Dear Lizzy...I need a new punch.

OK....so my post title TOTALLY cracks me up! Yup...I do crack myself up...usually on a daily basis. Sometimes even more than once a day! Git-r-done!

When I was stamping the sentiment for this card...I decided I "NEED" a smaller set of brackets. Not that the ones I used are bad...but I think THESE would be better. AND...while I was snoopin' 'round...I found like a dozen other punches I "need." Hey..I can't help it that cool new stuff keeps comin' out all the time.

Enough of that...I wanna show you my card.

I just love the Dear Lizzy Spring Line from American Crafts. The adhesive backed fabric paper is soooo cool! To make the flower, stem and leaves...I hand cut pieces from the fabric paper and just stick it down. Simple. I stamped the new Marigold Solid image from A Muse on kraft cardstock. It's one of my favorite stamps from the new release. Aww heck...who am I tryin' to kid...I like ALL the new stamps in the collection.

White gel pen for the faux stitching. Grass was super easy to make with MS Fringe Scissors. Do YOU have those? If not....you NEED them! LOL! For the sentiment (hi friend from A Muse) I cut it out by hand...'cause I wanted it that way. I cut the sun out by hand too. I felt like a kid makin' this card. "Look what I made mom!" hee hee hee


So what do YOU think...smaller brackets?

Recipe:
Stamps - A Muse Artstamps Hi Friend, Marigold Solid
Paper - White and Kraft CS; American Crafts Dear Lizzy Spring Collection
Ink - Clearsnap Colorbox Chalk Papcorn; Versafine Black
Misc. - DeNami Mimi's White Buttons; Hemp Cord; Signo White Gel Pen; Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch and Fringe Scissors; EK Success Brackets Punch; Ultrafine Crystal Glitter; Sakura Quickie Glue Pen; Foam Tape

You Know Too Much!

Do you have a friend like this? :)

This is a stamp from Stampabilities. I've had a lot of fun playing around with this one! I actually had an Easter stamp in my hand that I was going to buy...and then saw this. I had to think for a minute which one I wanted more...and of course this stamp won! I figure it can be used all the time vs. an Easter stamp only once a year. Have you seen the new line of stamps from Stampabilities called Gruffies? WAY CUTE! Go check them out here.



Card 1: Just some random misc pieces of patterned paper/cardstock and I inked up the edges directly from the ink pad. The base is White Textured CS from Bazzill. Image stamped with Adirondack Expresso and then colored with Prismacolor Pencils, Prismacolor Markers, SU Markers. Copic Spica Clear Glitter pen here and there for some sparkle. The card base I cut 3/4 inch longer and then scored and folded over. Scalloped the edge with small corner rounder. The Brown ribbon is wrapped around the back of the card by punching a hole and then wrapping the ribbon around the front - then around to the back - then pull both ends through the single hole and tie in front. (no adhesive or glue on ribbon) The pink flowers I used a Glitter Gems Pen - Ruby Red from American Crafts. And I used the Glitter Gems Pen to dot the middle of the punched out flowers.



Card 2: The layout for this card is based on Card Sketch Challenge SC163 from Splitcoaststampers. This card base is White Textured CS from Bazzill. SU Cardstock in Certainly Celery, Close to Cocoa and Bliss Blue (retired). SU Designer Series Double-sided Paper - Petal Patch (retired). Image stamped with Adirondack Expresso and then colored with Prismacolor Pencils, Prismacolor Markers, SU Markers. Copic Spica Clear Glitter pen here and there for some sparkle. The blue flower was stamped on the blue cardstock and embossed with white embossing powder. Cut out and put a knot in the ribbon and stuck it through the middle of flower and wrapped the ends around the layer. The brown brads are from CTMH - they match SU Close to Cocoa perfect. Paper piercing using the StampinUP paper piercing guide from the Mat Pack. Layer with stamped image is popped up with dimensionals.

Click here for SCS Card Sketch SC163 details and layout.
Click here for SC163 Gallery.

Sweet Slumber

A Sweet Treat from Penny Black

I saw this stamp at my favorite Stamp Store - Stamp Works. It's called Sweet Slumber by Penny Black. I wanted to buy it but there was a class that was using this stamp for one of the cards they were making that same day. So....my head hung low....and I had to leave that day without it :( I told Nic (the owner) that if she had one left after the class it was mine! Well, lucky me...cause she had one left and it's mine now! LOL

So here is the first card I made with it. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Recipe:

• Image stamped on SU Whisper White with Black Stazon


• Colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol.


• Cards Base Bazzill Black and SU Real Red and Whisper White


• Stamped Pattern Stamp from SU Petite Designs with Black Colorbox Pigment Ink on Real Red CS then embossed with clear.


• I also used used a Silver Metalic Marker from American Crafts on the candy wrappers and then colored over that a little with a glitter pen.


• The red on top of the candies is colored with Red Spica Glitter Pen. I also ran the Clear Spica Glitter Pen down the stripes of the candy box and on the bow.


• "Be Mine" on the tag is from a CTMH set called All My Love.

I'm going to make another card...of course! I want to try with more pinks and glitter. :)

(added note 2/14/08 -- I gave this card to Michaela for Valentine's Day. She really loved it!)

My first Criss Cross Card

60 is better than 1!

One of the many things I've been doing this past week is making baby shower invitations. I got the idea for this card from Amanda. Check out Amanda's card HERE -- it's awesome! Click HERE for a wonderful Criss Cross Card Tutorial by Beate Johns on SCS. These are super easy to make and are tooooo cute!

My first Criss Cross Card isn't just 1 card.....it's 60 of them! :) Fun Fun Fun!!



I noticed after taking the pic above that the insert for the card wasn't in perfectly straight for the Kodak Moment! Oops! The pic below is the insert pulled out slightly so you can see it a little better.



The envelopes I ran through the printer for the return address. I set the text RGB color for the invitations and envelopes to match StampinUP Chocolate Chip Ink. Check out Marni's Blog StampMonkeys for all the codes to match SU Colors. Can you see the prego mom I stamped? Click on the pic to see it bigger and closer. Totally cute!! It's a stamp from MissyB Designs. I stamped it with Tsukineko VersaMagic Pixie Dust. "You're invited" and "Welcome Little One" are stamped using SU Chocolate Chip Classic.



Here's the rest of my "secrets" for the card :)

Paper: American Crafts -Baby Gretel (Dots) and Little Lamb (Stripes); White, Brown and Pink Cardstock from Bazzill

Ribbon: American Crafts - Baby; Unknown for the Pink stuff

Stamps: StampinUP! - Riveting (Welcome Little One); CTMH - Simple Invites (You're invited)

Punches: StampinUP! - Scalloped Circle, 1 3/8" Circle, 1 1/4" Circle

Inks: StampinUP! - Classic Chocolate Chip; Tsukineko VersaMagic - Pixi Dust

I used Dimensionals to pop-up the brown circle from the scalloped circle and again for the Welcome Little One circle up off the brown circle. I didn't wrap the brown and white bands all the way round. They are 5 1/2" strips - brown is 1" and white is 3/4".

I had to hold myself back from using brads & other girlie sparkly stuff cause these are being mailed. Who knows what that would have done for the postage!

Happy Anniversary Nic!

WHAT SALE?

Every Saturday one of my favorite stores - Stamp Works has a $1 Make-n-Take. My 6 year old daughter Michaela and I like to go and then shop around the store for those "gotta have" goodies. So....when we headed over there this morning we had NO idea there was a big 1 Year Anniversary celebration going on! You know what that means....more goodies get to come home with us!

Oh yes...you know it....I got ALL EXCITED! 20% off everything in the store! FREE Make-n-Takes, Door Prize Drawings and Refreshments! Somebody hold me back!! Now this is the way to start off your day! To start off I grabbed the Silhouette Dress stamp I have been looking at everytime I go there.

A Dot Background stamp jumped off the shelf right into my basket. Then I spotted the "what's brewing?" saying that I had to have because it's PERFECT for the Like it a Latte stamp set from Stampin' UP! Then a fun Postage Stamp Frame stamp was looking for a new home -- so yah -- it found ME.

What about Bellas? Haven't you got a Bella yet? Well...OK...I guess I need one of those too! How could I resist the Stacyfisabella since I have been making fish stuff for Father's Day! LOL. So that was easy to pick and the 2 sayings to go with it - "Wish Big" and "Worm Wishes."

Hummm....what's this?......Glow in the Dark Embossing Powder? Way cool! Pewter Mini Spiral Clips? What the heck. Finally, to top it all off with some Sparkle -- Aqua Stickles. Yep - that should do it!

***Today's Make-n-Take Card***

Thanks Nic for a year of great customer service! You are so darn cute & always have a smile on your face! And Michaela LOVED her special treat. An adorable box filled with American Crafts goodies!