big dreams...

I got this paper last August at CKC and I am only now cutting into it. I just *had* to have in last summer though! The Piggy Tales booth had everything at fantastic prices though! Who could resist? You?? Ha!

I put liquid applique on the poof of smoke coming out of the rocket and the whole rocket is popped up on dimentionals. It's hard to see in the pic, and I am not very good at close up shots yet but the entire rocket is colored with glitter pens... very shimmery.

supplies
stamps: ctmh reach for the stars
ink: su real red, palette noir
paper: pti white, gina k white, piggy tales chicken little the sky is falling and henny penny, green scrap
accessories: liquid applique, decocolor glitter paint markers, nestabilities, martha stewart scallop punch, nesties

still...

Yup... still making journals! I can't help it!

This one had a really ugly print on it, but because it was printed on kraft paper instead of something glossy like they usually are, I painted it with some black craft paint. I can't really say where the paint was from because I think it came in a kit... maybe it is by Making Memories. Anyway, I used the whole tube on this little book (woohoo something gone from my hoarding stash!) I can't even remember where or when I bought it. How sad is that?? This was for my son's teacher for his birthday. I made a matching card and it looked pretty much just like this so I am not uploading it. It's almost the same :)

supplies
stamps: su branch out, happiness is a journey
ink: brilliance graphite black, su close to cocoa, garden green, really rust
paper: su garden green, really rust
accessories: sponge daubers, notebook (yup, clearance at borders)

for beate's sketch...

This is getting old, but this image was snagged from Georgann. YES! I did leave her some, I promise! I cut it out with my nestabilities dies, and I colored it with the same Copic markers I used the other day when I colored the other image. On this one, I used frosted lace stickles (I rarely use real stickles but I did today!).

To follow Beate's WSC68 sketch, I cut the circles with my coluzzle. The green bottom layer was scalloped with my SU corner rounder. I didn't decorate the inside yet, but I will :)

supplies
stamps: stamping bella
ink: black
paper: su so saffron, american crafts a la mode fondant
accessories: nestabilities, frosted lace stickles, mm paper flowers and brad

our nation's history...

This weekend we spent some time at Historical Valley Forge National Park for some reenactment shows. If you're ever in the area, check out the park. It has amazingly beautiful views not to mention wonderful American History.

Here's some of the great performances we saw today:

Firing the muskets

marching in formation

preparing the cannon to fire (boy was that thing LOUD!)

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

still making notebooks...

Can you tell I am having a ball making these notebooks? Love 'em!

I inked up Branch Out from SU for this one. I originally made this as a teachers gift, but I think it's going to my brother because we had a tire swing when we were kids and this book just makes me think of him... and that one time he fell on the picnic table swinging from it *snort*. I hope he likes it :)

supplies
stamps: su branch out
ink: pti dark chocolate, su garden green, sahara sand and basic black
paper: su whisper white, garden green, and basic black
accessories: another one of those great notebooks from borders!

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

cozy kids....

My husband bought me a *slanket* for Christmas. The kids love it so today I am making one for each of them. If you don't know what a slanket is, it's similar to a *snuggli*. Pretty much, it's a blanket with sleeves. I used some SU purely pomegranate satin ribbon to edge it. I will add my son's tomorrow... I am still sewing that one!

digging these challenges...

I have so been digging playing along with the challenges on SCS. I am totally going to have to play more often! Saturday is the inspiration challenge and I was inspired by this mug and some fun new things from Stampin' Up that Georgann brought me.

I covered the chip board birds in the SAB delicate dots paper. The ribbon is some long retired ribbon that's been in my stash since I was a demo! I stamped off to subdue the SU not quite navy ink a little.

supplies
stamps: pti faux ribbon
ink: su not quite navy
paper: su delicate dots, so saffron, bashful blue
accessories: su so tweet on board, making memories paper flowers, heidi swapp brad, googlie eyes, su beachfront ribbon originals

wear red...

(Last) Friday was National Wear Red day so I decided it was finally time to finish up this card. I stamped and colored this to give to my friend who had heart surgery years ago. I didn't finish it till now so I will be sending this off to her soon :) Yay, one more thing off my french board!

I colored and stamped the shirt with my su markers in real red and basic black. Colored the ribbon with my Copic markers and went over it with my clear copic atyou spica marker. The real red panel was pierced with my ornare stencil and a red gem was placed in the center of the flower. The SU basic gray layer was scalloped with my Martha Stewart punch and smaller gems were placed over the small hole that remained from the punch.

supplies
stamps: melanie muenchinger for gina k. designs
ink: su real red, basic black
paper: pti white, su real red, basic black and basic gray
accessories: copic markers, michael's gems

a gift for you...

I picked up this tag from a blogging friend Jorge... oh wait... it was Jen!. It sounded like a lot of fun :) so I am game. I hope you are too!

This game involves a few of my favorite things: handmade goods, creativity, and gift-giving. Here are the tagging instructions: The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year. (might be a little while)
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.

The first 5 people to do so, and leave a comment telling me they did, win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Feel free to tell me some of the things in life that inspire you & make you happy in your post :)

144 inklings...

This weeks Inkling over at SCS was this fun crimped envelope card. I changed mine up a little from the sample and directions they have on Splitcoast. On the tutorial, the top portion slides over the bottom. Mine butts up. I needed the extra space for the long image. I also attached my insert to the top because I wanted it to slide out when you pulled the top off. I plan on doing another one following the directions next time ;)

So, I forget where I got these totally kewl shimmery envelopes. They have been in my stash forever because I *knew* I needed them... I just didn't know why till yesterday! I sponged the envelope with close to cocoa on the edges and it really gives a nice golden glow. I really really like it! I also covered the mugs with crystal effects because they were just too blah against the shimmery envelope. The ce really made them pop.

I can't wait to play with this technique again. It surely was a load of fun! Check out the link to SCS so you can give it a try too. I know you're gonna love it too!





supplies
stamps: flourishes coffee with friends
ink: su close to cocoa, palette noir and brilliance graphite black
paper: su close to cocoa, cameo coral, shimmery envelope
accessories: ornare template, piercing tool, may arts ribbon, crystal effects

thinking about gina...

for Gina K.

supplies
stamps: winter foliage, say it with flowers
ink: mellow moss, old olive
paper: old olive, bordering blue very vanilla, vellum
accessories: brown machine stitching

smile piggy...

My daughter's teacher loves pigs. I made this as an *end of year* present but I think I am going to give it to her tomorrow. Why wait when I know I am going to get suckered into giving the homeroom mom money as well. I also got her the cutest little piggy hat at Michael's :D
The notebook was leftover Christmas junk they had at Border's. I think it was about $1.25.
I hope she likes it.

supplies
stamps: cornish heritage farms
ink: memento tuxedo black
paper: stampin up rose red, barely banana and rose red dsp
accessories: copic markers, various ribbons (mostly may arts), metallic *smile* sticker by colorbok, paperchaise notebook