take 5...

We are still appreciating our teachers. Yesterday, this is what I sent in for Miss O'Grady. She's really a sweet lady. She is substituting for our regular teacher, who is out on maternity leave. Miss O'Grady will be leaving us soon and I will miss her. She is new to teaching and I wish her luck in her career.

I whipped out this box book in no time with my Scor-Pal (love it!!). It's held together with a ribbon that was dyed with a Copic marker. It opens up and inside is a scene similar to this one in front. I didn't get it made in time for my son to take it to school *and* get a pic of the inside.

Inside the boxes are take5 candy bars. Yum :)

supplies
stamps: papertrey ink springtime doodles, mega mixed messages
ink: memento tux black
paper: dcwv nana's nursery baby boy, black scrap
accessories:may arts ribbon, copic markers, stickles

a note for coffee lovers...

I made these notes for my daughters teacher. She loves coffee. I wasn't sure what her favorite color is, so I used Cameo Coral and Blush Blossom because... well they're MY favorite colors! I love the feel of Paper Tray cardstock for note cards. They are so sturdy with a hint of texture. It just makes me want to write a note. I made some matching envelopes in case she wanted to mail them or just have a nice put together set :) Each note card was edged with a coordinating Copic Marker.

... and what set would be complete without a handy dandy notebook? I simply cover some coasters with chocolate paper, edged it with a paint dabber layered up an image and slapped it on. The sentiment is on the inside cover. She loved it!

supplies
stamps: pti warm happiness
ink: su cameo coral, blush blossom, chocolate chip,
paper: su cameo coral, blush blossom, chocolate chip, whisper white, pti white
accessories: assorted pti, su and scrap ribbons, adirondack acrylic paint dabber in salmon, copic marker, bind it all

folded joy...

How great are these google eyes on this PTI Wise Owl? *love it!* This patterned paper is by scrapworks... wanna guess where I got it? WooHoo for using up old stuff! I can't believe how into this vsn challenge I was. Of course I had to do it landscape... FUN!

supplies
stamps:pti Wise Owl
ink: su regal rose, baroque burgundy
paper: su cranberry crisp, regal rose, scrapworks patterned papers
accessories: su cranberry crisp stitched ribbon, sponge dauber, piercing template and tool, google eyes

booted...

For this VSN challenge we were to "take a stamp set you don’t like, and incorporate it into a lovely, luscious card". This set is bittersweet for me. It surely is one I *had to have* the very second it was released but aside from the strawberry stamps I just can't ever get it to work for me... and I really don't think this car was any exception. I don't *hate* it. I just don't like it!

supplies
stamps: pti green thumb
ink: su pretty in pink, pti ripe avocado
paper: pti ripe avocado, american crafts a la mode fondant
accessories: star dust stickles, su so saffron twill, michaels pearls

a little sketchy...

Can you guess what this is? Did you say a VSN Sketch Challenge? If so, you're right! This red flower isn't really this fluorescent... it's more of a true red but I can't get it to photograph :(

supplies
stamps: pti faux ribbon
ink: pti ripe avocado, pretty in pink
paper: american crafts a la mode fondant, su pretty in pink, barely banana, georgia pacific white
accessories: primas, dmc floss, wooden button, nesties, sponge daubers, michael's pearl

giggling flowers...

This image just makes me smile. It's sooo cute and girlie like my daughter. She tries to keep up with her brother, but she loves all things girl. She isn't into playing dolls and Barbies, she is mechanically inclined and plays with k'nex and her computer (and wii of course!) but she loves to draw and she also loves to do things to her hair (she really likes to braid it wet so it's curly and she already told me she wants to color it) and she loves to paint her fingernails. She also likes to dress up. Did I mention her love of stuffed animals (UGH!!!)

This Stamping Bella image was snagged from Georgann along with others, so I don't know much else about it. I colored her with copics. The sentiment is from faux ribbon by Paper Tray and it was stamped with su old olive classic ink. Oh, and the paper! The paper is by American Crafts, from the a la mode line and is from Tuesday Morning. I got a pack of 25 sheets for just $1.99! So since I have a large pack be prepared to see more of it (and the other two packs I bought).

supplies
stamps: stamping bella; paper tray faux ribbon
ink: unknown black, su old olive
paper: american crafts a la mode fondant
accessories: ribbon from my stash, copic markers as shown

another teacher's notebook...

Last week I gave my daughter's teacher a piggy notebook. Well, she has two teachers and I didn't want the other teacher to feel left out. So this week the other teacher gets hers!

I was inspired to create this book simply by the stamp set. And with all the yummy birthday PTI goodies around lately I *had* to use my PTI inks, papers and ribbons. It started as a test to see how well the spring moss would look with the aqua mist. It's hard to see in the photo because of the shimmery stickles but the stamps was inked in spring moss and rock and rolled into the aqua mist ink. I really really like it. I didn't want too much shine, so I only glittered the aqua mist leaves... and it added just what I was looking for! I *LOVE* when that happens... like what, once a year! I didn't want the tree floating, so a squiggle with my copic YG63 grounded it.

supplies
stamps: su trendy trees
ink: pti spring moss, aqua mist and dark chocolate
paper: pti spring moss, aqua mist and dark chocolate
accessories: pti spring moss, aqua mist and dark chocolate ribbons, another clearance spiral notebook from borders, stickles, copic marker, sewing machine

little notes...

I am always rushing at the end of the school year trying to get things done, so this year I am determined that these note cards will be done by Valentines day!
I couldn't make these work with the lines stamped so what I did was stamped a clear transparency sheet, laid that on my makeshift light box (a desk lamp pointed up with my Cuttlebug B plate on it) and stamped the design. The edges of each card were colored with a not quite navy marker. I think it really makes really nice yet subtle edge. The last card in this set was done on different paper. I like it on the Gina K paper better. My goal is to make four sets with different patterns and a cute box for them to sit on the teachers desk.

I hope he likes them.

supplies
stamps: pti guide lines, ms flourished monograms, target alpha
ink: bashful blue, not quite navy
paper: gina K 80# pure luxury white
accessories: not quite navy marker

life is what you make it...

My daughter *hearts* Hanna Montana and my guess is if you have a daughter aged 4-14 yours does too.

There was a little incident at her preschool... I am still unclear of the details and if you ask her she will bawl and it's hard enough to deal with four year old hormones when she has a real reason to be whining. Anywho... we made this card for her friend Kaitlyn to say sorry.

The mandatory stickles on the rose weren't quite dry but it needed to go or we'd be late for school.

supplies:

stamps: disney

paper: dcwv, pti

ink: pti berry sorbet, palette noir

accessories: stickles, pti berry sorbet double stitched ribbon

single layers...

I am making some single layer cards to add to my sale stash. Some of the teachers at my daughters school were asking about mailing the bulkier cards and I thought this was a good way to resolve those fears. I created a mask out of acetate and stippled the centers. For the butterfly, I stippled in bashful blue and then stamped in rose red with the sentiment in black craft. Then I outlined the entire area in stickles. For the flower, I stippled in barely banana, then stamped the flowers in pale plum and the sentiment in basic black. I added the heidi swapp gems in the center of each flower then outlined in gold stickles.

supplies:

stamps: butterfly if happiness from su, flower garden from pti

paper: pti white

accessories: heidi swapp gems, stipple brush, stickles

a bit of vino...

I love this Bella! Isn't she beautiful?
I really don't know what I was thinking when I made this goofy card! I do like how it looks closed though. The opening is at the blue scalloped layer and Bella flips up with it... so it's a tri fold card. The *celebrate* sentiment also lifts with Bella. I think I'd like it better if I had attached that to the card base and only Bella lifted with the flap. She is colored with Copic markers and her dress is covered with stickles.
supplies:
paper: MME dotted card stock, SU always artichoke and ballet blue card stock
stamps: stamping bella, pti (sentiment)
accessories: stickles, martha stewart scallop border punch, su word window punch

birthday bella...

I've been trying to use up some scraps and also some more of that double sided card stock. I found almost a whole pack and I really want to use it up, so I am sorry if you get bored with it... at least it's in five different colors combinations. I wanted to soften up the designer paper so I scalloped the edge of this vellum and I really like the way it came out. Bella is colored with Copic markers and her purse has some glaze on it.

supplies:

designer paper by su, vellum is out of a college catalog my son got two years ago

stamps: stamping bella; pti

accessories: random ribbon from my stash; martha stewart punch, copic markers

replenishing the stash...

So, one of my daughters teachers from last asked to buy some of my cards. I immediately went to my stash, pulled out the bestest ones and put them into a decorated lunch pail. I punches some scallops and cut some scrap card stock to make some dividers for pricing. She bought five *and* placed an order for cards matching a set I gave her last year at the end of the year. She is such a wonderful lady! This card is going into my sale stash. I put a little bit of stickles on the flower petals. It's hard to see in this photo, sorry 'bout that! I love the photos everyone takes with the natural light and I have been experimenting with different times of the day. Any input is appreciated. I know this light is kinda harsh... I don't get morning light so that isn't an option for me :(
supplies:
PTI stamps; stampin up more mustard ink
unknown card stock, CK designer paper
sponge dauber, Prima flowers, unknown bauble, stickles

birthday princess...

This is another card I did with SUs Pretty Princess set. I used some baby bling on her crown and three larger gems on the lower right. Stickles on the star on her wand and also on the heart on her crown.

supplies:

stamps: pretty princess by stampin up, faux ribbon by pti

ink: stampin up basic black, regal rose, markers

paper: unknown card stock base, stampin up patterned paper

accessories: gems, stickles

hello friend...

My new toys from Jacksonbelle came in a few days ago and I got to play with the Basic Gray Boxer papers today.

I really love the look of sewing on cards but I just can't be bothered with pulling out my machine. Besides, I really don't know how to sew. The stitching on this card was done with some DCWV rub-ons from my stash that I have had forever.

The Chip accent was covered with the boxer paper as well. I really don't enjoy covering chip with paper because I can never seem to trim it out in a way that I am happy with. This chip was a bright teal and really needed to be covered.A smidge of teal showed thru so I colored the edges with a navy marker. Anyone know a great way to trim? I just use my Xacto for now.

The red card base is a very small part of some EK Success 18x18 (yes, really) cardstock that I got at my local AC Moore yesterday. It was 25 cents per sheet and I bought four. Who could resist that? I put it on my We R Memories magnetic cutting mat, lined with up diagonally with the corners of the square and used the 45* angle as my guide. I actually cut it more accurately with my Xacto knife than I usually can on my guillotine cutter.

Stamps by Paper Trey Ink

Cardstock base by EK Success (red chrysanthemum)

Boxer Patterned Paper by Basic Gray

Ribbon from Stampin' Up!

Flowers from Prima

Metal frame and flower brad from Stampin' Up!

Gems by Heidi Swapp

Chipboard from Colorbok

a splitcoast shoebox swap in pa

This card was created for a Splitcoast Summer Bash shoebox swap that will be held next month not too far from my house. I expect the drive to be about an hour. I can't wait to meet these wonderful SCS ladies!! Especially Tracy Tripp. Tracy was my big DDSS over at Splitcoast a few rounds back and she is the just sweetest thing ever! She spoiled me big time!

This card was cased from PTI Nichole Heady's Blog. I knew I wanted to use this set to do a shirt like the one she did. So when I went back to her shirt post, I also cased the card under it a tad... thanks Nichole!

Speaking of Nichole's shirt idea... I couldn't wait for my new sets to arrive. So Abby got a few cute new t-shirts made out of her old winter undershirts. Way to recycle. That a few less summer shirts I have to buy her, and she really loves that I took the time to make her something, It really amazes me how excited my little ones are to receive a hand stamped ... anything... from me! Abby's shirt will get posted soon!

Recipe:

PTI Flower Garden

Burgundy linen cardstock from A C Moore

Hammermill 110# white

SU Certainly Celery cardstock

SU Baroque Burgundy Ink

SU Certainly Celery ink

Colorbox pink pastel chalk ink

SU Burgundy 1/4 inch grosgrain ribbon

Michael's Baubles

Michael's Shimmery white flower, colored pale pink with an RV93 Smoky Purple Copic marker

SU Slit Punch (for scallop)