Game Night Scorecard Holder

I have made my first hostess gift/door prize! Yaa! I'm feeling more official all the time!!Stamps: Game Night(SU)
Paper: White Cardstock
Ink: Real Red(SU), Black
Accessories: Pentel RSVP pen, Post-It note pad, Acrylic 4x6 photo frame, Tacky tape, Binder clip

You can get the acrylic photo frames at Walmart for $1! You just stamp your paper (or use patterned paper), and slide it in the frame. You can put the sentiment on the paper or on the outside of the frame. I put it on the paper so it wouldn't get caught up and torn off during all the dramatic game playing action! The post-it note pad is adhered with the tacky tape. I also originally planned to use the binder clip to hold the note pad in place too, but liked that it held the pen. So, it can serve double duty if needed. Then I took a piece of the stamped cardstock (1"x3 1/4") and rolled it up into the barrell of the pen. This was kind of a pain because my cardstock was sort of thick. I think patterned paper would go in much easier.

I plan on using this for a door prize at my first open house. I think it will go over well since all of my friends and family are avid game players. If not, then I'll keep it! :)

Strawberry Friends Forever

Stamps: Tart and Tangy(SU), Noteworthy(SU), Pocket Silhouettes(SU)
Paper: DCWV

I really wasn't "feeling" this card when I started making it. It wasn't until the very end that it came together and worked for me. I drew the lines and dotted around the strawberries. I don't know if you can tell by the picture, but the background paper is a very light pink. I rounded the corners with a SU punch. I can't remember the name of it off the top of my head.

I made this based on a CAS challenge. It was a sketch challenge.

It's not very often that I can pull a card back from the brink of the trash can, but I'm glad this one made it! :)

King ATC

It feels like forever since I've posted for the HHN09 challenge. I really enjoy doing this challenge. The crafting part is a lot of fun, but the bible study is great too. This week's name is "King". Pretty much everything on this ATC was done by hand. I drew the crown and stickled it with green and gold. Then I wrote the verse and I drew "King" with a white gel pen.

This was probably the quickest ATC I've made. They usually take a long time for me to think up. I'm either getting the hang of ATC's or I've let clean-and-simple take over my life!! :)

And here I was complaining about the weather...

I just couldn't help myself! I got my hands on the new set "Branch Out" from Stampin' Up, and it was begging to be used for a fall card. I complied.I don't know how I feel about the background paper and brads, but the image didn't look right just sitting, all bored, on a plain piece of green cardstock. I didn't want to distract too much from the tree, so I was hoping this paper would be muted enough. Overall I think it works pretty well.

I used 5 different inks for the leaves. All Stampin' Up. Garden Green, Certainly Celery, Real Red, Summer Sun and Pumpkin Pie. It was a lot of stamping, but I think it looks fuller that way.

I think I will get back to my scrap room and see what the stamp set thinks about winter! :)

Simple Birthday Wishes

I made this card for a friend who is celebrating her 50th birthday! I figured she might not want bold reminders of the milestone, so I made this a clean & simple card. :)Stamp: Stampin' Up - Crazy for Cupcakes (sentiment), Stampabilities (Tree)
Ink: Stampin' Up - Garden Green, Brilliance Pigment - Black, Bic Write-It markers
Technique: Dots with a white gel pen

I am definately a big fan of CAS (clean & simple) cards. I cut the tree out and popped it up with Pop Dots to make it stand out a little more. It really is just as simple as that! So, hopefully this card will help make my friend's birthday a little brighter!

Well, it's done!!

Well, I did it! After years of indecisiveness, I finally surrendered to my overwhelming desire to spend money and signed up to sell Stampin' Up!

How does this relate to my overwhelming desire to spend money, you ask? Well, I am quite sure that all of my profit (and more) will be going directly back to Stampin' Up. *Sigh* There's no sense in pretending. I know myself. I have a problem.

So, you can help me in my recovery! Be a good samaritan and book a party! I understand if you live 800 miles from me. That isn't a problem at all! Just give me your order and I will gladly use it as a step in my recovery. We'll both benefit! You'll get some awesome products and I'll be on my road to healing!! :)

Wish me luck! :)

Bawdy little monkey!

Isn't this little guy just too cute!? (The monkey is pretty sweet too!)

Stamps: CC Designs Digi Stamp
Paper: Bazzill cardstock (from Archiver's)
Embossing: Cuttlebug embossing folder(Spots and Dots)

I am a huge monkey fan! It just makes it that much better to have my little monkey on the page too! :)

Art in unexpected places!

The idea for my latest project came from my cousin. We were at her house a few days ago and she had these clever little things all over her house! Child safety plug cover art! (That's a mouthful!) She had bought them at the local flea market. We decided that they would be easy enough to make ourselves.

So, I went straight to Hobby Lobby and got started!! :)

I bought a pack of wood squares for 99 cents. Everything else I already had. I painted the square black and then stamped the chandelier with paint. I added the little crystals and then glued the plug protector on back with super glue. Soooo easy!!

I also bought a little wooden lighthouse at Hobby Lobby and made a cover for my bathroom. It is so cute!!

These just might become my newest obsession! :)

Beach themed wedding invitation

I have a little business (if you even want to call it that), making wedding/event invitations and such. I mainly work with a local camp/conference center as a part of their event program. If someone wants an all inclusive package, or just my products; I can provide invitations, favors, scrapbooks, cards, etc. All the trimmings! There is currently a bride who is interested in having a beach themed wedding so I have been working on some samples for her. This is the first invitation I have made. I made it a little more elegant so that she could have several options for style and price.

I originally got the idea for this invitation here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/ga...e%20the%20date

I heat embossed the waves at the bottom with holographic embossing powder. I used black ribbon and twine for the bow at top. I printed the wording onto vellum. (I found the wording online). The lighthouse is stamped on cardstock underneath the vellum.

I am happy with how it turned out. It makes me want to have another wedding. To the same man of course!! ;)

Almighty ATC

I finally got a few minutes to work on the next HHN09 challenge. I also got a few moments early this morning to upload the picture. At 8:30am! Why, you may ask? Because someone, with the wrong number, was texting me at that ungodly hour talking to me about cigarettes!!! I considered tracing the call and hunting her down to beat her with her own phone! We are NOT morning people! To top it off someone left the phone in my son's room! Three text message alerts later he was up and so was I. :( Soooo........

Here is my ATC! :)
(Jesus give me mercy!)

The stamp is from Stampabilities. I wrote the verse with a purple SU marker. The edges are inked and distressed. Then I added a self-adhesive jewel to the "y". An easy one! ;)

Now, I am going to try to sneak back to bed. Hold my calls! :)

A little birdie...

Stamp: Inkadinkadoo
Ink: YoYo Yellow (SU), Certainly Celery (SU)
Embossing Folder: Stylized Flowers (Cuttlebu)
Ribbon: Michael's
Technique: Sponge inking on the embossing, Dry embossing, Heat embossing (Clear powder)
Paper: Archiver's

It was a little time consuming to sponge ink the embossed image, but worth it for the overall effect. I used the little fingertip sponges and Stampin' Up ink. I experimented with other inks that were definately "juicier", but in this case SU's less than inky ink worked better.

I embossed the bird with clear embossing powder after I had stamped it with a brown pigment pad. I don't know what I'd do without my clear embossing powder. It's awesome!!

I LOVE Inkadinkadoo stamps. They are so embellished and pretty! The set this bird comes from is called: Birds Galore. I also bought some Halloween Inkadinkadoo stamps last year that are just as cool! They are one of my favorite brands!

This card is a good reflection of my personal taste. It's very earthy and clean. Kind of like me! Minus the clean part...thanks to a very active two year old!! :)

Wacky Bird

I made this card using a free digital stamp. I can't remember the website, unfortunately. I saw the link in a thread on SCS. As soon as I figure it out I will post a link here.

Cardstock: The Sweet Stack (DCWV)
Coloring: Bic Write-It markers
Stickers: Chipboard

I'm slowly starting to use more doodle-ish images on my cards. I never liked this style for the longest time. Now there are so many options that it would be impossible for me not to find something I liked! So, yaa for variety! :)

Why is it still cold??!!

I am still hard at work on spring cards in the hopes of warming the weather up here. So far, it's not working. It's only going to be up in the 30's tomorrow! :(

Not to be deterred, here is my latest wamer weather card:

Stamps: Spring Gifts (Stampin' Up), Sending Happy Thoughts (Hero Arts)

Paper: The Sweet Stack (DCWV)

Coloring: Bic Write-It markers

Extra: Souffle pen, Glitter dust pen

If the weather doesn't improve soon I am going to have to make a hobby store run for more pastel paper! What a shame! ;)

I'm a challenge fool!!

Up until very recently I had never done a challenge. I was kind of chicken. :) Now I do them like they are my job!!

The Greeting Farm posted a challenge to case a card on their blog. The card was cute and a little gothic-y. I decided to use my one and only TGF rubber stamp and make my case a little more "rowdy". :)

Here is the link to the challenge: http://splendidstamping.blogspot.com/2009/03/case-of-curious-card-ii.html

So, I guess it's official. I have gone challenge crazy!!

Monogrammed Mayhem!

I don't usually do much with monogrammed projects. I'm not really sure why. I guess it's because I don't often make projects for my own, personal use. That may all change! :) I've had some offers lately to start my own "invitation" business. While I don't think I'm ready to jump head first into this endeavor, I am excited to try out some ideas. This is the first thing I've worked on with that business in mind.

I cuttlebugged (I'm confident that isn't actually a word) a piece of mint green cardstock with the "Stylized Flower" embossing folder. I added the ribbon and bow over top of some cream paper. Then I stamped the "D" and punched it out with a circle punch and mounted it on brown cardstock that I also punched, with a larger punch.

This really is more of a notecard than an invitation. I will have to push myself in the direction of wedding invites. I'm definately not in that mode!! I'm excited either way to be trying something new and sharing it with anyone who will take a peek!! :)

Verve Visual Sketch Challenge

At the very last minute I read a thread on SCS for a Verve stamps sketch challenge. I whipped up a card and here it is:

Here is a link to the original blog post for the challenge:

http://vervestamps.blogspot.com/2009/03/verve-release-sketch-challenge.html

Wishful spring thinkin'!

Since I refuse to let go of my hope that spring (weather) is really just around the corner I've been inspired to work on some pastel cards.

I am not a pastel kinda girl! I have nothing against soft hues, but I prefer natural and bold primary colors.

This is a card I made last night:

Stamps: Spring Gifts by Stampin' Up
Paper: DCWV The Sweet Stack
Embossing: Sizzix template
Coloring: Bic Write-It markers
Glitter: Stickles White
Ribbon: Michael's

I'm thinking that if I make enough spring cards the weather should start to warm up simply because of my sheer determination! I better work fast!!

I have some pretty fabulous friends! So, in keeping with that theme I decided to make one of them a fabulous birthday card! :)The pattern proved to be a little tricky, but other than that it was an easy card. I just fiddled around with it until I got something remotely resembling a shoe! I used some little jewels to line the shoe and a big, diamond bling at the bottom. The pink ribbon is tied through little slits in the top.

This is the first time I've made a shaped card. I like doing objects on the card freehand, but this was a bit bigger than that! :) I don't know that these will become common place in my scrap room but I still enjoyed making it!

There's always a first time for everything...

So, I entered my first Design Team call! (I didn't make it, but honestly I was SO excited to just enter). I felt like I was stepping up on the scrapping ladder! Since the call is over I thought I'd post the cards I entered. Maybe I can at least get some helpful suggestions for the next go-round! :)

I love this cutie couple! They are very 50's reminiscent. I colored them with my PrismaColor pencils. I am still trying to get the hang of coloring in general. I like the pencils really well though.

This is the second card I submitted. I was trying to do some fancy flower work in the corner. I knotted pink ribbon and then attached the flowers with sparkly brads. I colored the image with Bic Write-It markers.

I love this little guy! He's so cute! I used him for my son's 2nd birthday party cards and favors as well as for the DT call. I colored him with PrismaColor pencils and tried to make it a little bolder. I also traced around the stamped image with a black marker.

I was really pumped to enter this DT call. I knew I had absolutely no chance of making it, but it was fun working on cards that would be judged and not just tossed out! :) The company hosting the DT call was The Greeting Farm. Their stamps are insanely cute! Check them out!

Babies, babies, and more babies!!

It seems like I am making baby cards every day!! I turn around and someone else is pregnant!! :)

I made this card for a friend's sister. She is having a little girl, which is a nice change for me. I haven't gotten to make any little girl...anything! All my friends and family have been having boys! I have a little boy too, so that keeps the pink stowed away!

Here is the card I made today:

Stamps: Stampabilities (baby feet), Stampin' Up (Sentiment)
Ink: Brilliance pigment ink
Background: Cuttlebug Distressed Stripe embossing folder
Embellishments: Brown ribbon from a gift I received at Christmas :)
Technique: Heat embellishment (I used clear embossing powder on the baby feet)

I am a big fan of brown. I love how it looks with pretty much any color. Especially pink, red, and blue. It looks great with most colors.

Well, I guess I am going to have to head back to the scrap room and crank out some more baby cards. I know I will need them sooner or later!

Creator - ATC

When I picked the bible verse I wanted to use for the HHN09 challenge: Creator, I immediately thought of two projects I wanted to do. The scrapbook page below with my son, and an ATC (of course)! I love this verse! It's a great reminder that not only is God our Creator, but He is also our Provider. He hears our prayers! I used a stencil for the butterfly which I inked with sponge daubers in various colors. I tried to continue the color scheme on the edges of the card by inking the sides in each of the colors. I then stickled around the lines of the butterfly wings and added jewels to the ends. The verse is handwritten.

The ink colors I used were: Certainly Celery, Positively Pink, Yo-Yo Yellow, and Orchid Opulence.

God is bigger than anything we can face. Big enough for creation and yet small enough to care for the cries of our hearts!

Praise Him!

Creator - A God who answers prayer!

I decided to do an 8x8 scrapbook page for this challenge in addition to the ATC. (I'm determined to make a whole set!)

I used twine to attach the buttons and create a sort of border along the edge of the picture. I added the circle phrase to the top button so that I could tie in my theme of a Creator who blesses us and hears our prayers.

When I think about God as our creator and how He loves us so much that He created the whole world for us, I think about my son. I am so grateful for him! We didn't think we could even have kids, and then Colson came along!

After praying for seven years to blessed with children, I figured that God did not intend for us to be parents. I wasn't terribly upset. I reminded myself that God works everything for our good. I just thought that my good did not include children. Within a few months I found out I was pregnant!!

We haven't stopped rejoicing since!!

I am so thankful for a creator who loves us and doesn't stop blessing us! Even in spite of ourselves!!

Laminin?

To think, that so many people wonder where God is. He's so close! You don't have to look far! He's as close as your own cells!

The "glue" of our cells. The very thing that holds us together, literally, forms the shape of ultimate love!! The cross that Jesus died on, so that we could have eternal life!

Check out this video for a better explanation:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_e4zgJXPpI4

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I've read arguments against this presentation. I mean really bitter people doing their best to bash the faith of believers. My thoughts are, if you believe in something, then believe. It's as simple as that. You don't have to explain everything in order to believe.

For example, I know that the brakes of my car work to slow the car down and eventually bring it to a stop. I don't have to go to school and become a mechanic in order to know that I have brakes and what they are for. I have faith that they are there. I've never seen them, but they are there. I trust that when I tap my brake pedal my car will stop. That's it. I don't need cynics or believers to convince me either way. I tried my brakes and they worked! I trusted God and He has always been there! In the really bad times He's been my rest and in the (many) great times He's been my joy!

I have faith that there is a God. Faith. And that's ALL I need. Granted, I have come across plenty of proof in my life and studies, but it's circumstantial. If I didn't have one single fact to back up my faith, it wouldn't make a difference.

Some say that faith is ignorance and a desperate attempt to explain the unexplainable. Why does it matter? Every time a Christian believes does an atheist lose a brain cell? It's curious that people are so threatened by the faith of Christians.

I say that faith is hope, and who doesn't need a little hope in their lives?

If atheists are entitled to their beliefs, then I am certainly entitled to mine. When it's my time to die it won't matter if I argued with self-righteous atheists, it won't matter if people thought my beliefs were foolish. All that will matter, it that I was right. Because if I'm not it won't matter for anything! But if I am, then how unfortunate it will be to have been an atheist!

Protector ATC

I have finally caught up with the "His Holy Name 2009" challenges! Yaa!

Protector.

I stamped the cardstock with brown Brilliance ink using a Paisley background stamp(All stamps by Stampabilities). I wrote the verse in dark brown. Then I stamed, cut-out, and popped up a small paisly flourish and put it in the corner of the card. The twine is glued around the edges (that was a little tricky!).

The verse is Psalm 18:2 - You are my mighty rock, my fortress, my protector, the rock where I am safe, my shield, my powerful weapon, and my place of shelter.

I love that verse! It's so powerful and comforting. The rock where I am safe. There is no better place to be than in the rock!