our house... My daughter's high school alma mater (State Champions last year!) had their Homecoming game tonight... and lost to their archrival team by 6 points. :(

I love this little owl in this set!

Here's a close-up shot of the front of the card:
I love how well the Paper Trey Ink coordinates with this paper!
Stamps:
Stampin' Up! Just Celebrate
Paper:
Paper Trey Ink Spring Moss & Sweet Blush, Prism Brown, Georgia-Pacific White, Basic Grey Offbeat
Ink:
Tim Holz Black Soot Distress Ink, Copic Markers
Accessories:
Circle Nestabilities, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Leafy Branch, Copper Brads (unknown)

Thanks for visiting! I hope you have a great weekend!

TCP Tuesday Challenge

I know it's not Tuesday, but it took me this long to get the challenge for The Cat's Pajamas finished! ;)

This challenge was pretty simple. Just use "Sprinkle" the cat in a creation. Easy Peasy, right?

I made this birthday card for a Stamping Friend. (Sorry the picture is a little wonky! It's cloudy here and I haven't been able to get good lighting for my photos lately! The colors are a little brighter in the photo than in real life.)

Stamps: The Cat's Pajamas

Paper: Bazzill Pink & Teal Cardstock, Georgia Pacific White Cardstock, Stampin' Up! Bali Breeze Designer Series Paper

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Close To My Heart Markers, Breeze & Bubblegum

Accessories: Oval Nestabilities, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Paper Piercer, Pink Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Creative Memories 12" Decorative Trimmer

I love the sentiment, "Happy 29th Birthday. Again" LOL! I'll be celebrating my 29th birthday (again) this year. Hubby wants to throw a party, but I'm not really up for much celebrating this year. I'd prefer a nice, quiet dinner out and maybe a movie or something. We'll see. I have some time to think about it!

I hope you're having a great Thursday! I can't believe it's almost the end of another week!

Thank you for visiting!

3 Sketches

I decided to use a few different sketches to create my Halloween cards this year.

First up... Beate's Weekend Sketch Challenge (WSC58). Here's her sketch:And here's what I came up with. Not sure I like how it turned out, but the hubby liked it.

Next up, Taylored Expressions Cupcake Challenge (TECC34):

Here are the two cards I came up with:A close up:And finally, I used Julee Tilman's Mojo Monday Sketch (54) to create a couple more. Here's her sketch:And this is what I came up with: Here's a close up of the first card:


Stamps: Imaginisce Snag 'em Stamps

Paper: Black Cardstock from Close To My Heart, Purple & Green cardstock from Bazzill, Patterned Paper from Bo Bunny Press
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black

Accessories: Ribbon from Really Reasonable Ribbon (LOVE her monthly ribbon club!), Fiskars Threading Water Border Punch, Sakura Glaze Pen, Sakura Stardust Gelly Roll Pen, Brads by Queen & Co, Letter stickers from American Crafts Thickers (Felt), Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Skeleton Scroll

I used less than one sheet each of the patterned paper, plus one sheet each of the green & purple cardstocks, and two sheets of the black cardstock. Not bad, I think! I'm still trying to use up all of the scraps on my desk - or at least not add much more to the pile!

I just got my first Stampin' Up! order out of the new catalog today and I can't wait to play! I love the die cut stamps - it took me about 10 minutes to have all my stamps mounted and indexed! Gotta love that! I'm dying to play, but I have a couple of other projects I need to finish up first!

I hope you're having a great week! It's been cloudy here in Hawaii, but hopefully the weather will clear enough for us to enjoy some beach time this week!

Thank you for visiting!

Gettin' Krafty with more Verve!

New Verve Stamps in the house!! Woot Woot! ;)

I had some time over the weekend to play and this is what I came up with for this challenge:


I used a Kraft base, layered Basic Black cardstock over that, ran a piece of Soft Sky cardstock through my Cuttlebug Embossing folder (Textiles). I used the "Abundant Blessings" stamp set and my Nestabilities to make the shapes. I also added black eyelets to the corner with my crop-a-dile. (Haven't used eyelets in ages!)

I hope you had a great weekend!

Thanks for visiting!

Spellbinders Storage

My original storage for my Spellbinders Nestabilities was a lunchbox tin, like the ones sold by Provo Craft. I outgrew it when I purchased the Long Rectangle Nestabilities, which would not fit in there. :(
So, I remembered I had this alterable Recipe Box in my stash. I was actually planning on altering it for it's original purpose (to hold recipes) and give it as a gift.
I used a lot of various cupcake stamps to decorate the front on top of Close To Cocoa and Soft Sky Designer Series Paper.
Inside, I have the Nestabilities dies stored on pieces of cardstock that I added magnetic tape to. They file away nicely in here.

Now I'm using that lunchbox tin to store my Cuttlebug Embossing folders! They fit perfectly!

Thanks for visiting!

Pink Pop-Up

Here is the other pop up card I made using the same pattern: I used Sweet Blush & Berry Sorbet cardstock from Paper Trey Ink and Georgia Pacific White cardstock for the image on the tag. I stamped the flower from Spiral Bouquet using Spring Moss & Berry Sorbet Perfect Match Ink (Paper Trey Ink). And I used the dots from the Polka Dot Basics (Paper Trey Ink) stamp set to make the dots on the card base with Berry Sorbet Perfect Match Ink.
Here's the card folded. You can see the Spring Moss ribbon I used at the top matches the ink perfectly. (Thus, the name, "Perfect Match Ink?") Duh, Christina...
Anyway! After another week of fighting with my computer (and it usually winning), we spent the day at the beach. Isn't it beautiful here? I sure wish I could take some of this with me when we go!
Be sure to visit tomorrow! I'll show you my Spellbinders Storage Idea! :)

I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!
Thanks for visiting!

Free Standing Pop Up Card

I saw this tutorial over at Splitcoaststampers and had to give it a shot!
It's a Free-Standing Pop-Up card and it folds flat & fits into a standard A-2 Envelope for mailing.
I used American Crafts patterned paper for the bottom, even though the instructions call for a cardstock base. I thought that since this paper was a little thicker than most patterned paper, it would be okay... which it is for the most part. It's a little bit flimsy, but it still holds up well.
For the tag portion, I used Prism Blue cardstock, Close To My Heart Olive and Georgia Pacific White.
The stamps are Paper Trey Ink Spiral Bouquet.
Inks are Close To My Heart Sunflower and Olive.
I used a We R Memory Keepers Jumbo Eyelet with a scrap of blue ribbon at the top.

Here's a side view:

And here's what it looks like folded flat.
This was really super easy to make! I made another version in different colors that I'll show you later. I made these to send to friends on the Gulf Coast who were hit by Ike.

Hurricanes and all, I still miss Texas & Pensacola! Hawaii is beautiful and I'll miss the gorgeous beaches, but I can't wait to get back to the mainland!

I hope you're having a fantastic Friday! I'm looking forward to the weekend. Hopefully my hubby won't have to work again and we can enjoy some time together!

Paula RAK

Isn't it beautiful?! Paula sent me this card and I just love it!
Thanks, Paula!

Verve Swirl Stars

I took the Color Challenge 10 over at Color Throwdown (Late, I know!) But I thought these colors would make great cards for the Cards for Heroes cards I've been making!

I used Prism Navy Blue Cardstock for the base, layered Georgia Pacific White cardstock over that. I stamped Verve's Swirly Stars in Palette New Canvas ink on Pure Poppy cardstock from Paper Trey Ink. I ran that through my Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder.

The Stars were cut from my Spellbinders Nestabilities. I made score lines through each point on my Scor-Pal. In the center of the star, I used a tiny silver star nailhead. I mounted this on the card front using dimensionals. I also used tiny silver star brads from Making Memories and tied it off with 1/4" white organza ribbon.

Inside, I added a layer of Georgia-Pacific white cardstock that I used a Martha Stewart border punch on. I also stamped a star along the edge in Stampin' Up! Night of Navy.

In all, I am mailing off over 20 cards for this project. I'm so glad I was able to participate in this! I know the soldiers receiving these cards will be very grateful!

When my husband was deployed "over there," I can't tell you how many times he told me that he was much more apt to write me a letter if he had one of these blank cards with envelope to use. I'm not sure why it was that much more difficult to put his pen to a blank piece of paper instead of a card, but he swore it was easier to write in a card. Either way, I know I was thrilled to get mail from him in my mailbox!

Anyhoo! I've been having computer issues lately and I'm just at my wits end. I'm going to have hubby call Dell tech support for me soon. (His long hours at work mean he is hardly ever home anymore!) Hopefully we can figure out what the problem is and get it fixed!

Thanks for visiting!

Happy Hump Day (Wednesday)!