My heart’s a flutter

The Blogger’s Challenge this week is a color challenge-Pumpkin Pie (YUMMY! Get’s me thinking of the real thing next week), Brocade Blue, Old Olive and Choc. Chip.

These are NOT my usual colors, so it was definitely a challenge for me. I kept thinking BOY card, but didn’t feel like going all masculine with it.

While going through my gigantic paper assortment, I came across my much neglected Mellow Collection by Basic Grey. YEAH!!! Flowers with those colors.

DING, DING, DING, DING!!!! People we have a winner.

So I decided I would go all out of my “element” (yes I really can do different style’s :D), and get all distressy with it. Tim Holtz distress inks to the rescue! It felt good to try something different  for a change of pace. Especially since I am SO into the Christmas mood-which you will see over the next few days.

The images are by Lizzie Anne-the L’amour set (sentiment) and Heart to Heart—>HERE.

The heart is stamped on patterned paper with versamark, and embossed with UTEE. Then cut out, and pieced over stamped image.

I added some piercing, and copper brads! I also ran by copper pad along the edges.

I must say I {heart} this card.

So that’s it for now.

I am off to prep my template for tomorrow’s Saturday  Sketch, and PRAYING I make a stepped up sample. Right now my sample is way SIMPLE. Maybe even too simple-but for mass production it would be considered a fabulous sample-but I want to show you that it can be all FANCY SCHMANCY too!

Oh and wait till you see my Sunday post!! I’m way happy with it.

Thanks for looking 😀

OK till tomorrow!

for nothing!

Oh my! I don’t know about the other blogger’s, but this weeks challenge was just that-A CHALLENGE!

We had to use a photo, or magazine in our design. Was I ever sweatin bullets, racking my brain, trying to come up with some “knock your socks off”, fabulous idea.

You know what I ended up with? SIMPLE!!! Shocking I know! LOL!

I browsed tons of magazine’s trying to find NUMEROUS awesome images! No such luck. I kept coming back to this ONE.

I’m not sure why. Something about it drew me in. Maybe because of the clean look it had. While SMALL, it was a bold photo. That POP of color I love so much, and it helped it had a sunflower! She looks so peaceful.

I kept thinking about the saying , that I stamped on the card, when I saw this.

I’d pick you!

 Click this for LARGE view! I was having editing issue’s!

I am in LOVE with it. I LOVE the idea of taking a piece from a magazine and placing it in your creation. I know there are “techniques” out there but I didn’t want to do that.

What was amazing to me was while the image is tiny, its the main focal point of the card.

I used my It’s Elemental, and new Build A Bloom by MFT. I just layered the flowers, and got a stunning look. The satin ribbon just adds richness to it. I stamped with versamagic inks in various colors.

I used a glitter pen to “dot” the inside of the of the sunflower, for subtle texture, and some pop.

The sentiment is one I always loved- by A Muse.

Needed “something” to break it up a bit, so I used my color spritzer for the subtle touch.

I hope you check my blog roll for the other player’s creations.

Tomorrow I will share my Saturday Sketch! Be prepared-its a tutorial for a 3D item I promised. Dont miss it 😀 It is also Noah’s 5th Birthday party!!

Sunday I will share my Target finds!! Oh yeah! They are fabulous!

AND……………………….I will share my Elzybells (the LARGE ones) samples for you!! Oh you better hide your wallets people!

I’m thinking I should get some commission. Maybe she should put me on her DT! LOL! I’ll even take a guest spot 😀

Ok till tomorrow!!

Happy Friday!

That mean’s it is Blogger’s Challenge time! This week is Patterned Paper as the main focus. So, in this post I will share that, and answer some questions you all had from yesterday’s post. I will show you how I did the double frames using the nestabilities. How about turning the rectangles, onto squares? READ ON.

What a LONG week this was for me! We got Jason’s labs back, and they were all normal. We are awaiting a bigger test result. Sorry Im so vague. Its hard to share without exposing HIM to the open world of cyber space. While it helps me, I dont want to put him out there. Not without his “OK”. He appreciates all the prayers though, and I want to thank-you for the kind words as well.

We should have the test result today??? Then know where to proceed.

Amber has a fever and has been sick for several weeks. I sound like a bad parent, but seriously, its that prolonged cold thing with occasional cough, icky nose. Yeah, well now its a fever, bad cough-no icky nose, but you get the idea. So off to the doctor’s I go. I swear I could get there with my eye’s closed! LOL!

Between Alexa’s Oncologist, and my Pediatrician, they seriously recognize my voice on the phone! That is SICK!

OK anyway….here are my challenge pieces. Click on thumbnails please for closer view.

Pretty Pastry Party Box Set

 So what do you think? I love this set. I know, I know, I said it before. But I do. This set uses Eat Cake. I loved hearing all your favorite kinds-got me hungry, and wanting to try some new versions too. There are desserts I’ve never had-GASP! I shiver at the thought! lol!

I will be doing a tutorial for this gift box I made-using my NEW! Scor-Pal! Stay tuned 😀

That’s right, the NEW! Scor-Pal is for sale!!

Let me tell you, it is amazing. LOVE all the new score marks. As well as the markers going down each side. I was bouncing out of my skin when it arrived yesterday. You can see my previous review of the Scor-Pal–> HERE IF you were on the fence. Makes a great Christmas gift too. So put in on that list.

Diana ROCKS!!! She really listen’s to her customers, and I am so pleased to be a part of her AMAZING team.

 Pretty Pastry box-click for larger view, please.

I have to say I LOVE the different colors for this set. To me, they aren’t your typical “cake” colors.

OK, so the patterned paper is by K & co. LOVE IT!!!

Its a shimmery pink pattern. Obviously, it inspired my items. While that paper is gorgeous, and has a monochromatic pattern-it is BUSY, so you have to take care, not to “over-do” it. I think it kept it simple enough.

NOTICE :the double scalloped, and embossed frame-again?  Click for closer view.

Well, as asked yesterday- here is how you achieve that. VERY EASY!!! And it looks PHENOMENAL!

1) You run your cardstock through your Cuttlebug, using the scallop nestability. You will cut the piece FIRST.

     That means A Plate, C plate, die face up, cardstock, B Plate.

NOTE: Let me be honest. I have a hard time doing it that way cause I can’t see my paper. So “I” use my sandwhich like this- A plate, C Plate, cardstock, die face down (so I can see it), and B plate.

2) Now you need to do the “emossing” part. So, remove excess-cut cardstock. Take a smaller straight edge die, and layer it into the center. You will need a “sandwich”. Here is mine

A plate, B plate, Wizard adapter mats (AKA 2 tan mats) my scallop die with straight die in center FACE DOWN on the mats, then B plate. Run though-VIOLA!!!

 Here is the complete look of the double embossed frames! Stamp away!

Now you want to make it a SQUARE?

Well, that is easy too.

First pick your size. Cut, rectangle. AND if you want to emboss it, do that step as well!

Now take the cut/embossed piece, and move to down in the die cut. See photo

 Now CUT the image with the correct sandwich. Then, if you embossed, do the embossing sandwich again.

Here is the finished square

 Cool huh? Granted you wont get the larger sizes you would if you buy the actual Squares set, but it can tie you over till you can afford to! Which is where I am at. With Noah’s Birthday coming and Christmas (not to mention new releases from my favorite companies) I cannot afford it all this time of year! AND if I could I may splurge for a Circle set instead. BUT I can’t.

Sounds complicated but it gets quick the more you get use to it-I PROMISE! I also like doing things face down so I can see where my die is on the cardstock.

As for the Fiskars plates-I’ll save that for another day, since you are in overload Im sure!

Now time for my SIMPLE card-click for larger view

 Pretty Pastry Paper  tag close up

So, I had to show you the tag, cause I think its so pretty! I used my Giga Scallop Tag by Marvy, but cut off the edge on either side! Made it smaller in width.

Gotta love Nichole’s way of making the sentiments seperate so you can EASILY change the color of your sentiment with ease.

I had to continue the scallop design in my card, again without over-doing it, so I did a scallop border, and some scalloped piercing at the top, using my Onare template. Subtle-yet pretty. That Stampin’ Up! satin ribbon can make any project look more elegant. I am loving it.

So that’s the scoop for today! Come back tomorrow for my Saturday Sketch!! Its a good one! Its with Eat Cake-AGAIN! But I also have a Bella card, and a cool gift idea for friends who stamp 😀 Debbi (StampinCPA)-dont read tomorrow’s post till you get your mail! LOL!

I hope you check in on the other blog challenge participants.

Till tomorrow.

Well am I ever HAPPY its Friday! Jason and I are getting away over night-ALONE! I am so thankful to my mom for the break. Now lets pray the kids will sleep at her house.

They are pretty traumatized by Alexa being in the hospital, and me being away, so if one of us isn’t home at bed time, it really throws them for a tail spin.

So Im really working hard to get all myMUST DO’s – DONE asap! One of those being Noah’s 5th Birthday party planning. I think Im doing well! Still gotta design those Christmas cards………………almost there.

I LOVE planning themed party’s for my kids. FUN parties. Memorable parties. I SO enjoy it. People always say I should do event planning-um nice compliment but no thanks. I can hardly handle the 3 whopping birthdays a year!

So I decided we would have his party at our area’s “Space Center”. They provide EVERYTHING-cake and all! I just have to show up with the kids 😀 Im lovin that this time of year. Especially after the stress of Alexa’s party. AND God forbid-if she goes back in the hospital it can still be done-without poor Jason having to run around crazy-NO STRESS!

At the space center they have indoor games, and indoor rides-like bumper cars, slides, carousles, laser tag-FUN STUFF. BOY kinda stuff. And I made sure to informthe parents I NEED head counts!! SO RSVP PLEASE! So far I have gotten speedy replies and I expect a good turn out. Dont want too many though!

So I figured the theme would be “Space”. Noah liked transformers but we went with the Rocket idea-or is it a spaceship? Not entirely sure.

Point being-this week’s blogger’s challenge was to get INSPIRED by something! So I did! It was perfect timing-again.

When designing his invites I pondered the thought of a rocket stamp-didnt have any, or know any that were big enough.

I saw this  Cuttlekids die cut, and wanted to use it for his invites.

Problem is, it was going to be too small. So, I decided to attempt to create my own!

Here is his invite

 OK so its not exact-but its still cute isnt it?

I used my coluzzle  oval-to round the top of my space ship.

 Sponged the edges.

The window is just my circle punches.

For the red “wings” or whatever those things are suppose to be- I cut squares, then trimmed them on either side-4 at a time. Once I had my “template” it was quick, and easy!!!

The gray part on the bottom-that was done with my tab punch by SU!-So the invite info pulls out from the bottom tab. I just quickly printed off the info from my computer-nothin fancy. The tab “pull” was done using my brother label maker (another must have)!

 Click for larger view.

So the rocket is on dimensionals, and the info easily pulls out.

For the blue-I sponged the clouds with a template I made myself! See that ——> HERE

I then stamped the “please come” from invitation builder  from Paper Salon (and while linking I saw these AWESOME new clear sets by PS!!! OMG! DONT LOOK!).

The “Noah & 5” are from a set from CTMH-it was a monthly set a while ago. It was my ONLY CLEAR alpha! So I went with it. I wasnt going to ruin these by stamping a crooked name-yes I am anal!!!!!! Now I decided I need MORE CLEAR Alpha sets-know any good ones???

The rocket or whatever, is suppose to be flying off the card. This is a standard size invite-so easily mailed-but we hand delivered.

 Hope you liked my inspiration piece!

Be sure to check out the other stampers creations in my Blog Challenge link on my side bar.

Feel free to play along and link it to any of us!

Tomorrow is my Sketch challenge! So I so hope you can play along.

I have been stamping like a mad woman-but alot I am unable to share-BUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Happy Friday! And Happy Birthday to my good friend AMY!!! Hope it was a good one 😀

Till tomorrow.

Well Im so glad it Friday!!!!

We have a busy weekend planned here, but my posts are pre-done and ready for the SUBMIT button! Gotta love that 😀

I FINALLY got an appointment for the kids Christmas photos to be done Sunday. That way I can design our Christmas cards and have’em ready to go BY Thanksgiving! No Worries Ill post my Christmas design. Maybe Ill make ONE and send it via email! LOL! Now that is a time saver right?

I was honestly hoping from last year to this that Alexa would have hair, at LEAST under her chin. But that will not happen.

Im not complaining-Im just sayin.

People keep asking if I gave her a haircut-NO! I DID NOT GIVE HER A HAIRCUT! Yes, now Im shouting, cause after like 50 people its annoying. Her hair keeps falling out and growing in, due to stress they tell me.

Well I know Im SHOCKED Im not bald too!

Im just happy that she is doing better and fighting this thing head on-GO ALEXA! Who cares if you have short hair! Someday it will be long again. Someday.

Speaking of sick kids-this challenge came at a perfect time!

This weeks blogger’s challenge is to make Christmas Ornaments! What fun! And PERFECT timing!

I got an email from Paper Crafts magazine. In it they explained that they are doing a donation for the Fesitval of Trees. If you didnt get it-dont panic-it may be one exclusive to designers-not sure.

This is copy/pasted info from the email:

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this event, the Festival of Trees is an annual fundraiser that takes place the week after Thanksgiving in Salt Lake City, Utah to raise money for patients of Primary Children’s Medical Center who cannot afford treatment. Primary Children’s is the only specialized children’s hospital in the mountain west region and upon its conception, vowed to never refuse a patient due to an inability to pay. The Festival of Trees is run by volunteers, and every penny made at the week-long festival goes to the children’s care. Last year the Festival of Trees earned well over $1 million for Primary Children’s hospital.

Here’s how it works: People set up and decorate trees, wreaths, gingerbread houses, etc. These items are then bid on and purchased by members of the community. Everything remains on display for patrons to view until the week-long festival is over. Then, Festival of Trees volunteers deliver the decorated goodies to the purchasers

——————————————————————————————————————

Their theme colors are Turquiose and Red.

Well to me that screams ORIENTAL flair! I wanted to do something a little different, and this is what I came up with. Not sure its worthy of sending though….

 Boho Blossoming

OK Im not sure I honestly like it-looks like a turnip! I wanted to do something DIFFERENT-well I think I achieved that! LOL!

I may have to use my same concept-just make it into something different.

So I used my Boho Blossoms, gold encore ink, and well TEAL cardstock.

I stamped the blossom all over my cardstock in gold.

 click for larger view-this is the top view.

I then went to my Scor-pal and scored some lines at every inch on either side of my middle band. I then cut the strips to the center, strung through some ribbon and tied it all up. The scored edges that are then cut strips a nice finished edge to the layers of cardstock.

I added some A Muse rhinestone stickers and a gold band with Prima’s. Liquid pearls for the centers. Brad is by K & co.

I think it may be back to the drawing board on this one :C

Oh well at least I challenged myself. If it werent for time constraint Id re-do it -but time is up!

Make sure you check out the other blog challenger’s creations! Links on my sidebar! Way cute stuff. Glad I didnt see it all BEFORE I posted.

If you want to participate just provide a link in the comments section.

Come back tomorrow- I have my Saturday Sketch ready to go!

Did you miss your chance at Mytime Mail? Check this out———>HERE

Well HAPPY FRIDAY!!

Jason and I had a fabulous time at So You Think You Can Dance! What a great show! It was 3 hours long! WOW!!

Alexa is sounding better! Got some more cards in and will post thank you’s later. Thanks for the concern. And thanks for some of the medical advice. I didnt know she needed extra fluids when taking Mucinex! And yes I do the chest PT on her all the time! But if I hadnt known about that it would be a great piece of info to pass onto other parents. We actually have a cushioned oxygen mask we use to make it much easier!

Thanks for willing me better. I fell a little better and got LOTS of stuff done yesterday! Still need to call the dentist but Im waiting till Monday. Im mentally drained by this and I need  to keep my mind clear! The mojo was in the house yesterday! Wait till you see some of the fun stuff Ill be sharing.

Now that its the end of the week know what that means?

That means today is time for the Blogger’s Challenge! I am alos posting the challenge I missed last week while Alexa was in the hospital. You can check out all the blogger challenges by clicking on the blogs in my sidebar.

This weeks was to use black and orange. I haven’t seen the other challenges yet-Ill do that later on, but figured people would mainly thing Halloween when these colors are put together-especially in October. So, I decided to do a NON Halloween themed card!

 Chic Chicks

And Chic she is! I got the stamp at JoAnn’s LAST YEAR! It is called Chic and is by Rubber Stampede. She never saw ink before! LOL! Sad I know! But I loved it and had to have it. She was perfect for the challenge.  This card was whipped up in about 10 minutes!

The BLING was leftover from Alexa’s Princess party! LOL! All the leftover jewels (and there was alot) I get to keep and use on my cards! YEAH!! There are all sorts of shapes and sizes and you get a ton in the bag for like $2.75! DUH!! Why havent I shopped in that isle before?! I just adhered them with glue dots.

The sentiment is a library style stamper by  Memories in the Making. Its has all sorts of fun little “girly” sayings. I love you can get like 12 sentiments for a whopping $7-$8 !!!! 7 Gypsies, and EK Success has some too. Check them out in stores and some places may have them online.

I had so much fun with the challenge I made another one with NO STAMPING! (gasp!)

 Fishy Smiles

I had a publication in Paper Crafts, and when they sent back my card they sent some AMAZING goodies to boot!

In this package were these super cute 3D glittery fish themed stickers by Joliees. How could I NOT use them!

I had this gorgeous paper by Heidi Grace, so it became my “sea”. Stuck on some stickers, and like 4 minutes later-DONE! The smile sticker I got years ago at Target! Can you tell Im a compulsive shopper yet?

Now for LAST weeks blogger’s challenge-it was to use a Spectrum Pad in your design.

So I made this card

 My Heart

This heart is fromBoho Blossoms.

This card is INCREDIBLY simple but I wanted to keep the focus on the detailed heart! I think its speaks for itself! LOL!

I used my Cotton Candy specturn pad, and glossy cardstock. This card took a little over 10 minutes. Not bad considering I had NO IDEA what direction this was going.

SO check in tomorrow for more fun. Its the Saturday Sketch, and World Cardmaking day!

YEAH Its Friday! That means Vanilla Bean Chiller and Kahlua for me tonight! 😀

Sorry its been a rough week, and I deserve it :D.

Thanks for all the wonderful comments on Alexa’s Dress. She loves when I read them to her. I cant tell you HOW MANY times she has made me sit and show her that video already.

The RSVP’s are rolling in-and Im freaking out! I have such high expectations for this party-I hope I can meet my own ideals. I think cause Alexa didnt get the party of her dreams last year the pressure is ON! LOL!

I also got alot of emails asking WHERE in MA I am from originally. Well we moved ALOT-but mainly Lowell, Chelmsford, Dracut, Tewksbury area! LOL!

Now to the post!

This week’s challenge was EMBOSSING! You dont realize all the method’s/types of embossing there really are!  

In case you want to keep up with what I do for these, I added a Blogger’s Challenge to my categories. Every week we are given a challenge to do. We all TRY to post them on Fridays! You can easily play along-just link your creation here, or any of the others Blogger’s Challenge members (see sidebar).

So it seems like EVERYONE is having a baby. Maybe cause Im DONE having mine? So I really need some baby cards for the next few months. This challenge is perfect!

I have had this idea for quite some time. The execution of what was in my head, fell into place perfectly!

NO BABY THEMED STAMP SET? NO PROBLEM!

I decided to do dry embossing-FREE HAND! WAHOOOO!

 Baby Bottles!

Are these not the cutest EVAH?! OMG! I LOVE THEM! And ya know what-the took about 12 minutes to make ALL THREE!!! HELLO! Holy awesome mass produced baby of any gender idea!

Here is a pic of each one-just click to view closer

The blue was the very first one I did. I did NOT like how I had the bottle lines go down to the bottom. So I put a stop to that on the next 2.

I got this way cute ribbon from American Crafts at Michaels. Sentiments are from So Many Sayings by SU.

I know you want to hear HOW I made these dont you?

EASY GIRLS!

Card fold is at top- bottle is 3 inches wide by 5 1/2 inches tall. This is from White cardstock

Use a ruler, and your embossing style to emboss (from the back) in straight and even lines. EASY!

Cut the banana cardstock 3 x 1 1/2. Round the corners

Use KEYTAG punch to pop out a “nipple” Cut it in 1/2 then you get 2!

If you used the Playtex bottles as I did then this is what a bottle looks like to you too!

Adhere the nipple behind the rounded corner end and adhere to top of card.

Cut a colored bottle “rim” 3 1/4 x 3/4.  Use your embossing stylus to make the ridges. Just trace the top and bottom, and then make the lines.

Attach to bottom of nipple piece.

Wrap around ribbon, stamp sentiment of choice. DONE!

What do you think?

Now if I can only bring myself to actually mail these out instead of making a whole new card for my friends when their bundles arrive.

My good freind Tracey is due to POP any day. We dont know what she is having. Once she names the baby I told her I will make her a collage name frame for the new addition! So since I’ll be workin hard figured I could most likely get away with sending this one to her 😀 Whatever she has! My guess is a boy!

We shall see.

Come back later cause its Saturday Sketch time! I made a card for a little girl who is also battling Cancer! So, you will see the sketch ,and get linked to her story. This card helped me get out of my FUNKY mood. What better way to recharge the mo-jo than to make a card for someone in need!

Well this week the idea was to take an item of inspiration, and create something!

Well I have wanted to get inspired by this Address book I have had for years (obviously its pretty worn out), and thought NOW was as good a time as any! I pretty much much cased the entire thing!

 here is a close view of the card itself

I always loved the colors, and the layout. It was fun to finally use it! Love layering, and this was a great layered look! I used Garden Whimsy for this card.

colors-PT white, pomegranate, celery, pink, banana, guava

The brads were colored with Sharpies, cause I had NO pomegranate brads. Had to add something extra! It didnt seem very “balanced” other wise. For an adress book it was OK, a card made by me-not so much!

Wanted to keep the ribbon subtle-so used a sheer polkadot by May Arts.

I hope you like it, and it inspires YOU to get inspired by ANYTHING  this weekend. Be sure to check my blogroll-for the other Sketch Challenge participants-you can play along just link your creation in one of our comment sections!

Come back tomorrow-cause that is my Saturday Sketch!

Here is my first card for the Blogger’s Challenge! I just joined this group and am very excited to be a part of it!

This week’s challenge was to re-crete the card on page 12 of Stampin’Up! Winter Mini catalog. I love this sketch, and plan on trying it again!!

I decided to use L’Amour by Lizzie Anne. Since I told you I love this “Dove” image I figured I better use it! My Dove is CHIPBOARD! Just like the star in the catalog card.

You can make any stamped image into chipboard-here is how you do it-

1) Stamp your image in scrap cardboard/chipboard. Cut out.

2) Stamp your image on patterned paper/cardstock. Cut out.

3) Run image through a Xyron machine.

4)  Layer the finished image over the chipboard. File edges if neccessary.

Easy and cute!

You can also just layer it onto chipboard FIRST, stamp and cut once-but I liked this way.

My patterned paper is from a LSS and is unknown! It was scrap-and practically FREE 😀

The prima’s were the perfect touch in my opinion. Liquid pearls in the centers.

My glitter pen’s are back to work! I am waiting to stamp a sentiment in the middel panel-its one of those-any occassions this way! And I LOVE that!

Stay tuned tomorrow for a  Saturday Bella-Beautiful Sketch!!!