Sue's Paper Creations

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T20:48:00.001-04:00

Happy Easter everyone. I hope you had a wonderful holiday. We had a nice weekend here. A couple of egg hunts for the boys and wonderful, warm weather. Luckily the Easter bunny brought the boys a slip and slide! Here are a couple of photos:

Recipe
Stamps: Easter Eggs (Close To My Heart); Mega Mixed Messages, Fillable Frames #1 (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Pretty Pastels (PTI)
Ink: Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides (PTI); Petal, Blush (CTMH)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares, Rhinestones (CTMH); Ocean Tides Ribbon (PTI)
Tools: Fillable Frames die (PTI); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Valentine's Day-Part 2

2010-03-29T18:12:00.000-04:00

Connor had to decorate a shoe box for his Valentines at school. Well, he really wasn't interested in doing it so I covered the box with patterned paper and he put the stickers on himself. He did a pretty good job I think. I couldn't even tell you where I got most of the things I used on it. No clue what kind of paper it is, the stickers and ribbon are from Michaels, and the letter stickers are Making Memories, I think.

This is the card I made for Brian (not that he gave me one)! I started with a black card base and used my heart Nestabilities to cut out a large heart from the middle of the card. I used a smaller one to cut out a heart from red cardstock and embossed it with my Cuttlebug then attached it to the inside of the card. The sentiment is embossed with silver embossing powder and the red dots are red Liquid Applique.

Recipe
Stamps: Heart Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: True Black, Pure Poppy, White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko)
Accents: Silver embossing powder (CTMH); Red Liquid Applique (Marvy Uchida)
Tools: Heart Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Swiss Dots embossing folder (Provocraft)

Although our anniversary was in December I'll post the card I made for Brian since I forgot to do it before. I started with a red card base and stamped the polka dots using Polka Dot Basics from Papertrey Ink. The rectangles are cut from Nestabilities and the heart is from Heart Prints and is embossed with silver embossing powder. The sentiment is from the same set. As an accent, I added three buttons at the bottom but it wasn't quite enough so I added a smaller button inside each one.

Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics; Heart Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: True Black, Pure Poppy, White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Pure Poppy (PTI); Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark (Tsukineko)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Silver embossing powder (CTMH); Buttons (PTI)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking and have a great day,

Valentine's Day-Part 1

2010-03-29T17:40:00.001-04:00

I know, I know, I promised I'd keep up with my blog better and I've failed again! Sorry about that. I really haven't been making much lately, just a bunch of Valentine's Day cards for Connor's class last month. I made one for each of the kids in his class and put a heart-shaped lollipop inside. I used Papertrey's Tiny Treats: Valentine, an adorable set for making kid's cards.

Recipe
Stamps: Tiny Treats: Valentine; Background Basics: Hearts (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Spring Rain, Melon Berry, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Kraft, White (Papertrey Ink); Indian Corn Blue (Close to my Heart)
Ink: Spring Rain, Melon Berry, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Ripe Avocado, Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz (PTI); Indian Corn Blue (CTMH); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Markers (Copic); Scorpal

Thanks for looking,

The very last of the Christmas cards until next year...promise!

2010-02-22T23:30:00.002-05:00

And the last of the Christmas cards:

I had to go to an ornament exchange before Christmas and at the last minute I realized that I didn't have a gift bag to put my ornament in so I decided to use one using one of the free templates I got from Papertrey. I would have decorated it more but I ran out of time.

These are the gift bags I made for Connor's kindergarten class. I thought I took better pictures, but this is it. In each bag was a candy cane, notepad, pencil, eraser, and some chocolate. The tags are all from Papertrey.

For each of the neighbors around us I made some cookies in a jar. I just used my Spellbinders Labels 1 to cut out some patterned paper and the recipe printed on regular printer paper. The tops of each jar are covered in fabric and tied with ribbon.

Have a great day,

I was wrong...even more Christmas cards

2010-02-22T23:10:00.002-05:00

Well, I took the card out of my camera and found even more Christmas cards that I'd made. Most of these ones were cased from Nichole Heady or Debbie Olson....they're both so awesome!

Thanks for looking,

The last of the Christmas cards

2010-02-07T11:24:00.001-05:00

Oops, I forgot to post the last few Christmas cards, and here it is, almost Valentine's day! I promise to post more often because I have tons of cards that I've made and never posted!

If you have any questions about how I made any of these or the products I used, just let me know.

Have a great day,

Christmas Cards-Part 2

2010-01-24T22:57:00.000-05:00

Here are a few more of the Christmas cards I made. More to follow tomorrow!

The last one is copied entirely from the Close to my Heart catalog. I loved the card, paper, and non-traditional Christmas colors.

Thanks for looking,

My Christmas Cards-Part 1

2010-01-24T20:28:00.003-05:00

I know, I know...I'm WAY late on posting my Christmas cards. I made about 25 different cards, which took me forever! I think next year I'll have to make just one card and mass-produce it. Much quicker but not nearly as much fun. I'm not going to post the recipes for the cards because it will take me forever. If you have any questions about how I made anything or what materials I used, just send me an e-mail. (Don't forget, you can always click the picture to enlarge it.)

And the inside:

This one was CASED from one Niki Estes did:

Have a great day,

Busy, busy, time of year

2009-12-17T21:45:00.014-05:00

I finished the Christmas gift bags for Connor's class on Wednesday night and realized I never even posted the Halloween gifts I made. I've been making Christmas cards like crazy but haven't had the chance to post them either. I've really got to keep up with my blog...sorry! I'm really behind again this year so it looks like nobody will be getting Christmas cards until after Christmas. It's the thought that counts, right! LOL.

So, without further ado, the Halloween gifts that I made for all the kids in Connor's kindergarten class. They ended up costing me more than I thought they would once I got all the materials and candy so I scaled down a bit for the Christmas gift bags. I bought the square test tubes from Papertrey Ink and filled them with Halloween M&Ms that I got at Sam's Club. They held a lot more than I thought they would. The tags were stamped with Papertrey's 2009 Halloween Tags set and tied on with some Halloween ribbon I got at Hobby Lobby.

The spiders were just punched out of black cardstock with my scalloped circle punch. There's a York Peppermint Pattie in the middle. His legs are made from a photo corner punch and various circle punches for his eyes and nose. I put one spider and one test tube in a frosted bag that I had stamped in black Stazon ink with a spider and web from the Close To My Heart set Creepy Cobwebs. (You can always click the picture to enlarge it).

I promise I'll be back with more soon!

All of the spiders once they were finished (sorry for the glare):

The finished treat bag:

All the loot on it's way to school:

Thanks for looking and have a great day,

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

2009-11-26T22:55:00.001-05:00

I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving. We're at my in-laws house in Pensacola and the boys are having a great time with their grandpa. I was going to get up at 5:00 tomorrow morning to go to Target because there were a few things I wanted to get the boys for Christmas. I ended up looking at Amazon and found the same things for the same price...love it! Why get up in the dark to go to the store with the crowds and hope they have what I'm looking for when I can buy the exact same things for the same price while I sit watching TV in my slippers and pjs, plus I didn't have to pay tax or shipping. I love the internet!

I did go out to Michaels this evening after dinner with my SIL and MIL because they were open from 5-9 and had a 25% off coupon and some good sales. They didn't really have anything that I was looking for, unfortunately. Figures when they have good sales, they don't have much in stock. :(

Here is the card I made for my in-laws. I distressed the edges of the card base and added some Papertrey Autumn Abundance patterned paper and inked the edges with the Chai Blend Vintage Touch Tea Dye. The Scarlet Jewel paper is stamped with PTI's new Turning a New Leaf set with Versamark ink. I used PTI's Fall Elegance to stamp the swirls and pumpkins on Vintage Cream cardstock.

And the inside of the card:

Recipe
Stamps: Fall Elegance, Turning a New Leaf (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewel (Papertrey Ink); Goldrush (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Autumn Abundance (PTI)
Ink: Garden Green, Goldrush (CTMH); Chai Blend Vintage Touch Tea Dye (PTI); Versamark (Tsukineko)
Tools: Edge Distresser (CTMH)

Have a great day,

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge with Owls

2009-11-12T19:58:00.001-05:00

I'm getting this one in just under the wire. Unfortunately I got food poisoning last night at Outback Steakhouse so I've been feeling horrible today and of course, the boys haven't been behaving themselves and Brian's at work all night. :(

I've finally had the chance to participate in one of Embellish Magazine's color challenges. This week we had to make a card with coral, brown, and green incorporating an owl. I have a great Close To My Heart set with owls that I haven't had the chance to use and when looking through my stash I found some CTMH patterned paper that is perfect!

And the inside:

Recipe
Stamps: Whooo Loves You (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Spring Moss, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Twitterpated (CTMH)
Ink: Spring Moss, Sorbet, Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Accents: Sorbet Ribbon (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Mojo Monday Week 111

2009-11-08T19:38:00.006-05:00

It's time for another Mojo Monday sketch challenge. I've been needing a lot of birthday cards lately and my stash is out so this sketch had birthday written all over it!

I started with a Dark Chocolate (Papertrey) card base and added a layer of Vintage Cream cardstock. Both of the patterned papers are from Basic Grey's Offbeat collection. Using my Nestabilities I cut out a Dark Chocolate scalloped square and Vintage Cream square. On the square I added the sentiment (Papertrey), flourishes (Close To My Heart), and chipboard dragonfly (Basic Grey). I didn't want the flourishes to be too dark so I stamped off and got the look I wanted. The strip of cream ribbon (PTI) and two brown brads (Making Memories) were a few finishing touches. This is one of my favorite color combinations so I really like how the card turned out. Hope you do too!

Recipe
Stamps: Star Prints (Papertrey Ink); Playful Flourishes (Close to my Heart)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Offbeat (Basic Grey)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon (PTI); Brads (Making Memories); Chipboard (Basic Grey)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Loonie Stampers Celebrate Char's Birthday

2009-11-06T09:24:00.006-05:00

Good morning all! Today I've been asked to be a part of a blog hop for Charlene, a member of the Loonie Stampers Challenge. It's her birthday today so we have all surprised her with this blog hop!

This card didn't turn out at all like I had planned. Funny how that happens. I used almost all Papertrey Ink products for this one. I started with a Ripe Avocado base and added a layer of Aqua Mist. Along the bottom of the card I added a strip of white cardstock and some Green Tea Leaves patterned paper, then tied some white ribbon around it. I stamped the leaves from Beautiful Blooms in Ripe Avocado and cut them out. The Fiskars fingertip knife is awesome for doing this! Finally, I added the sentiment and another strip of patterned paper on the inside of the card.

Recipe
Stamps: Beautiful Blooms, Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Ripe Avocado, Aqua Mist, White (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Green Tea Leaves Collection (PTI)
Ink: Ripe Avocado (PTI); Versafine Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Ribbon (CTMH)

Hunter had to get in on wishing Happy Birthday to Char too!

Check out all the Loonie Ladies:

Dee

And the Loonie Friends:

Pam

I hope you have a very Happy Birthday Char!!!

Have a wonderful day!!!

Papertrey Ink October Blog Hop

2009-10-25T19:48:00.008-04:00

Hi all! I haven't made too much lately but I did get to make a card for tonight's Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. This month we were supposed to make something for the upcoming holidays so I made a card (like I ever make anything else)! I decided to use non-traditional Christmas colors. I really like the green and pink together. Sorry for the horrible photo but we just got home and I had to take a picture outside really quick before it got dark. You can always click on it to enlarge it. Hope you like it!

Recipe
Stamps: Tree Trimming Trio, Signature Christmas (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, White (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Holiday Vintage Prints (PTI)
Ink: Ripe Avocado (PTI); Versafine Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Ribbon, Buttons (PTI); Rhinestones (Kaisercraft)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Star Punch (Fiskars); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Mojo Monday Week 107

2009-10-08T22:26:00.007-04:00

I decided to use this week's Mojo Monday sketch for my niece Olivia's 7th birthday card. I really need to get a few more girly stamp sets. I haven't really bought any since I have two boys but I still need to make cards for little girls so I think I need a few princess sets or something.

For this card I used almost all Papertrey Ink products. I started with a white card base and added a layer of Sweet Blush cardstock. The floral patterned paper is from Die Cuts With a View Glitter Stack. Using my Nestabilities I cut a circle from white cardstock and a scalloped circle from Spring Rain. The flowers are from Woman of Life and are stamped in Sweet Blush, Lavender Moon, Lemon Tart, and Spring Rain. I added some diamond Stickles to each center to match the glitter on the patterned paper. The sentiment is from Birthday Basics and the little flowers on each side from Butterfly Kisses. I had to curve the stamp in order to fit it on the circle. I love that you can do that with clear stamps! I added some PTI Lavender Moon ribbon and some Making Memories lavender and yellow brads and that was it!

Recipe
Stamps: Birthday Basics, Women of Life, Butterfly Kisses (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Sweet Blush, Spring Rain, White (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Glitter Stack (Die Cuts With a View)
Ink: Sweet Blush, Lavender Moon, Lemon Tart, Spring Rain (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon (PTI); Diamond Stickles (Ranger); Brads (Making Memories)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

I'm back!!!

2009-10-07T22:57:00.005-04:00

Well, we've been back from Disney World for 2 1/2 weeks and I haven't even been into my craft room the whole time. We had an awesome vacation and I needed about a week to recover from it. Since we got back we've had company and I've been spending tons of time helping Connor catch up on his Kindergarten work that he missed. I don't know what happened in the past ten years since I taught here in Georgia but the things that Kindergarteners need to know now are crazy. Connor's behind because he didn't know his alphabet and numbers when he started the year. By the end of the year they need to be able to read over 250 words and right now he can read three (one being his name)! He now knows his alphabet and numbers to 50 and his printing has improved so much. I spend at least 2 hours with him on homework every day which I think is nuts. I wonder about all those kids whose parents don't help them out. They'll be so far behind by the end of the year if they don't pick things up quickly in class.

So, I've made a card for my niece's birthday and I'll post it tomorrow. Until then, have a great day!

If you wonder where I am...

2009-09-11T19:09:00.004-04:00

...we're going to Disney World! We're off tomorrow for a week at Disney World so I won't be posting anything new. I haven't had the chance to make any cards all week because I've been planning our trip, all at the last minute. We aren't telling the boys so they're going to be so excited when they find out. I can't wait!

So, see you all next week!

You're Expecting!

2009-09-07T22:21:00.006-04:00

I hope everyone had a good Labor Day weekend. We had a great time just hanging around the house for the most part. Last night the boys camped out in the backyard with Daddy and they loved it, so much so that they all slept in until 8:30 (the latest Hunter has EVER slept in)! I think they should sleep out there every night!!!

I made this card for a friend who I just found out is pregnant. I've had this Bella stamp for a while just waiting for a card to use it on! I used my Copics for the first time too. I love those things but I still need to get some more so I can shade them properly.

This card uses mostly Close To My Heart products. I started with a Cranberry card base and added a layer of Papertrey's Aqua Mist. The patterned paper is CTMH's Let's Get Together. I think that paper pack is my favorite because it's so bright and cheerful. I used my rectangle Nestabilities and stamped the Bella with Memento's Tuxedo Black then colored it using my Copics. The sentiment is from CTMH's Tender Tags. To finish I added a Hero Arts flower and some matching CTMH ribbon. I had to stamp the inside of the card too. The flowers are all one stamp so I just inked each part with different colored ink. I hope she likes the card!

Recipe
Stamps: Expectafellabella (Stamping Bella); Tender Tags, Delight in Everything (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Cranberry (Close To My Heart); White, Aqua Mist (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Let's Get Together (CTMH)
Ink: Cranberry, Buttercup, Garden Green (CTMH); Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Flower (Hero Arts); Garden Green Ribbon (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Copic Markers

Thanks for looking,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #16

2009-09-07T21:15:00.005-04:00

It's time for another Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I haven't had a lot of time this week to make cards because I'm planning out trip to Disney World next week. I really left it to the last minute so I need to get at it and stay out of my craft room (very hard to do). I made this card really quickly today while the boys were taking their naps.

I started with a Dark Chocolate card base and added a layer of Kraft cardstock. On that I stamped Polka Dot Basics in Vintage Cream ink. I then stamped a tag from Autumn Tags in Summer Sunrise, cut it out, and mounted it on a Dark Chocolate scalloped circle that I cut out with my Nestabilities. I cut a strip of Dark Chocolate paper and used my Fiskars Apron Lace punch on the top and the bottom. I didn't use a wide enough strip so when I added the Summer Sunrise ribbon it didn't look exactly how I'd planned but I thought it looked kind of neat so I left it. Lastly I mounted the tag with 3D foam squared and that was it.

Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Autumn Tags (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Kraft, Summer Sunrise, Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Ink: Summer Sunrise, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon (PTI); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)
Tools: Apron Lace punch (Fiskars); Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Happily Ever After

2009-08-30T21:24:00.004-04:00

Back in July Brian and I had the opportunity to go to Texas for our friends' wedding. We found out about it on Tuesday and on the spur of the moment decided that we would surprise them and just show up uninvited! We got in the car the next day and drove to Pensacola. We left the kids with their grandparents and spent 11 hours the next day driving to Ft. Worth. We had an awesome weekend with our friends and got to attend a beautiful wedding. Of course, I had to make a card so it had to be quick since I didn't have much time. I love the way it turned out though.

I started with Papertrey's Vintage Cream cardstock and added a layer of Ocean Tides, punched at the bottom with the Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment punch. I then ran a piece of Vintage Cream through the Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing folder and used the EK Success Parisian edge punch on the bottom. I tied some Ocean Tides satin ribbon around the bottom and adhered the layers. I then used my circle Nestabilities to cut a circle out of Vintage cream and the scalloped circle out of Ocean Tides. I stamped the decorative circle from Wedding Day on the circle in Ocean Tides ink and the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black from the same set. I added some tiny pearls and mounted the circle with 3D foam squares and that's it!

Recipe
Stamps: Wedding Day (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Ocean Tides (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko); Ocean Tides (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon (PTI); Pearls (Michaels); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)
Tools: Scalloped Sentiment punch (Fiskars); Parisian punch (EK Success); Birds and Swirls embossing folder, Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Loonie Stampers Celebrate Dee's Birthday!

2009-08-28T05:30:00.004-04:00

This week's Loonie Stampers Challenge is a surprise for Dee's birthday. She didn't know that we all made birthday cards for her...how fun! So, I hope you have a wonderful day today Dee!!!

My card is designed from a TV commercial I've seen a few times. I totally can't remember what the commercial is for, but part of it has a family sitting in front of a purple wall with huge purple and white butterflies all over it. Every time I see it I think, "That would make a great card" so I finally did it. I have to say the wall looked better than my card turned out unfortunately. I guess you never know until you try!

My card base is Close To My Heart's Hydrangea cardstock and I punched out butterlfies using two different Martha Stewart punches. I used Hydrangea, Amethyst, and White Daisy for the butterflies and added some Crystal Stickles to the center of each. I adhered them and embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder. It's a pretty simple card but for some reason it took me forever. I guess it's because I just couldn't get it looking the way I wanted to so I finally gave up. Still, I love purple and butteflies so what could be better!

Happy Birthday Dee!!! I hope you were surprised. Check out the other Loonie Girls for their cards this week too:

Dee Jewels Maria Wendy Charlene Regan

And here are the other girls participating:

Recipe
Stamps: Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Hydrangea, Amethyst, White Daisy (Close To My Heart)
Ink: Versafine (Tsukineko)
Accents: Crystal Stickles (Ranger); White Embossing Powder (CTMH)
Tools: Butterfly Punches (Martha Stewart)

Have a great day,

Papertrey Blog Hop and Loonie Stampers Challenge #54

2009-08-23T21:32:00.010-04:00

It's time for another Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. I combined the blog hop with the Loonie Stampers Challenge for this week. For the blog hop we had to make a card inspired by the aspects of autumn and for the Loonie Stampers Challenge we had to use aluminum foil. So, I combined the two things and made a Halloween card with aluminum foil and it was a lot of fun!

My card started with a Close To My Heart Orange card base. I then carefully cut out a piece of aluminum foil making sure I didn't put too many creases or wrinkles in it (not an easy task). I used my Stampin Up ticket corner punch on the corners and stamped the pumpkin from Papertrey's Halloween Tags in black Stazon ink. I added a strip of orange cardstock and used my Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment punch on the edges, then added a strip of patterned paper from PTI's new Hocus Pocus paper. I used my Nestabilities to cut out a circle in white and scalloped circle in black. I stamped the spider web tag in orange and on a separate piece of paper again in Versamark then embossed it with black embossing powder. I cut the spider web out and glued it on top of the orange tag. I added some orange Offray ribbon and some of my new Kaisercraft rhinestones from PTI and I was finished. I like the way the card turned out. Maybe I'll have to make a few more aluminum foil cards in the future!

Recipe
Stamps: 2009 Halloween Tags (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Orange (Close To My Heart); White, True Black (PTI)
Ink: Orange (CTMH); Versamark, Black Stazon (Tsukineko)
Accents: Rhinestones (Kaisercraft); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch (Stampin Up)

Thanks for looking and have a great day,

Loonie Stampers Challenge #53

2009-08-20T20:45:00.004-04:00

I totally forgot that I participated in this week's Loonie Stampers Challenge and I haven't had the chance to upload my card. Oops! For my card, I used all Papertrey products. I started with a Kraft card base. I then took a piece of Enchanted Evening cardstock and stamped it with Background Basics: Text Style. I added a strip of Kraft cardstock and used my Scor Pal to emboss two lines on it. I tied a bit of twine around the strip, and stamped the sentiment from Star Prints. I stamped two stars from Star Prints in both Enchanted Evening and Scarlet Jewel, and added a rustic wood button to the center threaded with twine. I needed a masculine thank you card for my son to send to his grandparents so this worked out great.

Recipe
Stamps: Background Basics: Text Style, Star Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Enchanted Evening, Scarlet Jewel, Kraft (PTI)
Ink: Scarlet Jewel, Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Accents: Button, Twine (PTI)
Tools: Scor Pal

Thanks for looking,

Happy Birthday to Me!

2009-08-14T21:28:00.008-04:00

Well, today is my birthday so I had to make myself a card (especially since my hubby didn't buy me one). It's taken me a couple of days to get it done because I haven't been feeling too well and I had to make 45 cupcakes for Connor's class last night. I don't think I'll ever make that many mini cupcakes again because they took forever to frost and since it's so warm here a lot of the icing melted off during the night. The icing was purple but actually changed color and was blue by the end of the day from the heat. Too funny!

I decided to make my card to participate in Dawn's Raspberry Suite Challenge. The colors this week were Raspberry, Cream, Scarlet, and Purple. Now purple is my favorite color so I have no problem using that but adding the scarlet to the mix is something I would never do on my own, but it doesn't look too bad.

I used all Papertrey Ink products on this card with a few small exceptions. I started with a Plum Pudding card base and heat embossed it with clear embossing powder and Fancy Flourishes stamp set. I then cut an oval from Vintage Cream using my Nestabilities and a scalloped oval from Raspberry Fizz. I used my paper piercer to pierce the holes for the butterfly's trail and mounted the two with 3D foam tape. The butterfly is from Butterfly Kisses and is stamped on Vintage Cream with Raspberry Fizz ink. I stamped six coordinating circles in Scarlet Jewel, cut them out, then mounted them with pop dots, then added a few pearls to the center. I cut a butterfly outline from Scarlet Jewel and mounted it behind the butterfly. The sentiment was stamped on Raspberry Fizz cardstock with Vintage Cream ink and I trimmed the rectangle with some scalloped scissors. Lastly, I added a Scarlet Jewel butterfly embellished with a few pearls.

Recipe
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses, Fancy Flourishes, Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Plum Pudding, Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewel, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko); Scarlet Jewel, Raspberry Fizz, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accents: Clear Embossing Powder, 3D Foam Tape (CTMH); Pearls (Michaels)
Tools: Paper Piercer (Making Memories); Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart); Scalloped Scissors (Fiskars)

Have a great day,

Mojo Monday Week 98

2009-08-09T19:59:00.006-04:00

It's time for another Mojo Monday challenge. It's been a few weeks since I played along and I had time this week, and had to make a birthday card for my mother in law so I killed two birds with one stone.

For my card base I started with Papertrey's Enchanted Evening and white cardstock. I added a square of Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper in Papertrey's Pure Poppy. Using my Nestabilities I cut two squares, a circle, and scalloped circle out of the white and Enchanted Evening. On the white circle I stamped the two largest flowers from Verve's Petals and Stems in Pure Poppy and popped up the centers stamped in Enchanted Evening with 3D foam squares. The stems were stamped in New Leaf. The Happy Birthday sentiment is from Papertrey's Birthday Basics. I love acrylic stamps because I was able to bend the stamp around the curve of the circle so it looks like the stamp was made that way. I added a couple of Hero Arts rhinestones and then mounted the circle with 3D foam squares. I added some of Papertrey's Enchanted Evening saddle stitch ribbon and that's it!

Recipe
Stamps: Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink); Petals and Stems (Verve Stamps)
Cardstock: White, Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Bitty Dot Basics (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko); Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Enchanted Evening (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon (PTI); Rhinestones (Hero Arts); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a wonderful day,

Delight In Everything

2009-08-03T22:10:00.005-04:00

I made this card a couple of weeks ago for Laurel, a friend I've met through my blog. She's very new to stamping so check out her blog. She's doing a lot better than I did when I first started, that's for sure!

All of the products I used on this card are Close To My Heart. I started with a 6" by 6" Cranberry card base and embossed horizontal lines using my Scor-Pal. I sanded them with sandpaper and it turns out pretty well because all CTMH cardstock has a white core. I added a piece of patterned paper from the Let's Get Together paper packet on the left side. The flowers are from the Delight In Everything stamp set and were stamped in Garden Green, Cranberry, and Crystal Blue ink. I sponged the edges with the same color ink to add a little depth. I threaded a few CTMH buttons with DMC floss and added them to the flowers. You can't really see it but there is matching ribbon under the flowers from the Designer Ribbons Garden Green collection. The sentiment is from Made By Me and was stamped on Colonial White cardstock. I layered that on Garden Green cardstock and in each corner cut a small circle of Buttercup cardstock and stuck a Cranberry brad right through the middle. You can't really see it too well from the photo though. I'd have to say that this is one of my favorite CTMH stamp sets and paper packets. They're so bright and cheery and fun to use. Hope you like it.

Recipe
Stamps: Delight In Everything, Made By Me (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Cranberry, Colonial White, Garden Green, Buttercup (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Let's Get Together (CTMH)
Ink: Crystal Blue, Garden Green, Cranberry (CTMH)
Accents: Buttons, Ribbon. Brads (CTMH); DMC Floss
Tools: Sandpaper (CTMH); Scor-Pal

Thanks for looking,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #13

2009-08-02T20:42:00.007-04:00

Time for another one of Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenges. I love the color combination this week because they look so good together.

For my card I started with a Pure Poppy card base and clear embossed it with Polka Dot Basics. Dawn's been doing it a lot lately so I thought I'd give it a try and I like the way it looks. I couldn't get a good photo of the card so you can't tell the polka dots are embossed. On white cardstock I stamped the flower stems from Women of Life in Spring Moss. The flowers are stamped in Pure Poppy and the centers are Berry Sorbet buttons threaded with DMC floss. I used my Fiskars Scalloped Sentiment punch on one edge, added some Berry Sorbet ribbon and a sentiment from Damask Designs. I hope you like it!

Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Women of Life, Damask Designs (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: White, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark (Tsukineko); Spring Moss, Pure Poppy (PTI)
Accents: Buttons, Ribbon (PTI); DMC Floss, Clear Embossing Powder (CTMH)
Tools: Scalloped Sentiment punch (Fiskars)

Have a wonderful day,

Loonie Stampers Challenge #51-Happy Birthday Regan

2009-07-31T10:24:00.008-04:00

Today I'm playing along with the Loonie Stampers Challenge ladies to celebrate Regan's birthday. I've only participated in their challenges a few times but I've had a lot of fun. I was supposed to have my post up at 6 am this morning, but wouldn't you know that the batteries in my camera were dead so I couldn't take a picture of my card. I had to search the house for some of the kids toys that ran on AA batteries...too funny!

I hope you have a wonderful, happy birthday Regan! I'm honored that I was asked to play along.

For this card I used almost all Papertrey Ink products. I started off with a Vintage Cream card base and inked the edges with Vintage Touch Tea Dye. I cut a piece of In Bloom patterned paper with my Nestabilities Curved Rectangles and mounted it. I wrapped some Scarlet Jewel grosgrain ribbon around the card and added an Enchanted Evening button threaded with DMC floss. I cut a Nestabilities oval and inked the edges with the Vintage Touch Tea Dyes again. I stamped the large flower from In Bloom in Vintage Cream on Scarlet Jewel cardstock and cut it out then mounted it with 3D foam squares. I added a few small pearls to the center, stamped my sentiment and that's it! I hope Regan likes it!

I don't know if you can see it, but an ant is trying to climb up the card. I had to shake it about 10 times to get rid of him. I guess he really liked the flowers!

Recipe
Stamps: In Bloom, Birthday Basics (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream (PTI)
Patterned Paper: In Bloom (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko); Vintage Cream, Vintage Touch Tea Dye (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon, Button (PTI); Pearls (Michaels); 3D Foam Squares (Close To My Heart); DMC Floss
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Check out the other Loonie ladies to see the cards they've made for Regan:

Dee Jewels Maria Wendy Charlene Regan

Have a great day,

Outerspace Birthday

2009-07-20T23:24:00.007-04:00

So, my baby boy turned 5 on July 1st. I guess he's not such a baby anymore! He'll be starting Kindergarten next month and he's so excited. Five years has gone by so fast. During that time we've lived in 4 different houses in two different states (Alabama and Georgia), in two different countries (Germany and US), and in four different cities (Ft Rucker, Ansbach, Wiesbaden, Midland). We've seen and done a lot of things, and even managed to make it through one 15 month deployment (and hopefully no more)! Here's the birthday boy with his cake.

And the day he was born. He was just 5 pounds 15 ounces...so tiny. He had to wear preemie clothes for over a month. He's still small so I guess that will never change. :)

Connor just loves robots, astronauts, and spaceships so I bought Close To My Heart's Robot Power stamp set and Stardust paper packet just to make his card. Eventually I'll make a scrapbook page with it too. All of the products used on this card are CTMH.

I started with a Honey card base and sanded the edges. I added the two pieces of patterned paper from the Stardust paper packet. I added the photo corner stickers from the Stardust My Stickease packet and the Make a Wish Flexi Label. These are so cute and rubbery!

I paper pieced the spaceship and robot so they weren't just one color (I got this idea from the CTMH idea book). The colors I used were Topiary, Honey, Holiday Red, Dutch Blue, and Grey Flannel. When I was finished I popped them up using 3D Foam Squares for some dimension.

Recipe
Stamps: Robot Power (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Honey, White Daisy (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Stardust (CTMH)
Ink: Topiary, Honey, Holiday Red, Dutch Blue (CTMH)
Accents: Stardust Flexi Labels, Stardust My Stickease, 3D FoamSquares (CTMH)
Tools: Sandpaper (CTMH)

Thanks for looking,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12-Card #2

2009-07-20T22:46:00.005-04:00

I really liked the colors of Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge this week so I decided to use my other new Papertrey set, Everyday Button Bits to make a second card for the challenge. I love, love, love this set. I have all of Papertrey's buttons and use them all the time so this is the perfect set for me. Plus, I've never seen anything like it. Nichole Heady is a genius!

I started with a Vintage Cream card base and covered it with a sheet of Bitty Box Basics patterned paper. I used my Nestabilities to cut out a rectangle from Vintage Cream and scalloped rectangle from Spring Moss cardstock.

I made the grass from stamping one of the trees in Father Knows Best onto Spring Moss cardstock. I just hand cut the cardstock into grass. I didn't think it would turn out but it doesn't look too bad. I stamped the balloons and sentiment from Everyday Button Bits. I picked a few buttons and threaded them with DMC floss and adhered them. The scalloped rectangle is popped up with 3D foam squares. Some Scarlet Jewel grosgrain ribbon was added at the bottom and that's it! I'm not even going to tell you how long it took me to tie that knot so that it looked okay. I'm just so ribbon tying challenged!!!

Recipe
Stamps: Everyday Button Bits, Father Knows Best (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Spring Moss (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Bitty Box Basics (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko); Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
Accents: Buttons, Ribbon (PTI); DMC Floss; 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking and have a great day,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12

2009-07-20T11:22:00.006-04:00

It's time for another one of Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I just got my Papertrey order on Saturday so I had to use one of those stamp sets. I decided to use In Bloom. It was a set that I wasn't sure if I wanted to get but I really like it after using it.

I started with a Scarlet Jewel base and stamped the large flower in Scarlet Jewel ink all around the outside for my background. I then used my Cuttlebug to cut two curved rectangles from Vintage Cream, one for the front of the card and a larger one for the inside. I stamped the sentiment from Damask Designs using Versafine Black Onyx ink. I find that it's the darkest black and great for fine detail like sentiments.

The flower was stamped twice on Raspberry Fizz cardstock using Vintage Cream ink and once on Scarlet Jewell. I cut out each layer of the flower and layered them using 3D foam squares, then added a few rhinestones. The leaves were stamped on Spring Moss and cut out. I used the Fiskars fingertip knife to cut everything out. I love them because they're really good for detail work. I got mine in pink at Target. I saw a purple swivel one somewhere that I might just have to get (mostly because it's purple)!

I added a bit of Spring Moss satin ribbon around the middle of the card and mounted the curved rectangle with foam mounting tape so it's popped up a bit. And that's my card. Hope you liked it! (Don't forget you can always click on the photo to enlarge it).

Recipe
Stamps: In Bloom, Damask Designs (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel, Vintage Cream, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss (PTI)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko); Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado, Scarlet Jewel (PTI)
Accents: Ribbon (PTI); Rhinestones (Me and My Big Ideas)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Loonie Stampers Challenge #48

2009-07-15T22:39:00.007-04:00

This week's Loonie Stampers Challenge is to make a Christmas card. It's so hard to think about Christmas when it's 100 degrees outside. I decided to use Papertrey's Home For the Holidays and Boards and Beams. They're two sets that I bought with the intention of making Christmas cards last Christmas but I just didn't get to them. I knew that they'd be time consuming sets to use and boy was I right! This card took me forever. I can just imagine how long it would have taken if I'd colored the house too!

(If you click on the picture you can see a lot more detail). I started by stamping the house onto kraft cardstock and then stamped the windows and door separately and cut them out. I colored them using my Copics and glued them over the original windows. I adhered the house to Papertrey's Rustic Cream cardstock and stamped the fence, then colored it again with the Copics. On separate kraft cardstock I stamped the trees, cut them out, colored them in, and added them with 3D foam squares. For the snow I used white Liquid Applique and added some glitter to it, although you can't really tell from the picture. It looks nice in real life. I added a strip of PTI's Holiday Vintage Prints paper along the bottom and a strip of Pure Poppy above that. On that I stamped the sentiment and embossed it with gold embossing powder, added a couple of buttons threaded with twine, and was finished. I really like the way this card turned out but it took SO long to make. Definitely not one I'll be mass producing.

Recipe
Stamps: Boards and Beams, Home for the Holidays (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Ripe Avocado, Pure Poppy, Kraft, Rustic Cream (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Holiday Vintage Prints Collection (PTI)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Buttons, Twine (PTI); Liquid Applique (Marvy Uchida); Copic Markers; Gold Embossing Powder, Prisma Glitter (Close To My Heart)

Have a great day,

Check this site out to win free Beautiful Cards magazines

2009-07-13T16:43:00.003-04:00

Check out Laurel's blog for some awesome blog candy!

Mojo Monday Week 94-Take 2

2009-07-12T21:46:00.004-04:00

I wasn't really happy with my last card that I made for Mojo Monday so I tried another. Again it just didn't work out the way I'd hoped and I'm not terribly happy with it but oh well. I'll submit it anyway. I used Close To My Heart's Emporium paper packet. I love, love, love this paper and hadn't had the chance to use it yet.

Recipe
Stamps: Thank You (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Crystal Blue, Buttercup (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Emporium (CTMH)
Ink: Twilight (CTMH)
Accents: Buttons (CTMH and Papertrey Ink); DMC Floss; Rhinestones (Joann's); Ric Rac (CTMH)
Tools: Ticket Corner Punch (Stampin Up)

Have a great day,

Mojo Monday Week 94

2009-07-12T12:17:00.001-04:00

I took Kristina Werner up on her challenge this week to use scrap supplies that I've had sitting around and not using. I have a lot of K & Company Wild Saffron paper and embellishments that I've been meaning to use but haven't. It didn't turn out exactly how I wanted but I finally just gave up on it. :) This is the first card in a LONG time that I didn't use stamps on. Seems strange.

Recipe
Cardstock: Colonial White (Close To My Heart)
Patterned Paper: Wild Saffron (K & Company)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares, Waxy Flax (CTMH); Tag, Chipboard Letters, Flowers (K & Co.)

Thanks for looking,

Loonie Stampers Challenge #47

2009-07-08T20:49:00.006-04:00

Things are still really hot here and we need rain desperately. It's in the forecast but so far only a few sprinkles. Our grass is dying so hopefully we get some soon. I know so many of my friends are getting nothing but rain right now so I can't really complain.

Today's card is another Loonie Stampers Challenge. I had SO much trouble with this card. I couldn't figure out how to combine the colors at first and I didn't have any vision about what to do so I just started making it and I kind of like the way it turned out. The colors I had to use were Papertrey's Scarlet Jewel, Aqua Mist, Ripe Avocado, and Lemon Tart. I didn't want the Scarlet Jewel to overpower the card since it's such a strong, dark color.

I made the card base from the Scarlet Jewel cardstock and added a layer of Lemon Tart with the corners rounded. I used my Cuttlebug Flower die for the flowers and cut out a bunch of different sizes out of each of the colors of cardstock. I just messed around with them to see which colors went the best together and embossed some of them with the Swiss Dots embossing folder. I then added a button to each flower and adhered them all together then added them to the card with 3D foam squares. To finish it off I punched holes for the stems using my paper piercer and hand stitched each stem with DMC thread and then added my sentiment. It's funny because I don't sew at all (not even buttons) but I'll spend the time to hand stitch on cards! After looking at the card now, I think I need to add some leaves to it because it looks a little funny without them I think. Maybe I'll add them later.

Recipe
Stamps: Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel, Aqua Mist, Ripe Avocado, Lemon Tart (PTI)
Ink: Scarlet Jewel (PTI)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); DMC Floss; Buttons (PTI)
Tools: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provocraft); Cuttlebug Flowers (Provocraft); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Corner Rounder (EK Success)

Have a great day,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #11

2009-07-07T20:19:00.005-04:00

It's time for another Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I'm getting this one done just under the wire. We went to Florida for the 4th so I wasn't home to make my card. I was able to make it this afternoon and as I took it outside to photograph it I dropped it and dented the whole top of it. Silly me. So, I guess these photos will have to do. The colors this week were a bit of a challenge because I just have trouble putting pink and red together.

I started with a black card base and added a layer of textured grey Bazzill cardstock. Another layer of Pure Poppy, and then Papertrey white. I used Papertrey's Honey Bees set for the grass and the flowers. The flowers are stamped in Pure Poppy and Raspberry Fizz, then they're popped up with 3D foam squares but you can't really tell from my first photo. Sorry the second photo is blurry. I still can't figure out how to get a clear close up with my camera. Well, the problem isn't the camera, it's the user! :) I added the sentiment from Star Prints and some Raspberry Fizz satin ribbon and that's it!

Recipe
Stamps: Honey Bees, Star Prints (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: True Black, White, Pure Poppy (PTI); Grey (Bazzill)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, New Leaf (PTI); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukeniko)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Ribbon (PTI)

Thanks for looking,

Happy 4th of July!!!

2009-07-04T17:53:00.003-04:00

Happy 4th of July to all my American friends! We're spending the weekend in Florida with the in-laws. Yesterday we celebrated Connor's 5th birthday, even though his birthday was on the 1st (we just didn't tell him yesterday was the 3rd). I don't think we'll be able to pull that one off again next year. We went to the beach for a few hours this morning and we'll be going to the fireworks downtown after dinner. Hopefully it will cool down a bit since it was in the high 90s today. Luckily Brian is able to be with us this year. A year ago at this time I was taking the boys downtown without him because he was in Iraq. It seems like so long ago. Hopefully he won't have to miss too many other holidays but with the Army I won't count on that.

I hope everyone has a wonderful 4th of July!

Recipe
Stamps: July Word Puzzle, Celebrate Canada (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Bitty Star Basics (PTI)
Ink: Outdoor Denim (CTMH); Pure Poppy (PTI)
Accents: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Happy Canada Day!!!

2009-07-01T21:14:00.003-04:00

I want to wish all my friends in Canada a happy Canada Day. I do miss it, but at least we have the 4th to celebrate here in the states. It's still not quite the same though. I had to make a card just for the occasion!

Recipe
Stamps: Celebrate Canada (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Colonial White (CTMH)
Ink: Cranberry (CTMH); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)

Thanks for looking and have a great day,

Heartfelt For You

2009-06-29T21:58:00.005-04:00

I'm so excited that one of my cards was chosen by Dawn McVey as one of the top cards in her Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I've only participated in two so I'm happy that I was chosen. I guess I'll need to keep doing them since they're fun.

I had a girl e-mail me last week asking about Close To My Heart products. She's the second person who's contacted me about CTMH through the Consultant finder, which is awesome since we only moved here a few months ago. I sent her a couple of catalogs and made a card to stick in there too. I joined CTMH last year mostly just to get the discount since I spend so much money on their products. Since the only people I know that scrapbook are through my friend Amy I don't have anyone to sell to (can't be taking her customers)! Hopefully I may have just found my first customer, but if not, that's okay too. Anyway, on to the card. I know I saw a card very similar to this on someone's blog but I just can't remember whose. Sorry to whoever you are. I would give you credit if I could remember where I saw your great card.

I just got CTMH's Heartfelt Whimsy Die Cuts last week. They're so cute and easy to use. I'm hoping they come out with more colors soon. I chose a few flowers and Bigger brads that would match and attached them on the card with the brads. The grass is from March Word Puzzle and the stems are from With Love. The great thing about clear stamps is you can bend them however you want so all my stems didn't have to look the same. Simple and fun card.

Recipe
Stamps: March Word Puzzle, With Love, From Me To You (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: White Daisy (CTMH)
Ink: Garden Green, Star Spangled Blue (CTMH)
Accents: Bigger Brads (CTMH); Heartfelt Whimsy Die Cuts (CTMH)

Have a great day,

Loonie Stampers Challenge #46

2009-06-28T23:10:00.006-04:00

As I was checking out some fellow Papertrey bloggers I came across Charlene Austin's blog. I had noticed that she and some of the other Canadian girls organize something called the Loonie Stampers Challenge with Papertrey colors so I thought I'd give it a try. This week their colors are yellow and white. I am so not a yellow person so I decided to try something I normally wouldn't and it turned out better than I had hoped (I think).

For my background paper I decided to use the flourish from Papertrey's Silent Night set. I bought that set solely for the flourish. I absolutely love it. I stamped it all over the paper with Versamark then heat embossed it with white embossing powder. I'm not sure if you can tell from the photo that it's embossed. I wanted to keep the card simple so I just added a flower with a white button threaded with yellow DMC floss, and a Nestabilities tag. I stamped the tag with the same flourish in Lemon Tart ink before stamping the sentiment. It's pretty light so it's not too distracting. I mounted it on Aqua Mist cardstock and was finished!

Recipe
Stamps: Silent Night, Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Lemon Tart, White, Aqua Mist (PTI)
Ink: Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist (PTI); Versamark
Accents: Button (PTI); DMC Floss; Flower (Prima); White Embossing Powder (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Papertrey Blog Hop

2009-06-25T19:52:00.006-04:00

I just realized a little while ago that the Papertrey Blog Hop is tonight so I made a real quick card. We just got home so hopefully I'll get it done in time. Summer to me means ice cream and popsicles, so here's my inspiration photo:

I embossed the sentiment but you can't really tell from the photo.

Recipe
Stamps: Delight In Everything, August Word Puzzle (Close To My Heart); Polka Dot Basics (PTI)
Cardstock: Star Spangled Blue, Holiday Red, Sunny Yellow (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Cupcake (Basic Grey)
Ink: Star Spangled Blue (CTMH); Versamark
Accents: Buttons (CTMH); White Embossing Powder (CTMH)

Thanks for looking,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #10

2009-06-24T21:34:00.006-04:00

It's time for another Raspberry Suite Color Challenge. I would never have put these colors together on my own. Well, I never would have put the Melon Berry and Berry Sorbet together but they don't look bad together. The colors aren't looking quite right in my photo because I took it tonight. I didn't want to risk forgetting to take it tomorrow even though it would be in better light.

I really haven't used my Nestabilities enough and I do have almost all of them so I have to start using them some more. I layered the two labels and cut out a circle from the one and mounted it with 3D foam tape. The butterfly is from Papertrey's Butterfly Kisses, one of my favorite stamp sets. I did stamp it on Papertrey's shimmery cardstock, but you can't tell in the photo. I had planned to just glue the button on the ribbon but I came across a neat button in my stash with only one large hole so I just threaded the ribbon through it and I like the look.

Recipe
Stamps: Butterfly Kisses; Polka Dot Basics; Boxes, Bags, and Tags; Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Berry Sorbet, Melon Berry, Vintage Cream, White Shimmer (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate (PTI)
Accents: Button (PTI); Ribbon (Offray); Rhinestones (Me & My Big Ideas)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); 3D Squares (CTMH); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Kwerner's Color Inspiration #55

2009-06-22T23:27:00.007-04:00

It's still really hot here so I guess the weather may be here to stay...yuk. I can deal with 90 degrees but 100 is too hot! We're so thankful for the pool, although the water is already REALLY warm. I guess I'll need to add some cold water to it tomorrow but I'm not sure how much that will help.

Tonight I made another card for Kwerner's color challenge. I really like the color combination. As soon as I saw it I thought about my Basic Grey Ambrosia paper. It's the exact same color so it was perfect. I had originally planned to put the butterfly paper along the bottom of the card but I accidentally cut it the wrong size. I pulled out the paper pad to use the other butterfly sheet and there wasn't one. I'm so annoyed that someone else took it before I bought it because it's my favorite paper in the pack. I guess I'm not the only one who likes it!

I have the 6X6 and 12X12 Ambrosia papers so I used the smaller pattern for the card base and cut out two of the butterflies from the larger papers and layered them. I had a hard time stamping the butterflies trail because I was only using part of the stamp and couldn't really manipulate it. I messed it up a bit, but oh well. :)

Recipe
Stamps: Little Lady, Mega Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Autumn Terracotta (CTMH); Smokey Shadow (PTI)
Patterned Paper: Ambrosia (Basic Grey)
Ink: Grey Wool (Close To My Heart)
Accents: Buttons (CTMH, PTI)

Thanks for looking,

Mojo Monday Week 91

2009-06-20T18:13:00.009-04:00

I haven't really made anything all week. I've been organizing my scrap room and a few nights I was just too tired to do anything but watch TV. It's been 100 degrees for most of the week and it just makes you so tired. Thankfully we got the pool up just in time and it's soooooo nice. It's already warmed up a bit too much so I guess we'll have to put the cover on it and see if that will keep it from getting too warm. Here's a picture of the boys in the pool yesterday:

Anyway, on to the card. I had to make a Father's Day card for Brian so at the same time I decided to participate in Mojo Monday and kill two birds with one stone.
I wanted to use the It's a Guy Thing paper from Close To My Heart since I've had it forever. I started with Cocoa cardstock and used my Scor Pal to add diagonal score lines. I sanded them with sandpaper and I love the way it turned out. I added a few pieces of patterned paper, stamped my sentiment on a rectangle and matted it to a larger rectangle. I couldn't decide how to add my ribbon so I finally settled on a photo hanger, and just tied the ribbon to it. I added a couple of Papertrey buttons threaded with twine and was finished. I like the way it turned out but my camera isn't really picking up the color in the card too well. It looks really washed out and I have no idea how to fix that so this is the picture you're stuck with!

Recipe
Stamps: April Word Puzzle, June Word Puzzle (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: New England Ivy, Cocoa (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: It's a Guy Thing (CTMH)
Ink: Chocolate (Close To My Heart)
Accents: Photo Hanger, Ribbon, Hemp (CTMH); Buttons (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: Scor Pal; Sandpaper (CTMH)

Thanks and have a great day,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #9

2009-06-18T21:00:00.004-04:00

Well, once again I made the card and didn't submit it in time before the challenge closed. It's been a hectic, hot week (over 100 degrees today) and I've been feeling really disorganized for some reason. I guess the heat's getting to me. Anyway, I made two cards for Dawn's challenge this week. New Leaf is not one of my favorite colors so it was a bit of a challenge for me. It's a bit brighter green than I like.

For my first card I wanted to use my new Quickutz Diamonds and Dots embossing folder. I really like the look of it. I didn't have black ribbon thick enough so I just used two strips of the smaller width side by side and added the New Leaf ribbon on top. Turned out okay, I think.

Recipe
Stamps: Mixed Messages, Tags for Spring (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: New Leaf, Vintage Cream, True Black (PTI)
Ink: New Leaf (PTI); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Black Ribbon (Offray); New Leaf (PTI)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); Punch (Fiskars); Embossing folder (Quickutz)

For my second card I embossed the card front with one of my rectangular Nestabilities. I stamped the boots and cut them out and popped them up with 3D foam squares. After adding the sentiment, the card still needed something. I'm not really sure if I like the black ribbon or if it's too thick. I have so much trouble tying bows and knots for some reason and they never look right to me. I finally just gave up on the card since I doubt I'll ever send it to anyone.

Recipe
Stamps: Green Thumb (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: New Leaf (PTI); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Ribbon (Michaels)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Kristina Werner's Color Inspiration #54

2009-06-15T21:46:00.008-04:00

I tried Kristina Werner's color challenge again this week. Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of the card in time to submit it. Oh well, next time. I had a bit of trouble incorporating the light blue in my card. It just didn't seem to go right, but I guess that's why they call it a challenge, isn't it?

I used some Basic Grey paper that I just got and distressed the edges, layered it on Ocean, and White Daisy cardstock. From there I couldn't decide where to put the Heavenly Blue paper. I decided to just put a band along the bottom and used my Scor-Pal to add the score lines, stamped the sentiment, and then the matching brad. I popped up the star with 3D foam squares and was finished. This was the first card I've ever made that didn't have a purpose or a recipient. I usually don't have enough time to make cards just for fun, but now that my scrap room is organized and I'm finally finished unpacking the house I've got a lot more time to myself!

Recipe
Stamps: Shining Star (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: White Daisy, Ocean, Heavenly Blue (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Offbeat (Basic Grey)
Ink: Sweet Leaf, Brown Distress Ink (CTMH); Teal Blue (StazOn)
Accents: Brad-Offbeat (Basic Grey)
Tools: 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Scor-Pal

Have a great day,

Mojo Monday Week 90

2009-06-11T21:39:00.011-04:00

It is getting so hot here in Georgia. It's already in the 90s, temperatures we rarely got to in Germany. I know it's here to stay for the rest of the summer. If I could stay inside all the time it would be fine, but that won't work with the boys. We're in the process of putting up an above ground pool which will be so nice when it's finished. We have to level the ground first and we still need more sand so I guess it won't be done until the end of the weekend :( I know the boys will ask constantly to go swimming, something neither of them know how to do! I really need to find out about swimming lessons for them because they both love the water so much.

Now on to the card. This is the first time I've participated in Mojo Monday. Thought I'd give it a try and see how I like it. Following a sketch makes things easier for me. I always have trouble deciding how I want to lay things out and sketches help a lot. I have to make a couple of Father's Day cards so I figured this would be a good opportunity. I mostly used Papertrey cardstock and patterned paper in Vintage Cream and Dark Chocolate. Good colors for a man's card.

Recipe
Stamps: April Word Puzzle, June Word Puzzle (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Chocolate Remix, Bitty Star Basics (PTI)
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Vintage Cream (PTI)
Accents: Sparkles (CTMH)
Tools: Star Nestabilities (Spellbinders); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Thanks for looking,

Animal Cookies Hi

2009-06-10T23:18:00.007-04:00

I've never done one of Kristina Werner's color challenge. I did this one after it closed but just to see how I'd like it. Here's the color inspiration photo.

For my card I used Close To My Heart's Animal Cookies patterned paper. Because I didn't have any buttons to match I used clear ones with cardstock behind them and threaded black DMC floss through them. I cut the circle and scalloped circle with my Nestabilities and sponged Tulip ink on the chipboard.

Recipe
Cardstock: White Daisy, Sunflower, Black, Tulip (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Animal Cookies (CTMH)
Ink: Tulip (CTMH)
Accents: Clear Buttons (CTMH); Floss (DMC); Chipboard (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Unforgettable Birthday

2009-06-08T10:47:00.005-04:00

My friend Simona had a birthday a few weeks ago and I STILL haven't sent this card to her. Bad friend! I really have to get it to the post office today. I used Close To My Heart's Unforgettable paper packet. Love the colors.

Recipe
Stamps: Aspirations, Say It In Style (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Blush, Colonial White (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Unforgettable (CTMH)
Ink: Blush, Juniper (CTMH)
Accents: Button (Papertrey Ink); Floss (CTMH)
Tools: White Gel Pen (American Crafts); Scalloped Sentiment Punch (Fiskars); Tag (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Baby Sarah's Welcome Card

2009-06-06T09:32:00.004-04:00

Friends of ours just had a baby girl, Sarah. Unfortunately we can't see her in person since they live in Germany. So sad. I already sent them a few outfits for her so now I need to send the card. Shopping for girls is so much more fun than it is for boys. Everything on this card is Papertrey except for the Nestabilities and Spellbinders tag.

Recipe
Stamps: Bitty Baby Blessings (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Ripe Avocado, Berry Sorbet, White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Polka Dot Parade (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Ripe Avocado, Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: Buttons, Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)
Tools: Nestabilities, Tag (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Paul's Birthday

2009-06-05T16:15:00.004-04:00

My brother's birthday is on the 18th so I need to get the card out on Monday so that it will get to him on time. The mail is SO slow from the states into Canada. It's hard for me to make masculine cards. I have so many girly stamp sets or sets for boys that can't be used for adults. I doubt my brother wants baby animals or rocketships on his card! So, I pulled out some of the American Crafts Thickers I've collected and used those. I love those things! Along with some Papertrey paper and buttons the card turned out okay. Amazingly I didn't use any stamps.

Recipe
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Chocolate Remix (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: Thickers (American Crafts); Buttons, Twine (Papertrey)
Tools: Corner Rounder (EK Success); Ric Rac-on inside of card (CTMH)

Thanks for looking,

Teacher's Thank You Cards

2009-06-04T15:30:00.001-04:00

Connor graduated from Pre-K a few weeks ago and I bought his two teachers some gift cards so I had to make cards to go along with them. Papertrey's Teacher's Apple is the perfect stamp set. The first card I totally copied from Nichole Heady's blog. I love this card and it was fun to make.

Recipe
Stamps: Teacher's Apple, Trajan Monogram Edition (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: White, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: Buttons, Ribbon (Papertrey Ink); Hemp (CTMH)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug

For this card, I know I saw a card somewhere with a line of apples and I liked it so this is what I came up with. I did ink the edges of the card, green cardstock, and tag but you can't see it very well in the photo. I also used 3D foam squares to pop the apples up.

Recipe
Stamps: Teacher's Apple, Polka Dot Basics, Simply Stationery (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: White, Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink); Kraft (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Pure Poppy, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate, Black (Papertrey Ink); Distressing Ink (Tim Holtz)
Accents: Ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Tag (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug; 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)

Have a great day,

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #8

2009-06-04T13:43:00.002-04:00

This is the very first time I've ever done a color challenge and it was fun. I struggle when I'm making cards deciding what colors to use or what kind of layout to use. Using sketches helps and being told what colors to use makes it easier for me. So, today I decided to participate in Dawn McVey's color sketch. Here's the inspiration photo:

And here's my card:

Recipe
Stamps: Handwritten Notes (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink); Craft (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Vintage Cream (Papertrey Ink); Brown Distress Ink (Close To My Heart)
Accents: Brads, Flowers, Leaves (Close To My Heart)
Tools: Punch-Parisian (EK Success)

Thanks and have a great day,

Chipboard Coaster Calendars

2009-06-03T22:56:00.000-04:00

I made a few calendars for the family out of chipboard coasters. Again, they were really easy and fun. I wish I had made one for myself.

Thanks for looking,

Coaster Gifts

2009-06-03T22:55:00.000-04:00

I made coasters and boxes for them to go into for our family for Christmas. They were really easy and fun.

Thanks for looking,

And the last of the cards

2009-06-03T22:52:00.000-04:00

And the last of the Christmas cards, I promise!

Thanks for looking,

Close To My Heart Christmas Cards

2009-06-03T22:50:00.000-04:00

Here are the cards I made with Close To My Heart paper and stamps. Again, most of these are lifted from other cards. Sorry I can't say whose.

Thanks for looking,

A Few More Papertrey Xmas Cards

2009-06-03T22:44:00.000-04:00

And the rest of the Papertrey Christmas cards:

Thanks for looking,

Papertrey Christmas Cards

2009-06-03T22:42:00.000-04:00

Here are the cards I made with Papertrey stamps. I got the idea from most of them from their website.

Thanks for looking,

Let's start with Christmas cards

2009-06-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

I know, Christmas was over 5 months ago. Like I said before, my blog is long overdue for some new cards. I have to say that I did get most of the ideas for my Christmas cards from other crafters. Because I made the cards so long ago, I can't remember who I got the ideas from, unfortunately. I will try to give credit for those that I can remember. I also won't be listing the recipes for these cards since it will take so much time and I doubt anyone really cares. If you have a question about any of them, just let me know. I used several different Cuttlebug folders for the following cards:

Thanks for looking,

I'm still alive

2009-04-26T22:29:00.006-04:00

Yikes! It's been a long time since I've posted anything on my blog. Things have been pretty crazy the past six months. Brian got back from Iraq the end of September and we had lots of family time to catch up on. Hunter didn't even know who he was so it took a few months until he really knew who "Daddy" was, and that he was staying around. Connor was absolutely thrilled to get his best friend back.

The end of November we had all of our furniture packed up and sent back to the states. The month of December was super busy. Brian flew back to Georgia for a few days and bought us our first house. We spent Christmas in Garmisch which was a total disaster. The second day there the kids got some horrible stomach bug which they gave to us so we all spent the whole vacation in the room throwing up. Yuk! Here are a couple of photos of the hotel. Since I didn't leave it the whole time I only had a few (the steam is coming from the hot tub).

After Christmas we moved out of our house and into a hotel for about a week, then flew back to the states. Because we weren't closing on our house for a few weeks, it was back into another hotel...not much fun with two small kids in the middle of winter. After buying a new truck and a bunch of furniture, we closed on the house and were finally able to move in. It's taken a few months to unpack everything and get it all organized. I finally have a scrap room, well it's half scrap room half spare bedroom, but at least I have half a room to myself instead of just a closet! I'll have to take photos one of these days. I have made a bunch of cards over the past few months so I'll post them bit by bit. Keep an eye out and thanks for checking out my blog.

Here's a photo of our new house too:

Have a great day,

Adorable Birthday Card

2008-11-16T15:53:00.006-05:00

I made this card for my Niece Olivia's 6th birthday last month. I used Close To My Heart's new Originals book for the recipe. I actually copied the card exactly. I had planned to do a pocket card and had just gotten the book and saw this one and it was perfect. I used the More To Adore papers and inked the edges of all of them in Chocolate. I even inked the edges of the vellum in Hollyhock, but you can't really see it in the photo. The strip of paper along the top of the vellum was plain paper so I used the Adorable stamp set to stamp the dots and flowers in Blush, Hollyhock, and Chocolate.

The template for the tag was on a CD in the back of the book so I printed it off but it wasn't quite the right size since my card was bigger than the one in the book so I just used it to make a bigger one. The Happy Birthday is from the It's a Celebration set from Papertrey and the huge 6 is from the Solo "6" Set from CTMH. I used my Crop-a-Dile Big Bite to set the gromlet and threaded the CTMH matching ribbon through. The vellum pocket is just attached with four brads. I really like the way it turned out and it was easy enough. I hope Olivia liked it.

Recipe
Stamps: Solo "6", Adorable (Close To My Heart); It's a Celebration (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Chocolate, Colonial White (CTMH); Vellum (Stampin' Up)
Patterned Paper: More To Adore (CTMH)
Ink: Chocolate, Hollyhock, Blush (CTMH)
Accents: Brads (CTMH); Ribbon (CTMH); Gromlet (We R Memory Keepers)
Tools: Originals Book (CTMH); Crop-A-Dile Big Bite (We R Memory Keepers)

Have a great day,

Birthday Surprise

2008-10-20T05:10:00.004-04:00

I totally copied this card from one Jen del Muro did in a different color. I just love this Birthday Surprise set from Verve stamps so I used it to make my friend Sherri's birthday card. I also HAD to use the new Copics I received for my birthday from Amy.

Recipe
Stamps: Birthday Surprise (Verve Stamps)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink); Blush, Crystal Blue, Black (Close To My Heart)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad (Tsukineko)
Copics: B14, R81
Tools: Dew Drops (Robins Nest); Argyle Embossing Folder (Provocraft); Cuttlebug machine (Provocraft)

Have a great day,

Butterfly Thank You

2008-10-07T04:01:00.003-04:00

I saw a frame made with this butterfly punch on Ali Edwards' blog and thought I could make a cute card doing the same thing. Instead of using random pieces of patterned paper I used the Stampin' Up Prints Pack which all coordinated. I added each butterfly with a dot of glue and bent them so they looked like they had just landed on the page. It was a quick and easy card that I plan to make again. It could easily be made with scraps of leftover patterned paper.

Recipe
Stamps: Frames and Messages (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink)
Patterned Paper: Prints Pack (Stampin' Up)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Tools: Butterfly Punch (Marth Stewart)

Have a great day,

Masculine Birthday Card

2008-09-30T05:23:00.005-04:00

I've had the Close To My Heart Star Struck stamp set and Good Times paper packet for a while and have been wanting to use it but haven't had the occasion. I've only been making feminine cards lately and haven't had the time to do a scrapbook page for one of the boys, which is the reason I bought it in the first place. Well, my friend Phil had his 30th birthday a few weeks ago so I had to make him a card quick so this is what I came up with. Everything is CTMH except the chipboard numbers.

Recipe
Stamps: Star Struck (Close to my Heart)
Cardstock: Colonial White, Chocolate, Sweet Leaf (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Good Times (CTMH)
Ink: Chocolate, Sweet Leaf, Twilight (CTMH)
Accents: Garden Green Brad (CTMH); Chipboard Numbers (Bazzill)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug (Provocraft); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)

Thanks for looking,

My birthday card...since we're on the topic of birthdays

2008-09-16T03:44:00.007-04:00

No photos from my birthday since we didn't do anything. No cake either :( I just didn't feel like making myself one. I did get this awesome birthday card from Amy though. Notice it's purple too...my favorite. You can check out her blog for more photos and she tells you how she made it. Those are Close To My Heart rub-ons, not stamps. Cool eh?

Thanks for looking,

Connor's Fourth Birthday

2008-09-16T02:33:00.007-04:00

Well, since I posted Hunter's birthday photos I should also post Connor's. He turned four when we were in Pensacola on July 1 (my Canada Day baby). And here he is, the birthday boy.

Since we weren't at home I couldn't make him a cake, so my MIL bought him a Cars cake (he picked it out). It was from Albertson's and was really good. Notice how they spelled his name wrong though :(

And the card I made him before we left home. I bought this stamp set specifically for his birthday card because he loves trains SO much.

Recipe
Stamps: Choo Choo Train (Close to my Heart)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink); Garden Green (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Rough' N Tumble (CTMH)
Ink: Indian Corn Blue, Cranberry, Buttercup, Black (CTMH)
Accents: Gromlets (We R Memory Keepers)
Tools: Crop-A-Dile Big Bite (We R Memory Keepers); 3D Foam Squares (CTMH)

Thanks for looking,

Hunter's first birthday

2008-09-16T01:59:00.008-04:00

Hunter's first birthday was back in May (yes, I'm WAY late on posting). First, here's a photo of the birthday boy with Nana, who was here visiting for a few months.

And the dragon cake I made. This was my first attempt at making anything other than your basic cake and it turned out pretty well, I think.

And the birthday boy with his cake. He had it EVERYWHERE and I had to give him a bath right away before he could open his presents.

And now, the card I made for him. I used my CTMH watercolor pencils and a blending pen to color the giraffe. Unfortunately I only have a few colors so I can't shade them or anything. I recently bought some Prismacolor pencils so I need to learn how to use them soon.

Recipe
Stamps: Nursery Bash (Close to my Heart)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink); Garden Green, Indian Corn Blue (CTMH)
Patterned Paper: Nana's Nursery Baby Boy (Die Cuts With a View)
Ink: Garden Green, Indian Corn Blue, Taffy-inked edges (CTMH); Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko)
Accents: Dew Drops (Robin's Nest)
Tools: Watercolor Pencils, Blending Pen (CTMH)

Here's the card from Amy, Caelan, and Corbin (Phil too).
And the card from Shanira.

Thanks for looking,

My poor neglected blog

2008-09-15T02:53:00.002-04:00

Well, it's been a few months since I've posted anything. I took the boys to the states and then to Canada for six weeks and had fully planned to post the cards I had made before I left, but I had very little time on the internet so it never happened. So, I'll be catching up posting a few things that I made several months ago since I haven't had the time to make much of anything lately.

Brian will be coming home from Iraq very soon (finally!), so I'll have lots of time to myself and to make more cards and maybe even a scrapbook page or two. I can't wait!

Cuttlebug Thank You

2008-06-14T17:07:00.000-04:00

I made this card a few weeks ago for Amy and wanted to use my new Cuttlebug alphabet dies. So, I pulled out my Cuttlebug and used the Spots and Dots embossing folder for the card front on Wild Wasabi cardstock. I punched the circles out using my Fiskars circle punch, then cut out the letters using the Olivia alphabet. To adhere the letters onto the circles I ran them through my Xyron sticker machine...much easier than trying to glue them. Finally, I painted the chipboard letter "U" and used Stickles as polka dots. I used some foam squares to add some dimension to the letters "h" and "n" to make them stand out a bit.

Recipe
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Summer Sun, Elegant Eggplant, Pumpkin Pie, Blue Bayou (Stampin' Up); White (Office Depot)
Accents: Chipboard (Heidi Swapp); Burgundy Stickles (Ranger Ink)
Tools: Cuttlebug; Olivia Alphabet, Spots and Dots embossing folder (Cuttlebug); Circle Punch (Fiskars); Foam Squares (Close to my Heart); Xyron sticker machine

Thanks for looking,

Father Knows Best Cards

2008-05-31T16:39:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love the Father Knows Best set from Papertrey. It has the coolest trees and they're great for cards for men. I have so many flowery, girly stamp sets that I could never use for a guy so this one is perfect.

The first card was kind of copied by one that Debbie Olson did. My mom is visiting and needed a thank you card to send to a man she doesn't really know. I had just gotten this set so I thought it was perfect. I stamped the tree and then stamped the circles separately and cut them out, then adhered them with glue dots so they were 3D. I could not tie the brown satin ribbon in a knot to save my life so I ended up doing a bow. I wasn't too happy with the results, but I finally just gave up on it. I have so many problems tying bows for some reason. My friend Amy has tried to show me many times, but it's just beyond me for some reason.

Recipe
Stamps: Father Knows Best (Papertrey Ink); Thank You Messages (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink); Garden Green, Chocolate (Close To My Heart)
Ink: Burnt Umber (Palette); Garden Green (CTMH)
Accents: Chocolate Satin ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug; Zots adhesive

The second card I made for my friend Tom's birthday. I used the other tree from Father Knows Best. I love that the set allows you to stamp the outline of the leaves in one color then the inside in a different color. I distressed around the stamped rectangle and the chocolate brown rectangle with sandpaper and then inked around the Happy Birthday sign with brown distressing ink. Finally I used a circle punch to punch out the corners of the patterned paper then added brown brads to each of the four corners.

Recipe
Stamps: Father Knows Best (Papertrey Ink); Happy Birthday (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White (Papertrey Ink); Garden Green(CTMH); Brown (Die Cuts With a View)
Patterned Paper: Mellow (Basic Grey)
Ink: Burnt Umber (Palette); Garden Green, Olive, Brown Distressing Ink (CTMH)
Accents: Brown Brads (Making Memories)
Tools: Circle Punch (Fiskars); Sandpaper

Thanks for looking,

Garden of Life Birthday

2008-05-24T17:25:00.001-04:00

I made this for my friend Simona's birthday, but unfortunately the post office is closed until Tuesday and her birthday is tomorrow...oops! I guess I should have made a belated birthday card :)

I used Papertrey's Garden of Life to make my background paper and then again for the three flowers around the oval, which I cut out. I used my oval Nestabilities and then added some Diamond Stickles to the center of each flower, with a little extra on the three around the oval. Aside from the Stickles, everything on this card is from Papertrey.

Recipe
Stamps: Garden of Life (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Stampers Select White, Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart (Papertrey Ink); Onyx Black Versafine (Tsukineko)
Accents: Lemon Tart ribbon (Papertrey); Diamond Stickles (Ranger Stickles Glitter Glue)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug

Thanks for looking and have a great weekend,

Papertrey Challenge Card

2008-05-23T16:03:00.002-04:00

I made this card over a month ago for Brian's Aunt and totally forgot to post it. I used the layout from the Papertrey forum's first weekly challenge. It was a 6" X 6" card, which I love to make (especially now that I've got some envelopes to match). I used my Cuttlebug and Nestabilities to cut and emboss the oval, and then the Cuttlebug for the two flowers. I made one brown and one aqua mist and then swapped the petals. It took a few minutes to match them up to the right spot since they're all different sizes. I added a self-adhesive pearl to the center of each flower. The flowers on the right are velvet flowers from Maya Road.

For the rectangle at the bottom I just cut it using my papercutter and rounded the corners using a circle punch. I inked the edges with brown ink and used my Making Memories instant setter and slot punch to cut the slots and ran brown satin ribbon through.

Recipe
Stamps: Sentiments (Fiskars)
Cardstock: Chocolate (Close to My Heart); Stampers Select White, Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Chocolate (CTMH); Aqua Mist (Papertrey Ink)
Accents: Velvet Flowers (Maya Road); Pearls (Hero Arts); Satin Ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Circle Punch (Fiskars); Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Flowers die (Cuttlebug); Instant Setter and Slot Punch (Making Memories)

Have a great day,

Cupcake Birthday Card

2008-05-03T05:49:00.012-04:00

I had to make a birthday card for a friend's 4 year old son and I just happened to have gotten Papertrey's It's a Celebration stamp set which was perfect. You can never have too many birthday sets if you make a lot of cards. My favorite stamps in this set are the cupcakes. You can stamp different tops on them, but I decided to use Liquid Applique for this card. I heat set it and it puffed up to look like real icing. I added a rhinestone on top and my son told me it looked just like a cherry. He kept touching it and asked if he could eat it! Funny from the kid who doesn't eat anything (or course, he does love cupcakes...who doesn't!).

Recipe
Stamps: It's a Celebration (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Indian Corn Blue, Cranberry (Close to My Heart); Stampers Select White (Papertrey); White (Office Depot)
Patterned Paper: Nana's Kids (Die Cuts With a View)
Ink: Chocolate, Cranberry, Indian Corn Blue (CTMH)
Accents: Rhinestones (Doodlebug Design); Cranberry Ribbon (CTMH); Liquid Applique (Marvy Uchida); Foam Squares (CTMH)
Tools: Circle Punch (Fiskars); Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug; Heat Tool (Marvy Uchida)

Have a great day,

My first Papertrey RAK cards

2008-04-24T03:50:00.003-04:00

We had a great visit with Brian last week. The three days just flew by and the kids and I loved having him back even if he did have to leave again so soon. We were lucky just to have the time because most people don't get the same opportunity. Now only a little over 5 months left. :( Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of our time together. We only used his camera and he took it back to Iraq with him.

We also found out this week that we'll be moving to Ft. Benning, GA in January. We were supposed to stay in Germany until next June but things change. We were stationed at Benning almost 10 years ago and I'd rather go somewhere new, but I'm thrilled that Brian won't have to deploy while we're there. Plus, we'll finally be able to buy a house which I'm really excited about. I'll finally have a craft room where I can stamp! I won't have to use Connor's little plastic table and pull everything out of the closet any more.

So, I got my first two Papertrey RAK cards today. It's so nice to get real mail, other than bills. The first card is from Holly (graybune). She used the Boxes, Bags and Tags stamp set, which I love. I bought it last month but haven't had the chance to use it yet.

The second card I received is from Sheri (sheric12). It is adorable and she used the Little Lady stamp set. That's one that I still don't have but must get sometime. It is so cute. The ladybug is so cute on this card and the close up doesn't do it justice.

That's about it for me. Thanks for looking and have a great day,

He really is coming home!

2008-04-14T08:41:00.007-04:00

I still don't believe it. Brian really is coming home!!! It was supposed to be today, but now he's not coming until tomorrow morning. Connor is going to be so excited when he sees his daddy. Even though it's only for a few days it couldn't come at a better time.

I made this card for someone in the PTI RAK group. I used the Polka Dot Basics set from Papertrey Ink. I love that set. On the purple paper I used Versamark ink and I was stamping at night and with the bad light in our living room I didn't think the polka dots were showing up. The next morning I saw them in the light and they kind of look pink on the purple paper. Not really the look I was going for, but oh well. The hello metal tag was white and I just inked it with the Papertrey Aqua Mist and added a Dew Drop.

Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey)
Cardstock: Petal (CTMH); White (Office Depot)
Ink: Aqua Mist (Papertrey); Versamark (Tsukineko)
Accents: Aqua Mist Twill Ribbon (Papertrey); Flower Brad (Making Memories); Hello tag (Making Memories); Dew Drop (Robin's Nest)
Tools: Corner Rounder (EK Success)

Thanks for looking and have a great day,

A few more Easter cards

2008-04-11T05:59:00.022-04:00

I forgot that I had a few more Easter cards. This one is my least favorite of the bunch.

Recipe
Stamps: Eastertime (Close To My Heart); Mixed Messages, Borders and Corners Circle (Papertrey)
Cardstock: Crystal Blue, Yellow (CTMH); White (Office Depot)
Ink: Petal, Blush, Sweet Leaf, Buttercup (CTMH)
Accents: Autumn Garden Sassy Strands (CTMH)
Tools: Circle punch (Fiskars); Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug; Corner rounder (EK Success)

This card I made for Brian. It's hard to make cards for men, especially an Easter one where I'd typically use pastel colors. He'd absolutely hate that and he actually doesn't even care if I make him cards, but I still do. He probably just throws them in the garbage, but I like making them.

Recipe
Stamps: Eastertime (CTMH)
Cardstock: Indian Corn Blue, Bamboo, Olive (CTMH)
Ink: Indian Corn Blue, Bamboo (CTMH)
Accents: Indian Corn Blue Eyelets (CTMH); Chipboard tag (Basic Grey)
Tools: Word Window Punch (Stampin Up); Crop-a-dile

Have a great day!

Awesome News Today (and Easter cards)

2008-04-09T10:29:00.012-04:00

Great news today! Brian called me from Iraq this morning and told me he'd probably be coming back to Germany next week for some training for a few days. I've been around the Army long enough to know not to get my hopes up though. He called back a few hours later and told me to book the hotel because his commander said that it's a good time for him to come back. If he doesn't make it next week, then he'll most likely come back sometime in the next two months. He still has 6 months left of this stupid 15 month deployment, since I'm sure that General Petraeus won't be telling Congress today that our guys should come home early. Still, I won't believe it until I see him in person. I'm definitely not telling Connor (our 3 year old) because he'll be crushed if I tell him that Daddy's coming home and then he doesn't show up. He's been having a really hard time the past few weeks and just randomly cries for his Daddy and tells me he wants him to come home. I absolutely hate it but there's not much I can do about it. Anyway, I guess we'll see if Brian makes it back or not. I'm definitely not getting my hopes up (I'm such a pessimist...always expecting the worst).

Okay, enough about my life. Back to the cards. Here are the Easter cards that I sent out a few weeks ago. I pretty much just used the one stamp set (Eastertime) from Close To My Heart since it's the only Easter set I have. For the first card, since I didn't have anything to make grass from I just drew it and cut it out with my scissors.

Recipe
Stamps: Eastertime (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Sweet Leaf (CTMH); White (Office Depot)
Ink: Sweet Leaf, Blush, Crystal Blue, Petal, Sunkiss Yellow, Honey (CTMH); Iris (Palette)
Accents: Brads (Making Memories)

For the second card, I didn't have a corner slot punch so I just used a circle punch and it actually worked. I think I'll use a smaller one next time so the corners are more rounded. I also didn't have a stamp that said Happy Easter that was small enough for the card so I spelled it out with my Sans Alphabet (CTMH). I like that set but the letters are so small that they're hard to line up. Definitely takes some patience.

Recipe
Stamps: Eastertime , Sans Alphabet (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Petal (CTMH); Pink (Bazzill); White (Office Depot)
Ink: Sweet Leaf, Spring Iris, Petal (CTMH), Iris (Palette); Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accents: Ribbon (Offray); Dewdrops (Robin's Nest)
Tools: Circle punch (Fiskars); Cuttlebug; Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provocraft)

And a non-stamping card. It was a lot quicker to make and I like it almost as much as the others. I need to make more cards with just patterned paper and a few embellishments.

Recipe
Cardstock: Petal (Close To My Heart)
Patterned Paper: Nana's Kids (Die Cuts With a View)
Accents: Spring Buttons (CTMH); Rub ons (Making Memories); Stickles

Thanks for looking,

Babies, Babies, Babies

2008-04-08T04:30:00.003-04:00

I have a few friends that have just had or are having babies sometime in the next few months so I get the chance to make baby cards and gifts. First is a card I sent to a family friend who just had a baby. I got the idea from Niki who won honorable mention for the Papertrey Guest Star Stamper (her card is much better though). When I made it I didn't have my Nestabilities yet, so I just used a couple of circle punches, my papercutter, and some scalloped scissors. I wanted to use patterned paper, but I didn't have anything that looked good so I stamped the watermark on the background blue paper instead. It's the first time I've done it and it turned out pretty well I think.

Recipe
Stamps: Mixed Messages (Papertrey); Sweet Pea (Fiskars)
Cardstock: Indian Corn Blue (Close To My Heart), Bazzill, White (Office Depot)
Ink: Indian Corn Blue (CTMH); Versamark (Tsukineko)
Accents: Buttons (Unknown); Baby RicRac (Wrights); Rub On (Scenic Route); Embroidery floss (DMC)
Tools: Scalloped scissors (Fiskars)

I made this baby card a while back for my friend Amy who had just found out she was pregnant. I'd just gotten my new Papertrey stamps, ink, and patterned paper that day so I had to play with it. I love polka dots, so the Polka Dots Basic stamp set is awesome!

Recipe
Stamps: Mixed Messages, Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey)
Cardstock: White (Office Depot)
Patterned Paper: Everyday Blessings (Papertrey)
Ink: Aqua Mist (Papertrey), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accents: Aqua Mist Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon (Papertrey)
Tools: Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Cuttlebug; Circle punch (Fiskars)

My friend Katie is having a baby in May and I had a baby boy stamp set that I wanted to give her. I couldn't figure out a good way to wrap it then Lisa Johnson came out with this tutorial for the Treat-a-Lope so I had to try it. I needed a bigger bag than she had made so instead of using an envelope I just used two pieces of cardstock and glued them together. It was really easy and looked pretty cool. I'll definitely be doing this one again because I like the way it turned out.

Recipe
Stamps: Polka Dot Basics (Papertrey); From Me To You (CTMH); Baby Boy (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Aqua Mist (Papertrey); White (Office Depot)
Ink: Aqua Mist (Papertrey); Iris (Palette), Onyx Black (Versafine)
Accents: Aqua Mist Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon, Aqua Mist Twill Ribbon (Papertrey); Flower eyelets (Making Memories)
Tools: Circle punch (Fiskars); Scallop circle punch (Marvy Uchida); Crop-a-dile

Thanks for looking,

A Couple of RAK Cards I Made

2008-04-07T02:47:00.001-04:00

First, I'd like to thank everyone who posted comments on my first card. I really appreciate them. I can't believe anyone would look at my blog, let alone comment on anything. Thanks!

Here are a couple of RAK cards I sent out last week. I joined the RAK (Random acts of kindness) group on the Papertrey forum but I've been a little apprehensive about sending anything. I'm really new to stamping and normally only make cards for friends and family but I bit the bullet and sent the first two.

First is a card I sent to Leah for her new baby Ayana. It's a card I made in Amy's card class so I really can't take credit for it. It's all her idea and I just assembled it. I'm not going to post the recipe for this card, but you can find it on Amy's blog if you're interested.

This next card I sent to Heather (hmj) who lives nearby in Frankfurt. Of course, with our wonderful postal service here in Germany the card got to Leah in the states a lot quicker than the one to Heather, even though she's only 20 minutes away.

Recipe
Stamps: For Every Occasion (Close To My Heart)
Cardstock: Spring Moss (Papertrey); White (Office Depot)
Patterned Paper: Everyday Blessings (Papertrey)
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko); White embossing powder (CTMH)
Accents: Flower (Prima); Brad (Making Memories)
Tools: paper punches (Creative Memories)

Thanks for looking,

Out on a Limb Birthday

2008-03-30T12:43:00.008-04:00

My friend Amy had a birthday last week so here's the card I made for her using Papertrey's Out on a Limb. I absolutely love that set but it was out of stock for the longest time so I made sure I bought it the day it was back in, just in case! Lately I've been loving brown and pink together.

I had to make something springy because it's still cold and snowy here in Germany. I'm so ready for the warm weather to get here. Last year at this time we were wearing shorts and t-shirts.

Recipe
Stamps: Out on a Limb, Mixed Messages (Papertrey)
Cardstock: Brown textured (Die Cuts With a View); Ivory (Office Depot)
Ink: Chocolate, Blush, Sweet Leaf (Close To My Heart)
Accents: Stickles; bling flowers (Queen & Co.); Ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Cuttlebug; Nestabilities

Thanks for looking,

My first card

2008-03-29T06:48:00.008-04:00

, So, this is the first card I'm going to post. I've made a bunch so I guess I'll add them to my blog bit by bit. Almost all of the cards I make are sent to people. Really it's all I have time for right now. I'd love to be able to make cards just for the fun of it, but with Brian gone and taking care of the kids by myself I just don't have the time.

Anyway, here's a card I did based on a sketch by Jen del Muro last week. Here's her sketch:

This is the first time I've even followed a layout from a sketch and I don't really like my card. Originally I had three Dew Drops on the bottom left hand side. I made the card at night and the lighting in our living room isn't good. I thought they were all the same color but when I looked at them the next morning in the sunlight they were different. I had attached them with glue dots and attempted to take them off but tore the paper so I had to cover it with the flower. So, no more removing glue dots. I've learned my lesson!

Recipe
Stamps: Thank You (Hero Arts)
Cardstock: Aqua Mist, Spring Moss (Papertrey); White (Office Depot)
Patterned Paper: Everyday Blessings (Papertrey)
Ink: Aqua Mist (Papertrey)
Accents: Velvet flower (Maya Road); Dew Drop (Robin's Nest); Spring Moss satin ribbon (Papertrey)
Tools: paper punches (Creative Memories, Fiskars); Cuttlebug; Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Thanks for looking,

So, this is me

2008-03-28T07:05:00.026-04:00

Well, I guess I'm joining the blog bandwagon. My name is Sue and I'm very new to paper crafting. My friend Amy was teaching a card class at our local USO and from the first class I was hooked. I mostly love making cards, and have only finished two scrapbook pages, but only thanks to Amy.

So, a little about me. I'm originally from Canada but live in Germany right now. I've been married to my husband Brian for a little over 9 years and we have two wonderful boys, Connor who is 3 1/2 and Hunter who is 10 months. Brian's a helicopter pilot in the Army and I'm a stay at home mom so I'm extremely busy with the boys. Unfortunately they leave me very little time for any card making.

Well, that's about it for my first post. I'll be back soon with some of my paper creations!