Monkey See, Monkey Stamp

Birdie Congrats Card

2011-03-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

Today was my boss's last day as my boss. She's not leaving the company; rather, she's taking a new position within the company. So to congratulate her on her new position and show her appreciation for all she's done for me, I made her this card for our team to sign.

I had meant to make her a card sooner than last night, but being in a state of ennui, among other things, I found myself on Thursday night with no card in sight. Since sitting at my table until genius struck would have me waiting for a long, long time, I decided to use an old Sweet Sunday sketch as my base. And since I haven't been coloring/stamping anything in a really long time (seriously, I think I've forgotten how to color and blend), I thought I better stick to pattern paper and dies.

I had yet to use my Cosmo Cricket Togetherness paper pack, so I figured now was as good a time as any to use it. I die cut felt flower's using PaperTreyInk's Flower dies #3. I layered 4 felt flowers on top of each other so it made the card seriously poofy but seriously groovy. I topped the flower center off with a PTI button tied with a bit o' rustic twine. Then I stamped a simple PTI sentiment in dark gray ink.

Card Details

Stamps: Communique Sentiments

Paper: PTI kraft cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Togetherness paper pack

Ink: Fresh Ink (slate)

Accessories: MFT linen ribbon, PTI flower die #3, PTI Harvest Gold button, PTI rustic twine, felt

Simple Card Set

2011-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

My SIL's birthday is coming up, so I decided to make her a simple and elegant card set.

I made a set up 10 notecards, all cut with the PTI Edger's die #1 on the bottom edge. There are 4 "Thank You" cards, 3 cards with the initial of her first name, and 3 cards with the initial of her last name.

Here is the card set packaged up simply with a string of black satin ribbon.

I stamped all 10 envelopes with the initial of her last name. The "Thank You" notecard was stamped with an image from PTI Vintage Labels and Inside & Out: Thank You. There are tiny crystal embellishments on the Vintage Labels image, but it might be hard to see.

Here is the notecard with the initial of her first name, using PTI Simply Stationary & Fresh Alphabet.

Here is the notecard with the initial of her last name, again using PTI Simply Stationary & Fresh Alphabet.

Card Details

Paper: Stardream Chiara opal notecard

Stamps: PTI Vintage Labels, Inside & Out: Thank You, Simply Stationary, Fresh Alphabet

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: Michael's black satin ribbon, Memory Box crytal stickers, PTI Edgers dies #1

Hubby Birthday Redux

2011-02-06T07:39:00.000-08:00

It's my hubs' birthday! Happy Birthday Redux, Hubs!

Hehe...I couldn't resist adding "redux" to the title. Which is silly b/c birthdays happen every year so it's "redux-ing" all the time. But seriously, redux is badass and so, I use it frequently and shamelessly.

Anyhoo, here's the card that I made for my hubs. Ok, yes, it's a bit girly and sparkly, but my hubs knows a nice card when he sees it and is therefore appreciative of it. :)

Anyhoo, here's the card:

I used a Stardream Chiara opal notecard and ran PTI's Edger's Dies #1 along the bottom. I cut PTI True Black cardstock, ran it through PTI's Moroccan Motifs impression plate. Then I cut the bottom using the same Edgers Dies to make a pretty coordinating mat. On another piece of opal cardstock, I used PTI's Communique Curves for the sentiment, and some embellishment stamps from PTI's Simply Stationary set. Then I got excessively blingy and lined the top and bottom with strips of Memory Box crystal stickers. I decided not to line the entire top and bottom edges with crystals b/c it seemed out of the ordinary for me not to do it...also seemed a bit more "artistic" to do it the way I did. IDK. Anyhoo, then I finished off the bling explosion with more crystal stickers on the Simply Stationary embellishment stamps. hehe...

Sooo awesome, dude. :)

Card Details
Stamps: PaperTrey Ink Communique Curves & Simply Stationary

Cardstock: Stardream Chiara opal, PTI True Black

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black

Accessories: Memory Box crystal stickers, Michael's crystal stickers, PTI Edgers dies #1 & Moroccan Motif impression plate

Favorite PTI Card of the Past Year

2011-02-04T23:18:00.000-08:00

PTI is hosting an awesome giveaway in celebration of their anniversary and wants people to re-post their favorite self-made PTI creation of the past year. Hands down, it's gotta be this Anthropologie-inspired card. Click here for the original post.

I call it my one shining moment of channeling DMV!! :)

Final Tags Redux!

2010-12-20T20:11:00.000-08:00

I've been in a state of ennui. Lots of reasons why, but the result is sad - no motivation to do any stamping despite the rather embarrassingly large pile of uninked stampies haunting me in my sleep.

I wasn't planning on making any more tags, but my sister asked me if I could pull myself out of my rut and make her just 6 tags. Since I happened to have these Tiny Treats: Christmas images punched out and colored, I really didn't have an excuse not to make any tags. But really, picking the right DP to use and determining a layout is harder than it sounds, especially when you are in a state of ennui.

Anyhoo, I decided to make simple, blingy tags. I might've over-blinged but eh, it's fine with me.

Here's a cute little gingerbread man with blingy buttons and a jolly Santa.

My sister said these tags are going to go on presents that she got for us. I sure hope I get the reindeer one (e.g. I better get the reindeer one back!).

Since I only had 5 PTI Tiny Treats images (the nutcracker one was a bit creepy), I had to reuse the jolly Santa.

Merry Christmas!

Details

Stamps: PTI Tiny Treats: Christmas

Paper: PTI kraft cardstock, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses, Basic Grey Mitten Weather, October Afternoon Very Merry

Ink: Copics, Memento black, VersaMagic ink

Accessories: PTI Tag Sale #2, PTI Limitless Layers, Memory Box jewel stickers, Michael's jewel stickers, Divine Twine, circle punch

Christmas Tags Redux!

2010-11-13T07:00:00.000-08:00

I dig the word "redux." Ever since my bro-in-law pointed out that it sounds more badass than "revisited" because it has an "x" in it, I find that I must use it at every opportunity presented.

Redux. Bad.Ass.

Anyhoo, I digress. So today are MORE holiday tags. I made these for my MIL to use for whomever she feels like using them for - possibly for the peeps receiving one of those stationary sets I made for her.

On a recent CD with Jamie, we were super productive. It most likely had to do with her predetermined decision to kick me out of her house by 5pm* that lit a fire under our butts to crank out all the images and shapes we wanted from the other's stamps/dies. I even brought my own Cuttlebug so we wouldn't have to wait and take turns using her's. We can't share, can you tell? heheh...

* Note: She wasn't being a hardass...she had a concert to go to that night. :)

The tags below are influenced by the fabulous Dawn McVey. She came up with these great Vintage Ornament dies to coordinate with her stamp set from last year and Jamie was SOLD. And I benefited from it by cranking out a stack of these shapes in awesome Memory Box Xmas paper. I digs... *sigh*

So since I was giving these away and would most likely be used on people who would just toss them, I decided to keep them simple - but still cute! I stuck to a single color scheme for the tags using aqua ornaments (aqua/red/kraft), and a different color scheme for the tags using red ornaments (red/green/kraft).

I came up with 3 different layouts for the aqua ornaments:

Then I mimicked 2 of the aqua layouts for the red ornament layouts below.

I did go a bit overboard with the red jewel stickers (below) but dude, it looks sooo pretty! So blingy! So shiny!

Details
Stamps: PTI Holiday Tags 2010, PTI Tin Types, Memory Box Vintage Ornaments (stamp image on ornament), TCP Give a Little (sentiment)
Paper: October Afternoon Very Merry, PTI kraft, Memory Box Xmas paper
Ink: VersaFine black, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate
Accessories: PTI Vintage Ornaments dies, PTI Tag Sale #2, Martha Stewart baker's twine, Memory Box crystal stickers (red, clear), Nestabilities Jumbo Scalloped rectangles, Cuttlebug Seeing Spots embossing folder, pinking shears, Michael's red satin ribbon, Kaiser pearls (red)

Christmas Tags - Yay!

2010-11-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

Since I am highly impressionable (due to Jamie), I decided to make Christmas tags this year! It all started from the October PTI release...I really wasn't going to get anything but supplies but then...Limitless Labels came out. And I was smitten. And because PTI is a marketing genius, they paired LL with their Tag Sale #2 and Holiday Tags 2010 stamps. They won. I got them all.

And because I really didn't know what to make with these, I bit off the highly talented Nichole Heady and basically made some tags similar to her's. That lazy stamper's accordion thingy? Pure.Genius.

So here are the tags. One makes use of the lazy stamper's accordion, and the other cuts felt using the pretty lacy circles die from LL. And I couldn't resist adding a strip of bling to the bottom of the tag on the left side. Bling made it awesome.

Details

Stamps: PTI 2010 Holiday Tags, PTI Signature Holiday, PTI Tin Types

Paper: PTI kraft, Memory Box Xmas paper

Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, Brilliance Pearlescent Beige, Color Box aqua color of some sort

Accessories: PTI Limitless Labels, PTI Tag Sale die #2, Martha Stewart Baker's Twine, Kaiser pearls (red), Memory Box crystal stickers, Michael's crystal sticker (big)

A Pocket Full of Projects - Redux

2010-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

Like I said in my previous post, I made 10 stationary sets for my MIL. Below are the other 5 sets that I made. They also use DCWV La Creme DP, but instead of the creme/black color scheme, I used more gray/black (with the exception of 1, I ran out of gray/black DP).

So you want to know my most favorite thing about all these sets?? It's that I used up a BIG chunk of my La Creme stack. This is truly awesome because I have this terrible habit of buying paper, using a leeeetle bit of the stack, and then hoarding the rest. This way, I used up a lot of my La Creme and all 25 Memory Box Licorice notecards. It's good to use up your stuff, ya know?

Anyhoo, here's a pic of the 5 sets:

And close-up of each card in each set:

Card Details

Stamps: MFT Framed Greetings, PTI Simply Stationary, PTI Signature Greetings

Ink: Fresh Slate, VersaFine black

Paper: DCWV La Creme, Memory Box Licorice notecard

Accessories: Michael's satin ribbon, Memory Box crystal sticker, Nestabilities circle dies

A Pocket Full of...Projects

2010-11-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

Howdy! It's been awhile. I've been preoccupied with creating stationary sets for my MIL to give away to her pals. I made 10 sets total - here are the first 5. I made these 5-card sets using a similar color scheme based on the DCWV La Creme stack. I wanted each card to be different but still complimentary in order to keep it cohesive. So I used different DP from the stack for each card, but each had the creme/black color combo.

Here's a pic of the 5 sets:

Followed up by a close-up of each card in each set:

Card Details

Stamps: MFT Fillable Frames, PTI Simply Stationary, PTI Signature Greetings

Ink: VersaFine black

Paper: DCWV La Creme, PTI black cardstock, Memory Box Eggshell notecard

Accessories: Memory Box jewel stickers, Michael's satin ribbon, Nestabilities circle dies

Birthday Bunny Card for Me Sister

2010-10-04T07:00:00.000-07:00

Last year, I made my sister a monkey birthday card. My mom said, "Ugh...why do you always make everyone monkey cards? Your sister is not a monkey!" By that, she meant her zodiac is not a monkey, but a rabbit. So taking me mum's criticism to heart, I made my sister a zodiac-appropriate BUNNY birthday card this year.

This little sneaky bunny is trying to steal the frosting off the cake. Ironically, my sister doesn't like frosting, but what the heck, the sentiment is adorable.

I used PTI Hawaiian Shores cardstock for the base card, and layered on DP from Cosmo Cricket DeLovely. Random satin ribbon that I had was layered over the top and accented with PTI Rasberry Fizz (I think) buttons. The bunny itself was colored with Copics, while the cake was topped with fabu Martha Stewart glitter.

Card Details

Stamps: TCP Forget About the Cake

Paper: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Cosmo Cricket DeLovely

Ink: Memento black, VersaFine black, Copics, Spica glitter pens

Accessories: Nestabilities rectangles, PTI buttons, TCP twine, Martha Stewart glitter, satin ribbon

Pals

2010-09-20T07:00:00.000-07:00

Time for another Take a Seat Sugar Plums post using...Taylored Expressions sketch 128! I'm so glad people put out sketches. Otherwise, I would be at a loss with what to do with my stamps most of the time!

This card uses stamps from C.C. Designs Take a Seat and and Gingersnaps Spring Thing! set that I've had for over a year now but never used. But I thought the picket fence was perfect for the bottom panel of Taylor's sketch. I picked DP that I thought created a background for Emma and the fence - trees and clouds. Then used the Die-namics die to cut a cloud, and stamped the sentiment on it. Emma, her pal the sheep, and the cloud are popped up on foam tape to give the card dimension.

On a Shimmer Spritz Rampage!

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Take a Seat & Spring Thing!, Pure Innocence (sentiment)

Paper: Memory Box mocha notecard, Cosmo Cricket Nutmeg, PTI kraft cardstock

Ink: Memento black, VersaFine black, Copics

Accessories: Tsukineko shimmer spritz, MFT cloud die

Glitterfied Birgitta

2010-09-19T15:15:00.000-07:00

My pal J had this really ambitious goal of inking up all her uninked stamps by the end of August. Mad props to her for achieving that goal. I, on the other hand, proceeded to add even more uninked stamps to my pile. I pretty much doubled it with the addition of the C.C. Designs Take a Seat set, along with this cutie, Halloween Birgitta. But dude, how adorable are Sugar Plums and Swiss Pixies?!

Anyhoo, since I really should ink up uninked stamps, I decided to use this week's ATS Wed Challenge sketch to showcase Halloween Birgitta. I used Cosmo Cricket Matilda DP, choosing to keep the color scheme black, orange, and purple, as is the same as my last Halloween post. In place of the circular panel on the sketch, I die cut fluffy felt clouds using MFT Die-namics.

Close up of the sparkly explosion. I sprayed Tsukineko shimmer spritz on the black cardstock after I ran it through a polka dot Cuttlebug folder. Crystal Stickles were added to her wings, and I used a glue pen to outline the spiderweb on her hat and dress, and then proceeded to dump black glitter on it. Unfortunately, the glue pen was not fine tip, so I ended up with a black glittery mass. To uncover the spider web design, I took an Exact-O knife and nudged the black glitter mass back into the spider webby lines. As you can see, I worked hard on the hat... and gave up on the dress. =D

Then I decorated the interior. It kept turning out blurry no matter how many times I tried to take a picture of it, so this is the best I could do. I decorated the interior with a panel cut from Nestabilities Labels 9, a strip of Matilda DP, and a Jack o' Lantern stamp from My Favorite Things.

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Halloween Birgitta, My Favorite Things Trick or Treat with Who's That Girl (sentiments and Jack o' Lantern)

Paper: PTI black cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Matilda

Ink: Memento black, VersaFine black, Copics, Brilliance Crimson

Accessories: Ribbon from Impress, Offray black satin ribbon, MFT Cloud dies, Nestabilities Labels 9 and Labels Trio, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Tsukineko shimmer spritz, Martha Stewart glitter, crystal stickles, Kaiser crystal stickers

Tricky Bunny

2010-09-18T09:39:00.000-07:00

This week's Mercy's sketch was so cute, I had to try it. I saw the rectangular panel on the sketch and just knew that my new "Trick or Treat with Who's That Girl" stamp would be perfect for it!

I've had my eye on this super adorable stamp since last year - I thought it was so funny that Flopsey was pretending to be a kid dressed as a rabbit for Halloween - but never got around to buying it. And then I guess Halloween passed and it was removed the MFT online shop and I thought it was gone forever. I was quite sad. Oceans of tears were shed. Okay, maybe not, but I was quite disappointed.

LUCKILY, MFT brought it back and I snatched it right up. No was was I going to shed oceans of tears again. *grin*

So I started with the very Halloween-like color scheme of purple, orange, and black. I stamped the WTG panel over 2 different Matilda DP and then cut out WTG, Flopsey, and the poor unsuspecting ghost friend who is Flopsey's unknowing accomplice in his plot to trick candy out of people to paste over the DP. I paper-pieced WTG dress and gave her some fabulous shiny purple heels.

On the side panel, I wrapped black & white Divine Twine randomly over it just to give it some texture. Then I die cut some felt pieces to give the card even more texture and oula, fin!

Close-up of the super delicious Glossy Accents on the shoes and pumpkin candy holders.

Card Details

Stamps: MFT Trick or Treat with Who's That Girl

Paper: PTI True Black cardstock, Cosmo Cricket Matilda

Ink: Memento Black, VersaFine Black, Copics

Accessories: Smooch, MFT open scallop die, Nestabilities circle dies, Divine twine, orange felt

MTSC89 with SugarPlums!

2010-09-02T19:23:00.001-07:00

When C.C. Designs came out with their super awesome Take a Seat set, I just had to have it. There are very few stamps that I feel I must have like right now, but this was one of them. I think it had to do with the armchair and the enormous paper piecing potential it presented. And the awesome stone wall.

But once I got the set and cut out the stamps, I didn't know what to do with them. The images are just...so...huge. It's like they take up the whole entire space of a normal sized card.

*Queue Jamie voice* Enter Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #89.

The challenge was to make a long card, and lo, it solved the dilemma I was facing with the images taking up the whole entire card face!

I used PTI True Black and Simply Chartreuse cardstock, embossing the SC paper with Birds & Swirls embossing folder. For the scallops in the sketch, I used my brand spankin' new MFT open scallop border die. I laid a black strip of paper across the middle, but it looked so plain, so I topped it with a sheer purple ribbon that I had lying around. All this was finished off with 2 PTI Simply Chartreuse buttons.

As for the sentiment, Verve's Circular Sayings are seriously my go-to set of sentiments. So simple, yet so pleasing to the eye and fits many card situations!

Close up of the image.

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Take a Seat, Verve (sentiment)

Ink: Copics, Memento black, VersaFine black

Paper: PTI True Black & Simple Chartreuse, My Mind's Eye (dp)

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 1, PTI buttons, TCP beige twine, MFT open scallop border

Gifty Girl on a WSC Floral Fantasy Day

2010-08-29T21:44:00.000-07:00

This week's My Favorite Things Wednesday Stamp Club challenge was to use FLOWERS. Wow, talk about an easy one for me for once! I have lots of floral stuffers - floral patterned paper, flower dies, Prima flowers...

So I pulled out an old fave of mine, WTG Gifty Girl. I used my current DP of the moment, DCWV Linen Closet, and paper pieced her dress with one of the polka dot papers in the pack. I considered using a floral pattern paper for her dress but polka dots seemed more chic and Gifty Girl is simply, always fabulous. :)

I also paper pieced her bags with a robin's egg blue paper and inserted tissue paper in her bags. Look like a well-known store known for it's little blue bags and boxes?? :)

Close up of Gifty Girl's bags.

Card Details

Stamps: MFT Gifty Girl

Ink: Memento black, VersaFine black, Copics

Paper: Memory Box Robin's Egg notecard, DCWV Linen Closet, vellum paper

Accessories: PTI flower dies, Michael's pearl stickers, Michael's satin ribbon, tissue paper

Robot Love

2010-08-22T15:20:00.000-07:00

Beep-boop-boop...hehe...I sooo dig this little robot from The Cat's Pajama's Loving Mew set. He reminds me of Wall-E...especially since he's a lovesick robot.

Anyhoo, this card uses a TCPTUES color challenge from a couple weeks ago...I can never seem to participate in challenges on time. Oh well... but here's one for the TCP Blog Hop!

Besides TCP's Loving Mew set, I used the new CutUps Flower Button set. Can I just say how friggin' brilliant these dies are?? No need to thread twine through a needle, these babies have built in holes for you to thread your stuff through with your hot little hands. I love that I can just tie the felt flowers and buttons together rather than use unreliable glue dots to hold the embellies together.

I stamped a simple heart background using PaperTreyInk's Hearts background set - it just seemed to match Wall-E so perfectly. Then I used Copics to randomly color in the hearts, just to give the background some punch.

I decorated the inside a little - cut up paper flowers using the CutUps dies - just can't keep away from these things!! :)

Card Details

Stamps: The Cat's Pajama's Loving Mew, PaperTreyInk Hearts background

Ink: Copics, Memento Black, VersaFine Black, Brilliance Rocket Red, PTI Fresh Snow

Paper: PTI kraft and pure poppy cardstock, DCWV mat stack

Accessories: The Cat's Pajama's CutUps Flower Button dies, My Favorite Things Jumbo Scallop die, Nestabilities Circle/Scalloped Circle/Labels 1 dies, TCP ivory linen thread, PTI pure poppy saddlestitch ribbon, Basic Grey buttons

Girly Birthday

2010-08-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

I love My Favorite Things' Who's That Girl series. I especially love it when she wears fabulous skirts and dresses because then I get to paper piece them with awesome and pretty DP!

This is Who's That Birthday Girl and coincidentally enough, I got this stamp set for my birthday from Awesome J. The DP is DCWV Linen Closet...I think it's a few months old actually, but I just got it (b/c Joann's finally had the 4x6 size back in stock and it was 40% off! Wahoogle!). I knew that this DP was perfect for Birthday Girl b/c it was girly and pretty, and you can only have that kind of DP for her flowy skirt.

I paper-pieced the cake and added decorative lines of pearls at the base of each cake tier. I almost placed the bow where the strip of ribbon is, but it blocked too much of her pretty skirt, so I moved it to the top of the card. But then the ribbon strip looked too bare, so then I added a line of pearls on top. Sooooo pretty, don't you think? The scallops were accomplished using MFT's Scalloped Scallop border die (also from Awesome J). I lightly sponged the circle holding the sentiment just to give it some contrast.

Card Details

Stamps: My Favorite Things, Verve

Ink: Copics, Memento, VersaFine, Brilliance

Paper: Memory Box scored notecard, DCWV Linen Closet

Accessories: Michael's satin ribbon, Michael's pearl stickers, Nestabilities circle dies, My Favorite Things Scalloped Scallop die

Just Hangin' with the 'shrooooms...

2010-08-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

I'm knocking out my list of uninked stampies one by one. It's been a slow go, but slow and steady wins the race, right?

So technically, this qualifies for the All That Scraps die cut challenge b/c I used a circle Nestie, but I think they actually want you to use like a more elaborate die. Funny thing is, I do have lots of groovy dies. But those shapes just didn't fit with Nora today.

So this is Ladybug Nora. Isn't she cute?? (Actually, aren't all my stampies cute??) Anyhoo, she doesn't actually come sitting on the mushroom; it's a separate stamp. So I did the magic masking thing, colored, and cut her out. The green hill was a freehand wavy cut with a pair of scissors (that's as elaborate as I can get freehand), and see the adorable little mushrooms? They are actually part of a different stamp, Birgitta Sitting on a Tree Stump. But I wanted some extra 'shrooms for the scenery, so borrowed them from Birgitta. They're friends, she won't mind. I promise. Unless they're frenemies. (Ref: Ninja Reads to get a clue).

Close up of glitter-fied wings. I also used Glossy Accents on the little 'shrooms, but I couldn't get a good angle of it to get a glossy shot. Ever since I got GA for my birthday from J, I've been using it on like every single card! Hehe, it's AWESOME. :)

Also, see her stockings? I used a Copic colorless blender to give her tights some subtle pattern. Ya dig?

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Ladybug Nora and Mushrooms, Verve (sentiment)

Ink: Copics, Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Black

Paper: Cosmo Cricket DeLovely, PTI, Memory Box scored notecard

Accessories: Stickles, Glossy Accents, Nestabilities circles

Umbrella Girl

2010-08-13T19:48:00.001-07:00

Hello! I meant to post sooner than this but this card took me forever to finish. I started it last week but it lay incomplete until I received my PTI Harvest Gold buttons. Then, I actually finished it earlier this week but didn't have time to take a picture of the card while there was still daylight.

So this is Pure Innocence's Umbrella Girl. Isn't she adorable?? I've had her since April but never inked her up until now. Just had a hard time thinking what to do with her.

I paper pieced her umbrella and boots using the same polka dot DP (cuz accessories gotta match, right?) and used My Favorite Things Jumbo Scallop Die-namics...I love those things. Just did a simple layout and attached a groovy PTI Harvest Gold button as my accent.

Then I used Glossy Accents on her umbrella and shoes to give it a slick waterproof look. See? I also popped the umbrella up on foam tape to make it stand out against her more, like she was holding a real umbrella.

Card Details

Stamps: My Favorite Things Pure Innocence My Umbrella

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, Memory Box notecard

Accessories: MFT Die-namics Jumbo Scallops, PTI buttons, Divine Twine, Michael's satin ribbon

Summertime Lazing...

2010-08-02T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yo! I've recovered from my strained muscle/pinched nerve neck issues from last week (still working on the allergy congestion - bah!). So I managed to stamp a few items.

So this li'l cutie is Nora from C.C. Designs. She looks like she's enjoying a lazy summertime afternoon - dontcha wish you could join her?

I didn't really have a sketch in mind and the fact that the image is so huge makes it hard to use any kind of sketch anyways. So I just did a simple layout with DP and no embellishments. I stamped Nora first and masked her in order to stamp the fence behind her. I added some glossy accents to the butterfly and the flower in her hair (which of course you can't see)...but I digs...

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs

Paper: Memory Box, October Afternoon

Ink: Memento black, VersaFine black, Copics

Accessories: Glossy Accents

Anthropologie Inspired Redux!

2010-07-25T07:00:00.000-07:00

"Redux" is in honor of Kireet, and because, as he said, it sounds badass to say "redux."

I loved that Anthropologie picture so much, I made a second card using it as my inspiration.

I actually made this card before the other one, but I thought the other one turned out better so wanted to post it first so the full effect of the Anthropologie ad's awesome-ness could be felt.

This card uses an old Sweet Sunday sketch. I used PaperTreyInk's Polka Dot Basics I again since the black and white polka dot dress was a huge focal point of the ad. It's hard to see, but I stamped PaperTreyInk's Background Basics: Diamond in VersaMark ink on the blue panel. You also can't see but I used glossy accents on some of the black polka dots. White felt flowers were die cut using PaperTreyInk Flower Dies #3, again accented with little black button brads.

Then I decorated the inside to somewhat mimic the exterior:

Card Details

Stamps: PaperTreyInk Polka Dot Basics I, Background Basics: Diamond, Impress (sentiment)

Paper: PaperTreyInk True Black and Hawaiian Shores

Ink: VersaMark, Brilliance Graphite Black, PaperTreyInk Fresh Snow

Accessories: PaperTreyInk ric-rac die and Flower Dies #3, Nestabilities Labels 8, Impress white felt, Making Memories button brads, corner punch of some sort, Glossy Accents

Anthropologie Inspired!!

2010-07-23T22:30:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I got an Anthropologie catalog in the mail. As I flipped through it, I came across this lovely picture:

I saw it and thought, "Wow! This would make an awesome looking card!" So using it as my inspiration piece, I set about piecing the card together.

Unfortunately, I don't have a dark teal color that matches the picture, so I had to make do with my PTI Hawaiian Shores. It still looks nice to me, but I really want dark teal paper. It's such an awesome color! But I digress.

This is the card I ended up with:

I used PTI's Polka Dot Basics I to mimic the pattern of the black & white polka dot dress. I didn't have any black felt (but it's on its way from Jamie and my latest PTI order - eeeeee!!!) so just made white felt flower's using PTI's Flower Dies #3. I cut PTI's True Black cardstock with my MFT Jumbo Scallop border die that my FABULOUS FRIEND JAMIE gave to me. I am LOVIN' IT!! Then I decided the black scallops looked too plain and decided to stamp on a text background stamp from PTI's Background Basics: Hearts set...then thought the scallops blended too much together and decided to sponge the edges with white ink - gives each scallop layer more definition, dontcha think? I dig it!!

The white felt flowers have little black button brads, and I used Michael's satin ribbon. The sentiment is from PTI's Communique Curves.

Then I decorated the interior:

I masked the left-side of the card and stamped the same text background that I used on the scallops, and then also sponged the edges. I cut a simple white panel from Nestabilities Labels 8 and pau-wow, all done!

As a side note, isn't PTI's Fresh Snow ink like the awesomest white ink EVER??? I have Brilliance Moonlight White and it does not stamp this nicely. I dig it!!

Anyhoo, this card was me channeling my inner Dawn McVey. Whatcha think? Did I do her any justice?? She probably would've made one of her smushed flowers instead of the felt ones I had OR made like a 5-layered felt flower, but then I wouldn't be able to fit the card in an envelope so 1-layer felt flower works for me!

Card Details

Stamps: PaperTreyInk Communique Curves, Background Basics: Hearts, Polka Dot Basics I

Paper: PaperTreyInk True Black and Hawaiian Shores

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, PaperTreyInk Fresh Snow

Accessories: My Favorite Things Dienamics Jumbo Scallop border die, Nestabilities Labels 8, Michael's satin ribbon, PaperTreyInk Flower Dies #3, Making Memories black button brads, Impress white felt

A First!!

2010-07-12T17:47:00.001-07:00

So this is super exciting (for me)! This is the very first time that I have used all the stamps in a single stamp set!! Usually, I use maybe only a few of the major images but all the little accessory stamps never see the topside of an inkpad!! Granted, C.C. Designs Flower Power is only a set of 3 stamps, but still - I used all 3 images!! Eeeeeee!!! I am so easily amused... :)

Anyways, this card is for ATS Wednesday Stamp Challenge, which happened to be a sketch challenge. I used my favorite DP of the moment, October Afternoon Fly a Kite. I sponged the edges of 2 of the DPs along with the Monkey panel with VersaMagic Gingerbread ink. I broke out my new PTI Flower dies to make a fabby little felt embellie. I debated on whether to use blue felt instead of pink felt for the top flower but I thought, why not try breaking out of my normal pattern of matching all the embellie colors, and put an emphasis on 2 different colors in the card? Try something new and mix it up, ya know?

Then I decorated the interior a bit with a simple panel cut from Nestabilities Labels 8 dies. The sentiment is from PaperTreyInk's, and the little flower is the accessory stamp in the Flower Power set.

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Flower Power, PaperTreyInk Communique Curves sentiments

Paper: PaperTreyInk cardstock, October Afternoon Fly A Kite

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, VersaFine Black

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 8, Michael's satin ribbon, Impress felt, Basic Grey button, Karen Foster's scrapper's floss

A Peace Offering

2010-07-05T15:32:00.001-07:00

As I predicted, my last post in which I stated that I was withholding my monkey card from my sister even though it was originally meant for her birthday was met with swift retaliation:

I'm going to keep everything I got you in China.
- From the Sister Who Should Be Receiving This Card

Okay, okay, you win. BUT, if I gave you the monkey card now, you would know that you were only getting it because of your threat. So, to show you how much I truly appreciate you and how I hope you had a wonderful birthday, I made you this brand new card especially for you! What an awesome sister I am, right?? Right?? hehe...

Anyhoo, this card is using last week's Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #80. I broke out my new Cosmo Cricket DeLovely paper pack, which is totally pretty and bright and sunshiney and awesome. I'm on a Hawaiian Shores paper kick, so I matched bright & cheery DP to it. The hot air balloons are from PTI's Everyday Button Bits set and the sentiment is Verve. I wish that I had like Rasberry Fizz or Hibiscus Burst buttons but alas, I don't, so I had to use 2 Hawaiian Shores button and 1 Lemon Tart button. Sad...RF and HB buttons are going on my next PTI order!!

Card Details

Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits, Verve Circular Sayings

Paper: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Cosmo Cricket DeLovely

Ink: VersaFine Black

Accessories: Nestabilities Circles, PTI buttons, EK Success scallop border punch, random ribbon, Copics

A {Sweet Sunday} Flower Monkey

2010-06-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

I've been itching to stamp again lately and when I saw this Sweet Sunday Sketch #75, I knew the perfect stamp to showcase - my C.C. Designs Flower Power set! I'd been eyeing this cute li'l monkey ever since it was released a few months back. He's even cuter than the original monkey stamps that C.C. Designs had before. He's more...round-ish which = cute, in my opinion.

Anyhoo, I'm really diggin' how this card turned out. Like, a lot. So much so that, well...here comes my guilty confession. Originally, I was going to make this a birthday card for my sister but it's so stinkin' cute that I am just going to keep it for myself!! Heheh...and my sister reads this blog so I'll probably hear about it later. In my defense, she's not even in the same country as me right now so it's not like I was going to send it to her anyways.

Anyways, I wanted to make a bright, cheery, and summery card, so decided early on that I wanted to use PTI Hawaiian Shores. I used a lot of PTI Hawaiian Shores stuffers: cardstock, saddlestitch ribbon, and BUTTONS!! The DP is October Afternoon's Fly a Kite in a bright cheery yellow pattern.

I was pondering what other color to use on this card, and was debating between a bright green or orange, but I decided that orange just worked a lot better for this card. Of course, I thought that PTI Orange Zest would be perfect...but I don't have any Orange Zest cardstock! BUT I had similar colored felt, and made do with that. But dude, it totally worked out! It added texture and makes the card POP (IMO). I used Nesties Blossom die on the orange felt to make the flower to surround the monkey. The monkey is stamped on a Cuttlebugged Nesties circle, colored in with Copics, and sponged with Memento New Sprout.

I used 5 precious PTI Hawaiian Shores buttons to decorate the bottom. As I mentioned in my last post, my scrappers' floss had mysteriously disappeared, but last night, it magically reappeared in a bin that I had checked like five times. But I ended up leaving my buttons naked anyways b/c the small button on the right only has 1 hole. I don't know how to make twine and 1 hole in a button work and it would've looked weird if that last button didn't have twine but all the others did. But now that I think about it...I should've just looped twine through the 2 big buttons. Arrgh!! Why do I always think of these things after the fact?

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Flower Power

Paper: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Cosmo Cricket Fly a Kite

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & New Sprout, Copics

Accessories: Nestabilities Blossom & Circle dies, PTI ribbon & buttons

A Random {Ginger} Card

2010-06-26T09:04:00.000-07:00

I've had this Stamping Bella Ginger Ketto stamp for a few months now and it sat sadly uninked in my drawers...well...that's not completely true. I did try to use it a few months ago for my SOL's birthday, but this happened, so I had to put it off for awhile.

Anyhoo, I first started out trying to use Mercy's Tuesday Sketch, but the card just refused to come together. So I had to dig up my old sketch references and picked out an old Taylored Expressions sketch to use. I think it still turned out *just okay* but well...I'm at a loss for what else to say. I couldn't even figure out where to stick a sentiment on this card!

Anyhoo, I used PTI Hawaiian Shores cardstock and layered washi paper on top. The celadon washi has a pattern of dragonflies (digs!) and the teal one has blossoms and these wave-like things. I wanted to add a pop of color, so I wrapped bright orange ribbon around the teal washi. I also thought it made it look like an obi, which goes along with the whole Asian theme of the card. For more pop, I Cuttlebugged an orange felt flower, topped with a Hawaiian Shores felt circle, and a {sad} naked button. I didn't mean to leave it naked, but I misplaced my scrappers' floss and don't know where it ran away to. So very sad...

Anyhoo, in Ginger's hair pins, I added some Kaiser teal blue pearls, and I sponged green around her b/c it looked empty when it was just all plain white.

Card Details

Stamps: Stamping Bella Ginger Ketto

Paper: PTI Hawaiian Shores cardstock, random washi paper

Ink: Copics, VersaFine black, Memento green ink

Accessories: Nesties Small Labels, Blossom, and Circles; Michael's ribbon, Basic Gray button

Happy Veggies Make a Happy Papa's Day!

2010-06-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

So I just didn't have a witty title, but those smiley ears of corn, peas in a pod, and tomatoes simply deserved a shout-out.

This card was made for my bro-in-law, master Big Green Egg griller extraordinaire. I've used this stamp to make him a card before as I've had it for a few years, but, as I mentioned before that I lack guy stamps, I decided an oldie is a goodie and thought to use it again for him.

The bbq stamp is from Memory Box's old Fun in the Sun set. I think this is the only stamp I've used from this set so far...ironically, b/c who'd have thought a bbq stamp would get the most use? haha...

I used an old Taylored Expressions sketch. The DP is Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, and I thought this particular pattern was appropriate to go with a grill image. Although, my sister said that piggy DP would have matched better...

I covered the grill with diamond glaze again, but it left weird air bubbles. Me no likey. I did more dashes of faux stitching with a white gel pen (dig it!) and sponged the tag with VersaMagic Mango Madness.

Card Details

Stamps: Memory Box, Savvy (sentiment)

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, PTI cardstock

Ink: Memento black, Copics, Uniball white gel pen

Accessories: Nesties Circles/Tags, random ribbon, Diamond Glaze

Happy Papa's Day!!

2010-06-20T13:36:00.000-07:00

Hello! Long time no post! I lost my card-making motivation after making all those mama's day cards. I almost didn't make any papa's day cards...but somehow pulled through at the last minute! Yee-haw! Well, I didn't completely succeed... my hubs's daddy isn't getting one of my cards b/c I would've had to have mailed it last Mon and I only started making cards this past Thurs. Oh well. My sister-in-law took care of getting him a card so it's all good.

So this card is for me own papa. I really don't have any appropriate guy stamps, so I made do with a cutesy image...at least it's not flowers and bunnies though, right? I don't think my dad will mind overly much.

So this little bear is from C.C. Designs Sweet Treats set. I mostly got that set for the super cute monkey (my favorite animal, if you couldn't tell from the blog name), but after giving everyone monkey cards, my mom said I really should expand my horizons. haha... So I took my wise mother's words of wisdom to heart and used this little bear. It's not really related to father's day anything but it's cute and I like it. hehe...

I used a Clean & Simple sketch for my layout. I stamped him on a circle that I Cuttlebugged, then sponged Memento ink around him. I colored him in with Copics, trying to shadow the left side more to give him some depth. I used some Diamond Glaze on the ice cream, but you can't really tell. I need to get me some Glossy Accents....

I used PTI Polka Dot Basics I with VersaMark ink to stamp polka dots on the background. The design paper is from Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety. Also, I faux-stitched along the DP with a white gel pen. Haven't done it before and I like it...

The sentiment is Savvy and stamped on a Nesties Tag Trio, also sponged with the same Memento ink as the circle. Do you see the knotted part of the ribbon on the left side? I didn't want to just lay it flat and there was no DP on that side of the ribbon to hide the ribbon end under, so I just decided to knot it and hold it in place with a glue dot. I dig it...

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Sweet Treats, Savvy (sentiment), PTI Polka Dot Basics I

Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate cardstock, DCWV, Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety

Ink: VersaMark, Copics, Memento (black & green), Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, white gel pen

Accessories: Diamond Glaze, Sakura glitter pen, Nesties Circles/Scalloped Circles/Tag Trios, random green ribbon

Another Swissy Mama's Day Card

2010-05-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

This is the last Mama's Day card that I made - this one for my mother-in-law. Unfortunately, she got it the day after mother's day as apparently it was quite bulky and required personal post office handling...and an additional $0.78 in postage. Doh! Oh, well. I guess I'm going to have to either (1) give up bulky embellies (noooooo!!!) or (2) create a year's worth of cards for all the holidays and just give them to her next time we go visit and have her open them on the appointed days. hehehe...

So this image is C.C. Designs Birgitta Sitting on a Tree Stump, or something like that. Jamie picked it up for me the last time she went home (thanks, Jammy!). I hadn't realized that the image was so...huge. Originally, I tried to use this image for a few different sketches but finally just had to give up and decorate it simply. I tied a ribbon bow the Dawn McVey-way and wrapped a button around the center of the bow, which made the card exceptionally bulky.

So you can't tell from this angle, but I cut out the 2 mushrooms in the front and popped them up with foam tape.

Here's a close-up with one of the mushrooms.

Card Details
Stamps: C.C. Designs Birgitta on a tree stump
Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard, PaperTreyInk dark chocolate cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Accessories: Michael's satin ribbon, PaperTreyInk button, Karen Foster's scrappers floss, Crystal Stickles

Birthday Card for Me Mum

2010-05-12T07:00:00.000-07:00

Me mum had a birthday recently so I used this cutie li'l Huggabugg image from Stamping Bella. I did something I don't normally do. I colored the image first before considering what matching DP to use. Big mistake. it took me forever to come up with a layout/color scheme for this card. Like 3-4 days of just mulling over it at night as I watched Firefly episodes on Netflix Instant Play (which is the awesomest thing EVER). Possibly it was watching Firefly that contributed to my lack of focus, but I like to think it kept me occupied while I pondered how to make this card.

Finally, I came up with this:

Rather colorful, no? More colorful than what I normally do, but eh. It's FUN!!

The orange is a strip of DCWV glitter mat stack paper. I stuck on another felt flower b/c I'm on a felt flower kick and I just love them and wanna stick them on EVERYTHING. Heehee... I colored the image in with Copics and then used a white gel pen to give the Bugg's hat some white stitches and a few swipes on the hearts as well. I positioned the image such that it looks like the car is running along the ribbon strip, e.g. "the road". Or at least, it looks that way to me.

I used a PTI sentiment from the Everyday Button Bits set, but I cut out the last word "Hi" that comes after "say" - so that when you open the card, it tells you what I wanted it to say, that being THIS:

"Happy Birthday to You" in case you can't read it.

I used Nesties Blossoms die cuz I thought it would be more Huggabugg-ish than, say, Labels 1 (my fall-back). Then just decorated the bottom simply with a strip of the same DP that was on the front of the card.

Card Details

Stamps: Stamping Bella Huggabugg LoveBeattle, PaperTreyInk Everyday Button Bits (sentiment), Savvy (internal sentiment)

Paper: PaperTreyInk kraft & raspberry fizz cardstock, DCWV design paper and glitter mat stack

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Raspberry, Copics, Uniball white gel pen

Accessories: Nesties Blossom die, Michael's satin ribbon, Tonic Tag corner punch, Impress felt, Michael's pearl stickers, Basic Grey button, Karen Foster's scrappers floss

A {SFYTT}-inspired Mama's Day Card

2010-05-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

My sister is a mama, so I made her a mama's day card too, in addition to me own mum and me mother-in-law. Her daughter is still a little toddler, so I thought this image of 2 bunnies snuggling on the moon was a perfect representation of them. Especially since my niece is a big mama's girl.

Anyhoo, I used DP from a paper pack that I'd been waiting a looooong time for - October Afternoon's Fly a Kit. The preview images just looked sooo pretty and when it finally came in at my LSS, it coincided with their annual sale, so I snatched it right up - eeeeeeeee!!! Isn't it just sooo awesome??

I used Jen del Muro's SFYTT for the layout, which was perfect b/c the circle fit the bunnies-on-the-moon perfectly. The images are from the My Favorite Things Snuggle Bunnies set (soooo cute - there is an image of bunny butts on this set too, hehe!). I colored the image simply with Copics and sponged the circle with some VersaMagic Sea Breeze ink. I finished it up with a lovely Robin's Egg blue satin ribbon from Michael's (have I told you how much I loooove these Michael's ribbons??!!).

Card Details

Stamps: My Favorite Things Snuggle Bunnies

Paper: PaperTreyInk Dark Chocolate, October Afternoon Fly a Kite

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics, VersaMagic Sea Breeze

Accessories: Nesties Circles & Blossom dies, Michael's satin ribbon, PaperTreyInk Hawaiian Shores button, Michael's pearl stickers, Impress felt

A {Pink & Brown} Swissy Challenge for Mother's Day

2010-05-08T19:42:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't know, I make my cards in batches...I post a lot...then don't make any cards and don't post at all...then make a bunch again and post like mad...this is the first of the "bunch o' cards" I made to post for this current round of posting.

Since ATS Wed Challenge was to make a pink and brown card, I thought it would be a perfect color combo for a mother's day card. I made this Mother's Day card using an old Mercy sketch from a few weeks ago (I'm a little slow when it comes to taking part in these challenges...), and used my not-yet-used-but-quite-old Basic Grey Porcelain DP. About time, don't you think??!

So here's the front - I quite like how it turned out. Simple enough - layers here, layers there, sponge this and that, wrap a ribbon, stick on a felt flower and BAM! Pretty card accomplished!

And here's the interior - very simple.

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Gretal, Impress ("Mom" sentiment), Savvy (interior sentiment)

Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate and Sweet Blush, Basic Grey Porcelain DP

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, Copics

Accessories: Nestabilities Blossom & Labels 8, Tonic Ticket punch, PTI ribbon, Basic Grey button, Karen Foster's scrappers floss, Michael's pearl stickers

Another Random Project

2010-04-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

A few months ago, I made this card set just for fun and gave it to one of my sisters. I decided to make another random card set and give it to one of my other sisters (gotta be fair, right? hehe...). I bought this DP especially for her because it looks shabby chic-ish (remember when that was the "it" decorating phrase?) and that is very her.

Here is the card set holder and the cards. To mix it up a bit, I stamped her name on half of the notecards and "HI" on the other half.

Here's a side view of the holder. I used the same DP that I used on her card to decorate the box, tied a satin ribbon around it and finished it off with a PTI button. Possibly it's too much patterned paper but eh...I was mulling over how to decorate the holder for a week and this is all I could come up with.

Happily, she liked it very much. When I asked if she would actually use it though, she very cheekily replied, "I'll send you a thank you note with it." Psh...

Card Details

Stamps: PaperTrey Ink Vintage Labels & Fresh Alphabet

Paper: My Mind's Eye, PTI kraft & pure poppy cardstock

Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Accessories: Nesties Labels 1, Michael's ribbon, PTI button, Karen Foster's scrappers floss

Happy Birthday, Jamie!

2010-04-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

My pal Jamie recently turned a...uh...landmark age. ^_^ So I made her this birthday card of a girl holding a ginormous present because a girl deserves a big gift for turning a landmark age! (Jamie, feel free to forward this post to K in case he needs hints, hehe...)

This is another MFT set that I totally love. It was a little bit of a pain to paper-piece b/c of her hands that are on the present. So I had to stamp her hands on plain white paper, color them in, cut them out, and then glue the tiny hands on the present. But it was well worth the effort b/c if you can't see her hands, then it just looks like a walking present.

I'm on a Cosmo Cricket design paper kick, can you tell? I looove it. It forces me to use color combinations that I don't normally go for. I'm more into pink/green or blue/brown, so this stoplight color palette is quite unusual for me. But I'm diggin' it...

Card Details
Stamps: My Favorite Things Wrapped in Love, PaperTreyInk Vintage Labels
Paper: Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, Memory Box scored notecard
Ink: Memento Black, Copics, Brilliance Pearl Chocolate, Fresh ink (red color)
Accessories: Nesties Labels 1, Michael's red ribbon, Basic Grey buttons, Karen Foster's scrappers floss

Fun with Felt!!

2010-04-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Helloooooo!! Yee-haw! I'm sooo excited! I picked up fabulous FELT this past weekend at the Impress annual stamp sale. Now I can embellish my cards with FELT galore!! Wahoo!!

Anyhoo, this card is for the ATS Wed distressing challenge. I used Mercy's sketch from the week before for the layout.

The little girl featured here is Swiss Miss Rosalie, one of my fave C.C. Designs images. I thought she'd be a perfect fit for the distressing challenge as distressing seems to convey "vintage-ness" and she looks like she could be from "the olden days". hehe...

I used an old Memory Box DP set and Cuttlebugged the circles/scalloped circles and tag. Then I sponged on VersaMagic Gingerbread ink for the "distressing" part. I actually also meant to sponge the DP but due to "fluffiness" of mind, I forgot and glued it onto the white paper mount before remembering that I was supposed to sponge it. Doh!

BTW, do you see the felt flower??? EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!! I LOVE IT!! It was cut using Nesties Blossom set and just seems to add so much more depth and dimension to the card. I first took notice of felt from PaperTreyInk, but hadn't bought any yet. Then, when I went to Impress, they were showcasing the Cuttlebug and cutting out felt flowers and totally sold me on it.

Hehe...and a funny story from that visit...Impress only had brown and white felt out, but the display card showed mauve felt. Jamie and I asked if they had the mauve felt, but the girl said no...so we sadly wandered off to look around the rest of the store. 3 minutes later, the girl came up to us with 4 rolls of mauve felt and said, "Oh, here we are!!" Squealing, we each snagged a roll. Dude, they are such enablers. hehe... BUT - Happiness was achieved...

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Swiss Miss Rosalie, Memory Box sentiment

Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecards & design paper

Ink: Memento black, Copics, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Accessories: Nesties Circles & Scalloped Circles, Nesties Tags, Nesties Blossom, Michael's ribbon, Making Memories brad, Kaiser pearls, FELT

Another Wedding Card

2010-04-16T07:00:00.000-07:00

Some friends of ours are getting married so I made them a wedding card. I don't have very many wedding sentiments, so I decided to use this kind of inspiring sentiment from Verve. I was going for a "live your life to the fullest together" kind of wedding card...on the inside, I stamped Happy Wedding Day (Rubber Soul) in case my friends didn't get that it was really a wedding card. hehe...

This card is loosely based on last week's TCP Tuesday sketch...

When I first "finished" the card, it didn't have the flower accent in the bottom right-hand corner. I thought and thought and was like, geez, it's missing something. Pondering it to Jamie, I told her it would be perfect if it had some sort of felt or Prima flower accent. "Why don't you just punch one out?" O, wise Jammy, you saved my card! hehe... I still think it would've looked better with a felt or Prima flower, but when you lack such specific items, you gotta just fall back on ol' reliable punches.

Card Details
Stamps: Verve Beautiful You
Paper: My Mind's Eye, Memory Box scored notecard, PTI Dark Chocolate cardstock
Ink: Colorbox Eggplant, VersaMagic Gingerbread
Accessories: Michael's ribbon, flower punch, Making Memories brad, pearl stickers, Nesties circles

A Quickie Card & Post

2010-04-14T07:00:00.000-07:00

When the MFT Who's That Girl? Gifty Girl stamp set first came out, I was sooo freakin' excited, I wanted it right away...but alas, it was party of a limited edition kit and I only wanted the stamp and not the whole thing. Luckily, MFT released that stamp as a single and I picked it up a few months ago. I thought it would make such a simple & cute gift tag, so I just stamped and colored it in simply. All I need is to make an envelope to fit it in...

What I love about the Who's That Girl? line is that the images are sooo fun and easy to paper piece. How could you not love the fabulous little dress the girl wears in such funky and groovy patterns (courtesy of groovy DP)? Love it!

You can't see the inside, but I cut a piece of white cardstock using Nesties Labels 1 so it's easier to read any note written on the inside.

Card Details

Stamps: MFT Gifty Girl

Paper: Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, PTI cardstock

Ink: Memento Black, Copics

A {Swissy} Taylored Sketch

2010-04-12T22:12:00.000-07:00

I saw this Taylored Expressions Sketch 108 and just loved it. It just looked so nice, clean, and perfectfor my Swiss Pixie Gretal that I had yet to ink up. I was in the coloring mood and she looked like she needed to be colored, so I went for it. And the Taylored Expressions sketch was the perfect setting for her. Yeehaw!

I used October Afternoon Ducks in a Row and Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety paper. I so love pretty DP... *sigh* I paper-pieced Gretal's jumper with Cosmo Cricket DP and colored the rest of her with Copics. Her wings were glitterfied with crystal stickles. I used a PTI technique to make the "faux bow" with button accent. The button on her jumper was just screaming for a pearl, and I decided to stick one on her ponytail holder as well. Cute...

Card Details:

Stamps: C.C. Designs Swiss Pixies Gretal, Verve sentiment

Paper: Memory Box scored notecard, PTI kraft cardstock, October Afternoon Ducks in a Row, Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety

Ink: Memento black ink, Copics

Accessories: Crystal Stickles, Michael's ribbon, Basic Grey button, Karen Foster's scrappers floss, Michael's pearl stickers

Another Sibling Birthday

2010-03-22T07:00:00.000-07:00

Hubs' family seems to be having lots of events lately. The next card is for his other sister's birthday.

I've had these Stamping Bella Ketto stamps for a few months now and decided to ink up Ginger Ketto to use on the card. But alas, look what happened when I stamped it out:

EEEEEEEKKKKKKK!!! It had 2 blemishes!!!!!!!!!! What....???!!! Aaaaaarrrgghhh!!!

So I had to scrap using Ginger until I could get a replacement from Stamping Bella and use Yoko & Ono instead. They are just as cute, but I really wanted to use Ginger. Lame.

The layout is an old old old Taylored Expressions sketch. Like...from 2008, I think. Before I even knew Taylored Expressions, PTI, Stamping Bella, and The Greeting Farm existed. In other words, in my richer days. hehe... But I must say, the quality of my card-making has gone WAY UP, so it's a good trade-off. :)

Anyhoo, I cut the shape that Yoko & Ono are stamped on using Nesties Labels 9. The design paper is random origami paper that I have. I paper pieced Yoko (the girl in the forefront which I'm calling Yoko b/c she's in the front, and therefore first; hence she's Yoko) using the same pink origami paper as the background. Ono's dress is paper pieced using the same color of cardstock used for the card...um...Memory Box...Eggshell! That's it! I tried paper piecing it with the same darker strip of origami paper but I couldn't where the dress lines stamped out on (black ink on black origami paper doesn't work...doi). Finished it off with some more of the fabu Michael's ribbon and topped it with another PTI button (possibly Melon Berry, I dunno, it came as part of the Spring button mix).

Stamps: Stamping Bella Yoko & Ono
Ink: VersaFine black
Paper: Memory Box notecard, PTI black, origami paper
Accessories: Nesties Labels 9, Michael's ribbon, PTI button, Memory Box jewel stickers, Midori jeweled flower sticker

Weddings Weddings Weddings!

2010-03-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

My hubs's sister is getting married, so I made her and her fiance this wedding card. I decided to use her wedding colors to make this card, which is black, white, silver, and ice blue accents. I actually managed to use all 4 colors, but you can't tell about the ice blue b/c Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue ink stamps out silvery looking.

I was having the hardest time coming up with a card to make and was sketching for a few days, trying and scrapping ideas, when I finally landed on this. However...it called for a leafy branch-like accent and I simply did not have such a stamp set (e.g. Turning a New Leaf) nor did I have time to swing by and borrow it from Jamie. What's a girl to do? Easy - go shopping! haha...

So I ended up buying this Sizzlit branch die. I totally love it and it's much easier than cutting out TANL branches, no matter how groovy it looks on the finished product.

I stamped PTI Diamond background images on the bottom 3 "ruffles" of paper...the ruffles which were accomplished by using the EK Success scalloped border punch on 3 sheets of paper. I blinged up the ruffles with Memory Box sticker jewels, and stamped a simple sentiment.

Stamps: PTI Diamond backgrounds, Rubber Soul sentiment
Paper: Stardream Chiara silver, black, and opal
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Pearlescent Ice Blue
Accessories: EK Success Border punch, Memory Box crystal stickers, Sizzlit die, random ribbon

A PTI-loaded Thank You

2010-03-17T07:00:00.000-07:00

So Jamie and I had a craft day a few weekends ago, in which we were both entirely unproductive, though I will say she was a tad more productive than me. All I have to show from said CD is this little card below:

It was my attempt to emulate the clean and simple, yet fabulous style of PTI's Dawn McVey. I think it turned our alright. This card was made with stamps entirely owned by Jamie, which is the point of CD, so not so terrible to only make 1 card, eh? And I have never used so many different stamp sets in a single card. This is how stamping companies bankrupt you. haha!!

Also, see the cut out branch? It's a stamp from TANL and it is a PAIN to cut, although it looks great on the finished product. Worth it or not worth it?

Stamps: PTI Textstyles, Giga Guidelines, Guidelines 1, Turning a New Leaf, Verve Bountiful Backgrounds
Paper: Memory Box notecard, PTI Kraft cardstock, other misc paper scraps
Ink: VersaFine Pinecone, VersaMagic Aloe Vera, Colorbox Robin's Egg
Accessories: EK Success border punch, random brown ribbon

Baby Alice Card

2010-03-15T07:00:00.000-07:00

My hubs's cousin had a baby last week, so I made a little baby girl card to tell the congratulations. I bought this Signature Anya set from The Greeting Farm when it was on their Farmers Market a few months ago, but didn't use any of the images on a card yet. I had stamped out and colored all 3 images in the set...but didn't have any card ideas for which to use them.

LUCKILY, my hubs's cousin decided to have a baby girl so I now had the perfect excuse to use one of the adorable images. Wahoo!!

So here's the card:

Very pastel-y, girl-y, and spring-y, no? And since I had buttons, I decided to randomly stick them on. Also, SEE THE RIBBON?? EEEEEEEEEEEE!! It's from Michael's and it is double-faced satin!! Whee!! I digs!! And it comes in soooo many pretty color - I WANT THEM ALL!! (I'm starting to sound like Jamie, haha!!). But seriously...it comes in so many pretty colors and it's double-faced!! yeah!!

The envelope that this card went into is quite bunchy. I hope the post office will still deliver the card to my hubs's cousin!

Stamps: TGF Signature Anya, Savvy sentiment

Ink: Memento black, Versafine black

Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard, October Afternoon Ducks in a Row

Accessories: Michael's ribbon, PTI buttons

A Swiss Miss Rosalie Marker for Jammy

2010-02-24T07:00:00.000-08:00

There was a point in time where Jamie was making loads and loads of bookmarks using TGF Miss Anya stamp sets. She even made me this special Clary-inspired bookmark which I totally dig but don't use b/c it's too nice to use and I want to hoard and save and preserve it in its most pristine condition. hehe...

Anyhoo, so I figured I would return the favor. I actually decided to color this All That Scraps Swiss Miss Rosalie image that Jamie picked up for me the last time she went home. She was loathe to give it up even though I did ask her to pick it up for me...but of course, that's beside the point for her...hehe... :)

Anyhoo, so this is Swiss Miss Rosalie. She looks exactly like Birgitta except w/o wings. I dunno, maybe the C.C. Designs creator ran out of ideas? No matter, it is still really cute.

Details
Stamps: C.C. Designs Swiss Miss Rosalie
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics
Paper: DCWV
Accessories: Offray black satin ribbon, Marvy flower punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Basic Grey buttons, Crop-A-Dile eyelet

Baby Card for My Longest-Known Pal

2010-02-22T07:00:00.000-08:00

My friend that I've known since we both moved to the same neighborhood in 4th grade is having her second child. She was scheduled to be induced today, but ended up having her baby last Wed, but I had already planned to post this card today so...here it is!

Since I don't have any boy design paper, I made a special trip to the scrapbook store to pick up this Doodlebug paper. It was down to either this paper or a doggie-themed paper, and hubs said he liked this one better. I figured since he was nice enough to come with me and follow me all around the store, I should go with his suggestion.

I layered the Memory Box scored notecard with random kraft cardstock that I got from a stamp store sale about, oh, 3 years ago. I hoard this one as I don't have much left (but luckily, Jamie and I discovered PTI's kraft cardstock recently, so all is good and I don't have to hoard anymore).

I cut light blue paper with Nesties Labels 1, and then ran it through the Cuttlebug Spots and Dots folder. The onesie was paper-pieced with Martha Stewart paper and I stuck a little Making Memories brad through to complete the onesie. Ironically, my friend that I'm making this card for is the one that gave me the button brad...this seems to be a theme with me - I used ribbon she gave me on her birthday card set. hehe...

Card Details:
Stamps: Savvy
Paper: Memory Box, Doodlebug
Ink: Colorbox Robin's Egg
Accessories: Nesties Labels 1 & Tag Trio, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Joann's ribbon, Making Memories button brad

Groovy Hope & Grace

2010-02-20T07:00:00.001-08:00

Howdy! So Jamie mentioned the other day that she was going to partake in Mercy's sketch challenge for the week. Seeing as I wasn't feeling like making the 2 cards that I need to make for events in March, and I really didn't have any other ideas but just had to stamp something, I decided to check it out. It seemed simple enough, not too many layers, so I thought, what the heck, why not? Also, I had a bunch of images that I had colored in with copics just lying around not getting used and they looked sad sitting in my ziploc.

So I decided to use this Greeting Farm image Hope & Grace Peace. Isn't she just so groovy? Since she had such a psychedelic t-shirt on, I had to use lots of colors in the card. I don't normally use 4 different colors, especially ones that are all bright and bold at once, but I didn't think subtle colors would do it for her.

Her t-shirt was colored using a Kiyomi Kraft technique where she colored in little balls of color and then blended it with a colorless blender. I totally dig the way it turned out! The sentiment is from Verve and I think it really fits the HG stamp!

Stamps: The Greeting Farm HG, Verve

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV

Ink: Memento, Copics, VersaColor Opera Pink

Accessories: Nesties ovals, Cuttlebug embossing folders, Prima flowers, Basic Grey buttons, Karen Foster scrappers floss

A Random Project

2010-02-18T07:00:00.000-08:00

So the other day, I was making a card and thought, golly, wouldn't this be nice as part of a card gift set? So I made a five card set with envelopes and packaged it all up nicely in this folding card holder thingy.

Here's the cover:

The design paper is EK Success. I love it, it's sooooo pretty - it's looks Asian-ish. And it's like letterpress, so it makes it seem even more... professional.

I used PTI dark chocolate cardstock for the base of the holder, layered PTI kraft cardstock, and then finally the pretty dp on top. I cut a strip of dark chocolate and used a Martha Stewart border punch to make a pretty band, and then used some random dotty ribbon that I had to act as the tie of the card holder. It was just by pure luck that the ribbon matched the flowers on the dp. Wahoo! I love when that happens. Using my fave Nesties Labels 1, I made the label and used PTI Vintage Labels and Simply Stationary stamp sets.

Here is the card holder opened up:

The holder on the left holds the envelopes. I'm thinking of maybe stamping some image on the envelope flaps but didn't get around to it because Jamie wanted me to post this today. =P The holder on the right holds the actual cards. I used the same dotty ribbon to decorate the inside of the holder (b/c the kraft holders looked soooo plain...but I ran out of the ribbon so could make any kind of fancy bow, hence just the plain ol' strip of ribbon).

And here is the card itself. Pretty simple huh? I had to keep it simple in order to fit 5 into the holder. It'd be kind of lame to just give someone a set of 2, don't you think? hehe...

Anyhoo, I really dig this card. I think the dp really makes it.

Card Details

Stamps: PaperTreyInk Vintage Labels & Simply Stationary, Memory Box

Paper: PaperTreyInk, Memory Box, EK Success

Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, VersaMagic Pink Grapefruit

Accessories: Salmon-ish dotty ribbon, Offray brown ribbon, Nesties Labels 1 & Tag Trios

Rubber Soul Shower

2010-02-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

I hate coming up with titles...especially when I can't think of anything clever.

Anyhoo, this card is for my friend Annie's wedding shower later this month. I think her wedding colors are pink and white, so I decided to just use a lot of different shades of pink.

I used Cuttlebug Birds & Vines embossing folder on the light pink swath of paper, then cut a strip of sparkly paper and used a Martha Stewart doily border punch. The bouquet image is from an oooooold Rubber Soul set that I have. It's a clear set...but they are kind of yellowing. Ewww...but they still stamp fine. I stamped the image on a cutout using my fave Nesties die set (Labels 1), then sponged around the image with some VersaMagic Pixie Dust. I colored the image with Copics and then glittered it up a little with some Spicas on the leaves and middle of each rose.

Originally, I was going to have a sentiment on the front of the card on top of the glittery paper in place of the ribbon...but I liked the ribbon better, so I just stamped the sentiment ("Best Wishes") on the inside of the card. The better to take up space on the inside, I say. I

Card Details

Stamps: Rubber Soul Wedding

Paper: Memory Box (dark pink & light pink) paper, DCWV Summer Glitter stack

Ink: Copics, Spicas, VersaMagic Pixie Dust, Memento Black

Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder "Birds & Vines", Nestabilities Labels 1, Martha Stewart Doily border punch, random ribbon

Valentine's Card for Hubs

2010-02-08T07:00:00.000-08:00

So not sure if you've noticed in my posts lately, but they all contain cards that serve a purpose. Somebody's birthday or holiday is coming up and I need a card for it. This is a good thing though because for the time being, I'm making cards that have actual purpose and I will use. The first few cards that I made at the beginning of this blog's life were for challenges but couldn't be used for anything. I mean, seriously, who can I give a Miss Anya card to besides Jamie? My sisters prefer cutesy cards (like monkeys and penguins) so...yeah.

ANYHOO, about this card, this is my Valentine's Day card for my hubs. I didn't really have any V-day stamps so I had to make due with my cute monkey set from C.C. Designs. Though I swear, at the next TCP sale, I'm going to get the Loving Mew set because I want that Love Machine Robot stamp...hehe...

Notice anything groovy about this card??? I used TWO Nesties sets. I just got them both this past weekend and made use of them right away, which is a first. Usually, I sit and admire my stuff for awhile, haha. Take, for example, the dotted ribbon in this picture. That's been sitting in my stash for over a year. *sigh* But I finally made use of it!! :)

Card Details

Stamps: C.C. Designs Monkey Love

Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard, DCWV summer mat stack, DCWV Sweet Stack

Ink: Memento black, Brilliance lime, Copics

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 9 and Tag Trio, Basic Grey button, Karen Foster scrappers floss, American Crafts polka dot ribbon

Happy Birthday, Hubs!!

2010-02-06T07:00:00.000-08:00

Today is my hubs' birthday! Hooray for hubs!

I had a hard time making this card because I don't have any boy paper. All of my paper is pretty, floral-y, girly...so again...I had a hard time making this card. In contrast to making my sister-in-law's card which took all of about 30 min to make, this one took a few days. I was trying to figure out a layout, but it required multiple patterned paper, and I didn't have any boy pattern paper, so I sat there and stared at my card for awhile, etc, etc... Finally, I just settled on trying to make my own background. So I stamped various TCP images on plain brown paper and called it good. haha...

For the white squares, I sponged VersaMagic Gingerbread ink to give it an old Western feel.

Card Details
Stamps: TCP It's a Western Thing
Ink: Memento black, VersaColor Pinecone, VersaMagic Gingerbread
Paper: Memory Box

Bitty Button Birthday Wishes

2010-02-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

Yeehaw!! After a month of agonizing over my niece's birthday card (which pretty much took the whole month of Jan to make because I just didn't have any card mojo), I finally got to move on to my other new stamp sets, namely PTI Everyday Button Bits!! I love this set, it is so cute and clever. They have various images that you can accent with buttons, and we all know that buttons are just groovy and fun!

So today's card is for my sister-in-law's birthday. I like the contrast between the lighter colored background and the bright red buttons. I think it really makes the buttons pop, don't you?

And you know what's even groovier about this card?? It only took me 30 min to make!! Freakin' record.

Card Details
Stamps: PTI Everyday Button Bits
Ink: VersaMagic Pinecone, I can't remember which green ink I used
Paper: Memory Box scored notecard (water), Memory Box Sweet Bay, Martha Stewart
Accessories: Basic Grey buttons, Martha Stewart border punch, random white satin ribbon

Long Time No Blog...

2010-02-01T20:42:00.001-08:00

As Jamie so kindly pointed out on her post, I haven't blogged in awhile. But in my defense, I've been BUSY. Vacationing is hard work!! hehehe...

Anyhoo, here's a card that I made for my niece. She turned the big 0-2 a few weeks ago and my sister/bro-in-law threw her a little party for her and her friends. They went to the local Gymboree to play and sing, but it wasn't very successful...the little kids didn't really play with each other and kind of wandered off on their own away from the way-too-happy-singing-hostess-lady.

This card uses a Pure Innocence stamp that I got from My Favorite Things. I loooove this stamp - it's so cute and I think it looks like my niece. I pretty much got it for that exact reason.

I used Christmas paper for this card (the polka dot paper). Mostly, I just wanted to use the cherry print paper and couldn't find a complimentary design paper except for one from my Christmas stack. What the heck, why not, right?

Card Details

Stamps: My Favorite Things Pure Innocence My Balloon

Ink: Copics, Brilliance Rocket Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Spica glitter pens

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV Sweet Stack, DCWV Glitter Stack

Accessories: Random green ribbon, Basic Grey button

A {Scrappy} Christmas Card

2009-12-20T10:40:00.000-08:00

So I've been making a small load of Christmas cards for the last few weeks, using my fave-paper-pack-of-the-moment Eskimo Kisses. The problem was, since I was cutting up the patterned paper into 4"x5.25" sheets to cover the pre-scored notecard, I was left with a lot of little strips of paper that couldn't be used for anything but was too cute to throw away. What to do?

Enter The Scrappy Christmas Card. Dum-dum-duuuuuuu...

The more I gathered little scraps of paper, the more I pondered how not to waste them. Then I realized something - each strip is exactly 4" long as well, the perfect size to fit on a notecard. So I gathered 7 of these strips in various patterns and oula - it provided a super groovy background for a Christmas card!! Wahoo! No waste and I think it looks pretty.

So since there is only 1 of these, this one is for my hubs. He gets the special, unique one. hehe.

I had bought matching Eskimo Kisses buttons but didn't use them on any of the cards I made. So I decided that I better make use of them lest they go to waste. I used Nesties Labels 1 and Vintage Labels, and the sentiment "joy" is from an old Memory Box Vintage Ornaments set. I don't know if you can see it, but I also used a star-like stamp behind the "joy" part, which is also from the same MB set. Also, the reason I used a "joy" sentiment is b/c the "Merry Christmas" sentiment didn't fit...heheh...

Card Details
Stamps: Memory Box Vintage Ornaments set, PTI Vintage Labels
Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard (water), BG Eskimo Kisses
Ink: Brilliance Pearl Chocolate, VersaMagic Sea Breeze
Accessories: BG Eskimo Kisses buttons, Karen Foster's scrapper's floss, Offray brown ribbon

Dashing Through the Snow!

2009-12-16T21:52:00.000-08:00

This is my favoritest image from the TCP Candyland Christmas set! The penguins look like they're having so much fun wherever they are going!

I used a Clean & Simple sketch from awhile ago. To make a snowy mountain for the penguins to sled down, I cut a hill from DCWV glitter mat stack in white. Soooo pretty...I like sparkle and bling!

Card Details
Stamps: TCP Candyland Christmas
Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard (water), BG Eskimo Kisses, DCWV glitter mat stack
Ink: Memento Black, Copics, VersaFine Black
Accessories: Ribbon (Joann's), Nesties circles

Toasty Penguin Card

2009-12-14T21:01:00.000-08:00

Penguins!! Yay! The penguin characters are my favorite in the TCP line. They are just so darned cute.

I used Spicas on the fire to give it a glittery, cracklin' glow. I wish it would show up better in the pics!

Oh, yeah, this is a Taylored Expressions sketch again.

Card Details
Stamps: TCP Candyland Christmas
Paper: Memory Box, BG Eskimo Kisses
Ink: Memento black, Copics, Spica
Accessories: Nestabilities Circles

Choo-choo Christmas

2009-12-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

Quickie post - got nothin' clever to say. Another TCP Candyland Christmas used. I gotta say... the kitty in the TCP set kind of creeps me out. I think it's the eyes. It's still a cute image, but I prefer the doggie and penguin images in the set best. I think I'm going to give this to my sister-family-entity - my niece likes mao maos...

Card Details
Stamps: TCP Candyland Christmas
Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard, MB Holiday Brights
Ink: Copics, Brilliance Rocket Red, Memento Black
Accessories: Random lime ribbon

It's the Holiday Season...

2009-12-09T21:58:00.000-08:00

...the holiday season! So a whoop-dee-doo and dickory dock...

Yay! Christmas! I have a pretty tree up and a stock of hot cocoa so life is good. Now if only I could figure out a way to stay home and stamp all day...then I'd have to tell Jamie the secret as she would never forgive me for withholding the secret to life's happiness. haha...

Anyhoo, here's a Christmas card I made based on a Taylored Expressions sketch from a few weeks ago. I'm making good use of my TCP Candyland Christmas (but seriously, it's hard not to make good use of it b/c all the images are sooooo cute!) and made a TCP card.

It's fairly simply, not too many embellies, just simple paper layering and copic coloring. I used Spica glitter pens on the gumdrops and candycanes but, again, you can't tell. Must get a better camera...

Card Details
Stamps: TCP Candyland Christmas
Paper: Memory Box pre-scored notecard, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses
Ink: Memento Black, VersaFine Onyx, Copics, Spicas
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestabilities circles

A Twofer...

2009-12-07T20:09:00.000-08:00

Today's card is a "twofer" - a two-fer-one card challenge requirement meeter. :)

I used Jen del Muro's latest SFYTT for the layout and used a santa image as per the Sparkle Creations requiriments. Super groovy!

I just love TCP images - they are so cute that they just make me happy and they are easy to color, which makes me even happier (as I lack superhuman Copic Coloring Skills). I used some Spica glitter pens on the plane, but you can't really tell from the picture. Too bad...

Also, I had this lime green grosgrain ribbon that I don't know where I got from but have been saving because I can't throw away anything, not even a little scrap, but didn't think I would ever use. Lo and behold - it matches the DP!! Wahoo! And I think it looks great.

Card Details
Stamps: TCP Candyland Christmas
Paper: Memory Box Holiday Brights & scored notecard
Ink: Memento Black, Brilliance Rocket Red, Copics, Spica glitter pens
Accessories: Nesties circles, random lime green ribbon

Happy Anniversary, Hubs!!

2009-11-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

I made this card for my hubs for our wedding anniversary. It's 3 years today and it's been the best so far. He's a very good hubby. :)

I used a sentiment from the Verve Beautiful You set. It makes me cry but it feels true to me... :)

I started out using an old Taylored Expressions layout, but it didn't quite work so I kind of flipped and modified and moved things around until it kind of worked.

Card Details
Stamps: Verve Beautiful You
Paper: Memory Box, Martha Stewart
Ink: Brilliance
Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 1, Pearl stickers from Michaels, flower punches from... Punch a Bunch (I think)

Whimsy Mini Comp Book for Ky

2009-11-16T07:00:00.000-08:00

So my sister wanted a modified mini comp book too. Since I am so magnanimous, I offered her the chance to select the design paper she wanted me to use from my latest Basic Grey Porcelain paper stack - but she didn't like any of them. So it was off to the stamp store to pick out a special design paper just for her. What a princess...

Heh. Who am I kidding? I just wanted to buy the BG Eskimo Kisses pack and she provided the perfect excuse to get it!! :)

Anyhoo, this modification is a lot simpler than the one that I did for Jamie's mini comp book. My sister really liked the little deer and she likes simple designs, so I decided to leave as much of the pretty design paper as visible as possible. This also made it much easier to finish in one night as I didn't have to sit there and try to think of a fancy image/design to put on top.

Again, I left a ribbon loop on the spine to stick a pen in. My sister is picky about her pens so I figure just let her attach one that she likes. And I also don't have a pen for her.

Details

Stamps: PTI Vintage Labels & Fresh Alphabet

Paper: Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses, Stardream Chiara, random kraft cardstock

Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 1, Joann's ribbon

More PTI Grooviness

2009-11-14T07:00:00.000-08:00

I'm on a background-making kick! I can't help it! PTI makes such perfectly suited stamps for background making! Oh, but the one on the fuschia cardstock is a stamp from Savvy that I love but haven't used enough. The PTI stuff is on the linen cardstock. They are from the Simply Stationery set (that I just got - EEEEEEEE!!!). I love the color combo - I'm way big on pink and green!

Jamie and I agree - PTI and Verve stamps seem to go so well together! I've been doing a lot of PTI background with Verve sentiments and love the combo!!

I stamped the Savvy Outline Tile background directly on the cardstock (something I never do) because it seemed awfully bare without it. It turned out *relatively* okay, but I definitely need to practice more.

Card Details
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Vintage Labels and Simply Stationery, Verve Beautiful You, Savvy Outline Tile
Paper: Memory Box Peony notecard, Nekoosa Linen cardstock, random kraft cardstock
Ink: VersaFine Raspberry, VersaMagic Tea Leaves, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate
Accessories: EK Success border punch, Nestabilities Labels 1, random ribbon

A {Pretty} Subtle Background

2009-11-12T07:00:00.000-08:00

I absolutely loooooove the way this card turned out. It's so simple, but I think it's so pretty! I don't know why the stamp image turned out the way it did; must be something about the ink, but it did this faded look thing where it started out solid and gradually faded as it made its way down the image. Whatever the magic, I love it! Looks so vintage-y!

PTI does tons of amazing backgrounds using their stamp images, and I wanted to do the same. So I chose this image from the uber-groovy Vintage Labels set and very carefully aligned the image all over the paper. Originally, I had a bigger Nesties Labels 1 size cut out, layered and stamped with sentiment, but I thought it covered too much of the background and I really wanted to showcase the background. So I used the smallest Labels 1 size and just did a simply with no layering and oula! Worked out perfectly!

Card Details

Stamps: Papertrey Ink Vintage Labels, Verve Circular Sayins

Paper: Memory Box Moss and Mocha cardstock, Nekoosa Linen cardstock

Ink: VersaMagic Tea Leaves, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 1, random green ribbon

Return to Simplicity

2009-11-10T07:00:00.000-08:00

I've been into making cards with loads of layers and embellies due to influence from uber-fabu DT members. However, in looking at genius creator Nichole Heady's blogs, I've noticed that she makes simple cards that are still fabulous. So I thought I'd try my hand at making simple cards again and I love the way it turned out. And it's purely coincidence that the white stamp background shape somewhat matches the design on the green DP. Super groovy! And don't you just love how the PTI Vintage Labels set coordinates fabulously with Nestabilities Labels 1?? Nichole Heady is a total genius!

Card Details
Stamps: PTI Vintage Labels, Verve Beautiful You
Paper: Memory Box Bayou scored notecard, Memory Box Sweet Bay dp, random kraft cardstock
Ink: Brilliance Moonlight White, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, VersaMagic Tea Leaves
Accessories: Joann's ribbon, Nestabilities Labels 1

Modified Mini Comp Book

2009-11-08T00:26:00.000-08:00

I saw this modified mini comp book on the Poppy Paperie blog awhile ago and was inspired ever since to do it! It took me awhile to get my act together but I finally did it and made one for my pal Jam. She likes pink and brown, so I used some dp that had those colors. Then...I got stuck. I couldn't think of an image to decorate the book with b/c the pattern on the dp is not subtle. It stumped me for about a week and then I decided to use the hot air balloon from the TGF Fly Away set. A little name customization courtesy of a groovy PTI alphie set and I was set. Wahoo! I likes. She did too. The only lame thing was that the pen I was going to attach to the notebook didn't hang snugly against the spine of the notebook. The clip was curved, so when I tried to hang it from the ribbon, it dangled loosely (lame). Luckily, Jamie has plenty pens and didn't need me to provide one. But it's still kind of lame to not provide one. Anyhoo, here's the comp book!

Details
Stamps: PTI Fresh Alphabet, TGF Fly Away
Paper: DCWV, Stardream Chiara
Accessories: Joann's ribbon, Spica glitter pens, EK Success scallop border punch, Nesties petite scallop ovals large

Last of the Set!!

2009-10-29T07:00:00.000-07:00

This card turned out differently than I had originally planned. It was supposed to follow the layout the first card of the birthday set (with the "birthday wishes" sentiment), but then, because I suspect that I'm slightly ADD, I got "creative" and did some double stacking ribbon thingy and centered the sentiment circle. I like how it turned out though. And I used DP that I've been hoarding for awhile. I think it's Memory Box Enlighten paper pack. And notice I went back to a green/pink color scheme? Told ya I love this color combo a lot!

Card Details
Stamps: Verve Circular Sayings
Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate, clear embossing powder
Paper: Memory Box notecard - Mocha, Memory Box Enlighten design paper, DCWV summer mat stack (pink paper)
Accessories: Nestabilities circles and scallop circles, pearl stickers from Michael's, random ribbon

Smiley Tuesday

2009-10-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Here is card #4 of the birthday set (I made 5 total...although there are 6 sentiments in the Circular Sayings set, but I ran out of time. Besides, 5 is a nice round number, right??!! And to make up for it, I did make a simple pearl coin pendant for my friend as part of her birthday gift so I figure it's all good).

The layout is somewhat similar to the layout of the card on the previous post (with the "thanks" sentiment). I didn't have any buttons or ribbon that matched the color scheme of this card though, so had to improvise...so I did the trio of eyelets at the top of the card so it wouldn't be too plain.

Card Details
Stamp: Verve Circular Sayings
Ink: VersaFine Cyan, clear embossing powder
Paper: Memory Box scored notecard - Pear, DCWV summer mat stack (blue paper), DCWV summer glitter stack (design paper), DCWV La Creme mat stack (white paper)
Accessories: Nestabilities circles and scallop circles, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Making Memorys eyelets

Bubbly Thanks

2009-10-25T09:00:00.000-07:00

Card numero tres of the card set I made for my friend. I actually really like this one b/c it seems rather whimsical with the bubbles on the DP, round buttons, and swiss dots.

I sure hope she likes this card set because it took me all week to make!!

Stamps: Verve Circular Sayings

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV, random kraft cardstock

Ink: VersaFine, clear embossing powder

Accessories: Swiss Dots embossing folder, BG buttons, Nesties circles and scallop circles, EK Success border punch, ribbon

Feel Good Friday Card

2009-10-23T22:30:00.001-07:00

This is another card from the set I'm making for my friend's bday. I love this DCWV paper pack. Can't remember what it's called right now but it's very elegant and vintage-y. Super groovy! And ironically, the ribbon on this card was a bday gift from the same friend who I'm giving this card set to! Lucky it matched so perfectly with the DP. hehe...

And just FYI, this entry is called "Feel Good Friday Card" because the sentiment is "Just Because You're You" and doesn't that just make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside? Awww...blech...

Card Details
Stamps: Verve
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV
Ink: VersaFine Black, clear embossing powder
Accessories: Nesties circles and scallop circles, Martha Stewart border punch, ribbon

Way, Way, Way Belated Post

2009-10-21T22:10:00.000-07:00

So it's been ages since I've posted. I've been quite unmotivated about stamping for the last few weeks. Then I realized my friend's birthday is coming up and decided that I wanted to make her a card set as a gift. I wanted to use my Circular Sayings set from Verve since (1) I just got them and (2) felt the need to use them.

I actually made this card on Monday night but due to finishing late and procrastinating, I never took a picture and never posted (much to Jamie's annoyance, I'm sure ^_^).

So anyhoo, I like how this card turned out. Love the color scheme - pink & green is one of my all time favorites, and I think this worked out well. This is the first of the card set...I made a 2nd one tonight...trying to make 3-4 more cards but I'm not sure I'll finish by Sat.

I attempted to tie the ribbon by the flower using a Nichole Heady technique where she just looped the ribbon and tied it with twine, but since the flower is so big, you can't really tell. Oh, well.

Anyhoo, here is the card and "the deets":

Stamps: Verve Circular Sayings

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV Sweet Things and a solid mat stack

Ink: VersaColor

Accessories: Circle & Scallop Circle Nesties, Prima flowers, BG buttons, scrappers floss, MB crystal stickers, random ribbon

Finally - Verve!

2009-10-08T19:51:00.001-07:00

Whee!!! I ordered my first sets of Verve stamps last week, got them Monday, and have happily made my first Mojo Monday card with actual Verve stamps!! Wahoo!!

So the paper scheme might look familiar - I used this combo in a recent post and just love how it turned out. So I had to use it again. Though this time around, green is the more prominent color.

I used Martha Stewart border punch to make the "band" part of the sketch. Normally, I would use ribbon but I love this punch and really wanted to use it and thought it'd make a most excellent band.

Card Details

Stamps: Verve Beautiful You

Paper: Memory Box

Ink: VersaMagic Sea Breeze, Brilliance Pearlescent Chocolate

Accessories: Circle Nesties, Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls embossing folder, Joann's ribbons, MS border punch, pearl stickers from Michaels

Happy Birthday to Ky'k!

2009-10-05T20:59:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my sister's birthday, so the card today was made for her. I used my new stamp set from C.C. Designs called Sweet Treats. It is just so darned cute! It might not even be meant for birthdays, but it has ice cream on it and ice cream says birthday to me!

Anyhoo, the card is based on an Amy R sketch and I thought it was perfect to showcase the monkey. Now, as Jamie knows, I don't have a lot of Copics right now and am limited in coloring. Normally, when I make a card, I figure out what paper I want to use and then color the image accordingly. This time around, I just wanted to use the image so I stamped and colored it in without planning the paper first. I used whatever pastel colors I had to color in the ice cream, and then when I was done coloring the image, just went to search for whatever paper might fit. Luckily, this pack of DCWV line, uh...Sweet Things or something like that, had this plaid paper thing going on that went perfectly with the monkey. Wahoo!! The other paper is just some random Michael's paper pack that I Cuttlebugged with Swiss Dots and another one that I can't remember the name of but I just got because I was ordering some books from Amazon and shipping was $5 but if I just spent $5 more, than I would get free shipping. And it just so happened that this embossing folder was $5 so I thought might as well get it as not. =D hahaha!!

Also, I had actually stamped a sentiment on a round piece of paper and mounted it on another round piece of paper, but when it came time to position it on the card, it ended up covering the cool embossed paper. So I decided to place it on the inside but unfortunately forgot to take a picture of it. Oh well, I got a picture of the important part at least.

Card Details
Stamp: C.C. Designs Sweet Treats
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV, some Michael's paper
Ink: Copics, Memento
Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folders

An Oldie but Goodie for WCMD Japan Challenge

2009-10-04T08:36:00.000-07:00

I was trolling through blogland last night and wandered to one of my fave sites, Nicole Heady of PTI. It turns out she was hosting a card challenge in honor of World Card Making Day, the first of which was to make a card inspired by Japan. It just so happens that one of my favoritest cards that I ever made in the history of my card-making life is very Japanese-y. I actually made this card awhile ago and had it lying around - I guess it was just waiting to get posted for this challenge! What luck!

I have a ton of origami/washi paper hoarded in my paper stack and I never use it. One day, I literally forced myself to use it. I picked 2 papers that I wanted to work with and sat there until inspiration hit. This is also the first time I started using sketches. This particular card is actually a modification of a Mojo Monday sketch. The original layout didn't quite work out for me, but the modification to it made it PERFECT. :)

Card Details
Stamps: Mari & Me (both sakura & fan)
Paper: Washi paper (2 kinds), DCWV, Memory Box pre-scored notecard
Ink: Brilliance Rocket Red ink
Accessories: Memory Box green jewel stickers, ribbon

Anyone for Anya? ME!

2009-10-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

Today's card is for the challenge posted on the "Anyone for Anya?" blog. This is my favorite image from the Miss Anya stamp set. I think it's b/c I find her easier to color than the other two. Of course, I haven't actually exerted as much time and effort on coloring the other two...

The paper I used in the card is from an old, I think maybe discontinued, Memory Box line...Sweet Bay? I think. I love the patterns in this pack - very soft, delicate, and pretty! The grayish-brownish paper was perfect to use an embossing folder on. I was actually going to use that paper where the blue paper is right now, but it seemed like a waste of embossing paper if most of it was covered up. So I swapped it to showcase it better and it voila! It worked out perfectly!

I seem to be on a blue/brown color kick lately. Not sure why, but it seems to be working for me. I really ought to expand but I can't help but gravitate towards the color combos I like best. Oh well.

Anyhoo, I've gotta run b/c I have to finish carpet cleaning. Yay, what a fun way to spend a Sat. Luckily, it's somewhat gloomy out so it's not like I feel like I'm missing out on any sunshine fun.

Card Details
Paper: Memory Box scored notecard, Memory Box Sweet Bay design paper
Stamps: Miss Anya, Memory Box (sentiment)
Ink: Copics, Memento Black
Accessories: Nesties Label 1, Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls embossing folder, Joann's ribbon

Club Anya {hearts} punches

2009-10-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

It's raining, it's pouring! It's the perfect day to curl up in the house...and stamp! But first, I wanted to post this card that I made on Sunday that just so happened to meet the Club Anya "I {heart} punches" challenge! Wahoo!! I met a challenge without even trying! That's a total first. And super groovy!

Anyhoo, here's my card. This is the first time I'm using this stamp even though I bought it a few months back. I actually inked and colored this image right when I got the stamp, but couldn't seem to make a card with it. I'm glad I finally did b/c she's such a cutie!

I'm not sure if you can see, but I put glittery stickles on the wings to give Anya some shine! So pretty! AND it matches the white circle of glittery paper (not sure if you can tell it's glitter paper either).

I am eyeing the Nestabilities tag set for Christmas, but for now I have to make due with mock tags...I cut a rectangle of paper and used the Making Memories slot punch to make the slot where the ribbon ties through. Not too shabby, but definitely not as clean and groovy as a Nesties tag die would be!!

Card Details

Stamps: TGF Angel Anya, Savvy (sentiment)

Paper: Memory Box, various DCWV paper

Ink: Memento, Copics, Stickles (wings)

Accessories: Nesties, Joann's ribbon, Making Memories slot punch

Xie Xie Ni (Thank you)

2009-09-29T22:12:00.000-07:00

This is the last of the dolls in my Hero Arts Chinese stamp set. I actually have 2 Chinese dolls stamps sets - this is from the wood block set. The Chinese chars and the clover-like images are from the acrylic set. Hero Arts has really improved their Asian images! My pal Jamie has the Japanese doll acrylic set (but I think she has yet to make a card with them). I kind of had to force myself to use them b/c they've been sitting there for the last, oh, 4 months which, compared to some of the other stamps I have, isn't all that long...but shhh, don't tell my hubs.

Anyhoo...

Card Details
Stamps: Hero Arts
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV, origami paper
Ink: Memento, Copics
Accessories: Nesties circles

Operation Rediscover Mojo: China Doll Kick (Round 2)

2009-09-27T22:48:00.000-07:00

Still trying to rediscover my stamping mojo...so I continued making China Doll cards. For once, I had a productive weekend - I made 4 whole cards! I don't feel completely wowed by my cards though. I don't know...I probably need to have a Craft Day with Jamie...we haven't had once since...before summer, I think. NO WONDER I'm all dried up of ideas!! hehe...

Anyhoo, here's my card for ORM (Round 2). Oh, mojo, where are you?!

Anyhoo, I paper-pieced her dress and colored in the details with Copics. I love the little flower jewel sticker...I bought it at Ben Franklin Crafts in Hawaii when I was last there...however, upon comparing the price and quantity with Taylored Expressions, these were more expensive. DOH! But a lot can be said for instant gratification, right?? hahah...

The card layout isn't based on any particular sketch. Sometimes, sketches are GREAT and helpful but lately, they've been making it harder for me to stamp and put a card together. Too much going on and I suspect I'm slightly ADHD...so I end up staring at the sketch, my stamps, my paper, and my embellishments for awhile before giving up for the night. Anyhoo, I thought I'd revisit the days when I didn't follow a sketch and see what I could come up with.

Card Details
Stamps: Hero Arts, Impress Rubber Stamps (sentiment)
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV, origami paper
Ink: Memento, Copics
Accessories: EK Success scallop border punch, Joann's flowers, Midori flower jewel sticker, Making Memories brad

Ni Hao, Kai-lan!

2009-09-26T16:17:00.001-07:00

So it's been freakishly long since I last posted. Been lacking the stamping mojo still and been busy with life in general. Today, however, was a completely free day at home. Got the grocery shopping for the week and laundry out of the way so I was home free to stamp, stamp, and stamp! Yee-haw!

I bought a bunch of Hero Arts stamps back in May, including the little Chinese girl in the card below. She is soooo cute and I don't use her nearly enough, so I decided to break her out of her holding cell (my stamp drawers) today and make a card with her!!

You ever see the Nickelodeon show "Ni Hao, Kai-lan"? She's not Kai-lan (not to be confused with the vegetable kai-lan), but she sure looks like it to me! So cute with the little hair buns!

Anyhoo, this card is based on this week's JDM SFYTT. Although...now that I look at the sketch again, I suddenly realized that I forgot to include an embellishment for the star she has on her sketch. Oh well...close enough, right? And besides, I'm just getting back into the stamping mode so I deserve a little leeway, right???

Card Details:
Stamps: Hero Arts, Mari & Me (sentiment)
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV, origami paper
Ink: Memento, VersaFine, Copics
Embellishment: Making Memories snaps, Cuttlebug Floral Screen embossing folder, Nesties

Quickie Card

2009-09-15T22:09:00.000-07:00

Last week, I saw an episode of Martha Stewart making a simple card using border punches. They looked so pretty that I wanted to try it too! Problem was, I didn't have any border punches. What to do, what do to...well, wasn't it lucky for ME that Michael's had a sale on Martha Stewart crafts this past weekend! Wahoo! Shopping spree!! haha...

So here's the card:

And here's the inside:

As you can see, there is no "stamping" involving, just a lot of punching and a bit of Cuttlebugging. I tried to dress up the front of the card by testing out tying ribbon in the front in a knot, positioning flowers...nothing seemed to work. So I left it as is.

Card Details
Paper: Stardream, Memory Box
Accessories: Martha Stewart punches (various), EK Success punch, Nesties

Operation: Rediscover Mojo (Round 1)

2009-09-13T17:51:00.000-07:00

So it's been a loooong 2 weeks since I last made any card. Not just make a card that I like - I haven't been able to piece together any kind of card no matter how hard I stare at my stamps and paper and will myself to make something dagnabbit!

So I finally just decided to put whatevers together - anything to get my stamping mojo back. So this is my first attempt at making a card.

It's based on a Mojo Monday sketch 103. It's okay...not my best work, but I'm hoping that the more I stamp, the faster the mojo will return.

So here's the card + details:

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV
Stamps: Memory Box, Savvy
Ink: VersaColor
Embellishment: Morex ribbon, Martha Stewart border punch

Jamie No Mojo

2009-09-07T15:45:00.000-07:00

...and neither have I. I've run out of ideas. Can't make a card take shape and form for the life of me. How do people do it - everyday, they make something super groovy and can post it before I even get out of bed? It's sad. I've sat at home all day, staring at sketches, trying to make a congratulations card for someone and absolutely NOTHING is happening. What the heck, man? It's annoying...

Jamie no mojo...and neither have I.

EEEEEEEEE!!!

2009-08-30T22:27:00.000-07:00

OMG! I'm soooooo excited! I finally made an Anya card that I actually, truly, really, freakishly am pleased with!!! EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!

I bought this paper today and KNEW right away that I wanted to use it for The Greeting Farm challenge. It seemed perfect for this Anya image, delicate girly-girl carrying flowers and gives it an almost vintage-y feel. I tried to keep the colors toned down and muted to go with the cream/black color scheme...soft pink was the way to go to compliment this.

Sometimes, the right patterned paper can totally make or break your card.

EEEEEEEEEE!!! I totally love it!! :)

Card Details:

Stamps: TGF Miss Anya

Ink: Memento, Copics

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nesties, ribbon, Joann's flowers

P.S. My hubs just read this post and totally made fun of me. "Don't you always say you're 'so excited' at the beginning of every post?" Dear hubs, that's because every pretty card makes me excited and happy. Silly boy, you should know by now. :)

All About Pink and Brown

2009-08-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

I need more pink Copics. That's the conclusion I've come to after making this card. More pinks to color her clothes in...but we make due with our limited colors and funds. *sigh*

Anyhoo, this card is based on the Club Anya "I Wanna Be Just Like..." challenge. Oooh, and I so do wanna be like this lady who made such a beautiful card!! :)

Card Details:
Stamps: TGF Miss Anya
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV
Ink: Memento, VersaColor, Copics
Accessories: Joann's ribbon, flowers, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots

Another TCP Tues Challenge

2009-08-26T22:23:00.000-07:00

Wahoo!! I finished my 2nd card of the night, so that's a double-header of posting for today!

Anyhoo, I totally LOVE this week's TCP challenge hosted by Leigh of Sunflower Studio! The color scheme was absolutely awesome: chocolate, sky blue, and kiwi!!

I thought it'd make a cool color scheme for a Christmas card, so I dug out my recently purchased, but not-yet-inked Candyland Christmas set from TCP!! Whee!! I'm always happy when I manage to use stamps that I buy (cuz we all have stamps that we haven't used yet even after 2 years!!).

Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but the mountain that the penguins are sledding on and the snowflakes are made from sparkly DCWV paper. Cuz the snow glitters in the sun, ya know! Whee!!

Card Details:

Stamps: TCP Candyland Christmas

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV

Ink: Memento, Copics

Accessories: Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, Nesties, random ribbon, snowflake punch

Pretty Anya!

2009-08-26T20:33:00.000-07:00

Whee! Pretty Anya card! This is another one of the new sets that I got recently from The Greeting Farm. At first, I didn't care too much for the Miss Anya line, but the more I saw cards with her, the more I liked it!! I'm very impressionable... haha...

Although my Copic marker technique is far from Kiyomi Krafts or Wicked Pixie levels, I was quite pleased with how the coloring turned out with my limited skills and markers. Wahoo!!

Anyhoo, this card is for Jamie, who's been harping on me about my slow posting. It's also based on a Taylored Expressions sketch challenge from last week. I'm late, I know, but eh...life gets in the way of stamping...

If I'm productive, I may post a 2nd card tonight!! Wish me luck, I take forever to figure out layout and stamps to use...

Card Details:
Stamps: TGF, Savvy (sentiment)
Paper: Memory Box
Ink: Memento, Copics
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nesties, Joann's ribbon

Aaaargh!!

2009-08-25T22:17:00.000-07:00

My camera battery is DEAD. Just as I was about to take a picture of my latest card, I discovered, as I tried to turn it on, that the battery was dead!! :(

So no new card picture today. Possibly tomorrow.

Fly Away!!

2009-08-23T14:26:00.001-07:00

Whee! I loooooove my new set from The Greeting Farm! It's called "Fly Away" and the hot air balloon is purrrrfect for paper piecing. Muy cute, huh? Doesn't it just make you want to float away happily into the wild blue yonder? hehe...

So this card was made at the request of my mom - my sister-in-law won 1st princess in a pageant and my parents wanted to send a congratulations card to her. So, since I wanted to use my new set, and rather than use a boring ol' "congratulations" sentiment, I thought this would be PERFECT to evoke a "Great job! New horizons are open to you!" kind-of-an-emotion. Yay or ney? Well, no matter b/c I love the way the card turned out!! :)

It's based on a Jen Del Muro sketch b/c she just had fabulous layout ideas.

Card Details:
Stamps: The Greeting Farm Fly Away set
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV
Ink: Memento, Copic (for the balloon tail)
Accessories: Nestabilities, Cuttlebug

Asian-y, Guy-ish Birthday Card

2009-08-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

So here's the aforementioned birthday card that I made for hubby's daddy's birthday. I rather like the blue/brown/gold color scheme. Seems appropriate for a guy, right? I have lots of girly stamps and not very many dude stamps. Actually, I did just buy a Cowboys & Indians set from TCP, but I don't think that would go over well with a 50+ year old guy... heh... anyhoo, on to the card details!

Paper: Memory Box, washi paper
Stamps: Hero Arts (butterfly), Kodomo (I think)
Ink: Versacolor Cyan, clear embossing powder

Yowzas!

2009-08-21T13:44:00.000-07:00

I started the blog and only got 3 posts in. LAZY. Actually, I was busy all last week with stuff to do after work, packing for a weekend trip, came back and have been bumming ever since. Well, not exactly. I cleaned my house. But that really shouldn't take precedence over stamping should it?? hehe...

Anyhoo, I did make a card last night for my hubs's daddy's bday. I haven't taken a picture of it yet b/c it was too dark in my house when I finished and I don't have a lightbox. But it's Japanese-y and I used a stamp with the Chinese character on it for "longevity." It's the kind of thing you put on stuff you give to old people for their birthdays. Hahah!! Joking!

I'll try to take a pic and post it within the next day or so...b/c I'm seriously behind on the blogging.

OH! On an unrelated but supremely exciting note, I got my new stamps from The Greeting Farm!! Wahoo! They are not new releases but ones I have been coveting for awhile. I hope I can get around to stamping sometime this weekend with the piggy from the Fly Away set!! Whee! Piggies!!

The Greeting Farm Challenge

2009-08-09T17:18:00.001-07:00

Wahoo! I am on a roll. Participating in two challenges in a single weekend? I don't know if this will ever happen again.

This card is for The Greeting Farm - Farm Fresh Friday challenge. This week, they provided a sketch to make a card. Thank goodness it wasn't one of the fancy modify-an-image challenges. No way I could do that!

Anyhoo, this card is using the Hula Anya stamp. Isn't she cute?? Lots of cuttlebugging going on with this card, which is a good thing - otherwise, my hubs wouldn't be happy if I wasn't maximizing the usage of my birthday present.

I used raffia for the lines going across the top and bottom (was a bit of a pain to gather and tape), Island Heritage origami paper (the hibiscus pattern), various Nesties, the floral screen embossing folder on the green paper (hard to see), and Memory Box cardstock and "aloha" stamp.

TCP Tuesday 70!

2009-08-07T17:24:00.000-07:00

So this is the reason why I started this blog - to enter this challenge hosted by Susiestampsalot! I thought, hey, a card using cakes??! That's something I can do! Not best copic marker coloring challenge, best use of Cuttlebug folders - nope, purely, simply - cakes. I aim low, don't I? ;) heh.

Anyhoo, here's my card! I like it a lot - it's so colorful! I should've juxtaposed the little cupcakes, but I only thought of that after I mounted them on the card. So it was either live with it or rip it off the card, potentially ruining it. I don't think so! This took me the whole week to make - determine the layout, the stamps/paper/embellies to use...inspiration takes a long time to hit.

Card Details:
Stamps: TCP Smells Like Cake & TCP You Say It's Your Birthday
Paper: Memory Box, DCWV
Ink: Versafine black, Copics, Spica pens, embossing powder
Accessories: Memory Box crystal stickers, Crop-a-dile eyelets, Nesties Labels 1 and circles, CB swiss dots embossing folder

Monkey Card

2009-08-06T16:10:00.000-07:00

I hadn't really intended to start a blog...but I found that I wanted to partake in various challenges that are hosted by supremely talented bloggers (TCP crew, TGF, etc). The card that I'm posting here isn't for any challenge in particular; rather, it seemed the most appropriate based on the name of my blog.

As you can see, I don't even have a lightbox to take pretty card pictures (that's how spontaneous creating this blog was), but it suffices for now. Maybe I'll go use Jamie's one day.

Anyhoo, this card is based on a layout that Inkastamp did once. I love her cards - they are so fabulous, creative, and beautiful. She's so great at layering patterns. Well, that's it for now. Let's see how long I keep up this blogging!

Card Details:

Stamp: All That Scraps

Paper: Memory Box, DCWV

Ink: Versafine, Copics

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities, Swiss Dots embossing folder, Making Memories flower brads, leftover wedding favor ribbon