Falling For ... Notepads!

Hi there! I am trying to come up with some fun things to sell in a craft event I am invited to be a part of in November. Looking around on line.. I got this really cute idea from the Stamp Doc. Thank you, Melissa! This is just what I needed to kick my creative mojo into gear. It holds a Junior Sized Legal Pad with a matching pen. Isn't it cute?

I will make several different designs. This is the first one I put together. I used

12x12 Early Espresso Card Stock
Very Vanilla Card Stock
Spice Cake DSP
Sticky Strip Red Tape (I love this stuff)
Jr Sized Legal Pads from Staples
RSVP Pens from Staples

Ill keep you posted on the date of the Art and Craft Fair at Laurie Carey's home. If you are local and have never attended this in the past.. its a MUST. We have a lot of wonderfully crafty talented local people participating again this year.. you won't want to miss it! Take time to get inky!

Order 24/7 visiting my ONLINE STORE .

First Edition Specialty DSP Into A Christmas Tree!

Hi Everyone. Along with making cards, I love to make 3D type items. I guess it is in my blood to alter stuff. I've gotten a lot lighter with my inks but as far as looking for ways to dress stuff up.. I'm always looking for things to tweek.

On Page 21 of the Idea Book and Catalog, this Christmas tree called out to me. I found a Styrofoam cone and went to town. I cut 1 1/2 inch x 12 inch strips of the First Edition DSP and then "fringed" it using scissors, cutting the entire strips of DSP so they all looked like fringe. After fringing, I took my nails and made all those little fringies curl up (this was time consuming but easy). I then used a liquid matte glue to adhere it to the cone and continued to work my way from the bottom to the top of the cone until it was covered. Let that dry. I then made my banner thingy on the top using cherry cobbler and garden green stampin write markers and used the font from the Merry Christmas stamp in the Easy Events set of stamps, on very vanilla card stock.. I used the star fron the On Board Merry Medley and covered it with Tombo glue and then adhered the Stampin` Glitter (Silver) onto it. I took a skewer and adhered the banner and star to that and poked it into the stryofoam tree. I then added tiny slivers of cardstock to give it a little extra color. :)

I hope you like it. If you have any questions, free free to email me. Take time to get inky!

Falling For Chocolate!

Yummy! Who doesn't love a little treat? Especially when it is something chocolatey! This is a project I did at my first workshop. It was so easy and yet all the gal's just LOVED it! I used the new 1 inch x 8 inch Cellophane Bags in the Holiday Mini Catalog (#124134). I love these.. what a great way to make a little something as a gift and they are so easy to decorate. Quick and easy.. just how I like it! I used the following:

Very Vanilla Card Stock (to make the tag)
Spice Cake Designer Series Paper (DSP)
Leaves #2 Die (#113459)
Big Shot Machine (#113439)
Crumb Cake Ink
Stampin Sponge (#101610)
Elements Of Style Clear Mount Stamp Set (#120045)
Neutrals Buttons (#119743)
Hershey's Cookies And Cream Chocolates (yummy!)
Linen Thread (#104199)

To adhere the tag and button to the bag, I looped the linen thread around the bag, and fed thru the hole of the tag and thru the button, and then tied it tightly into a bow. It holds it snug and securely. :)

To purchase any of the above products, visit my ON LINE STORE. Have a great day!

Getting More Into Fall

Hi there stamping friends! I finally sat down for a bit to stamp! Yay! This morning I woke up to a lot of hammering and stuff. The drywall guys were here.. YIPPEE! I have "walls" now.. and my kitchen now has a shape other than... insulation. I'm seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.. sort of! I was hopping Fred would be here (the main drywall guy) to mud today too.. but I guess I was expecting a bit too much all in one day. So, fingers crossed for tomorrow.

So, onward to today's card! I have 2 BIG favorites right now.. the Spice Cake Suite and the Gently Falling stamp set. Oh my gosh, I am in LOVE!

Does this get you in the mood for fall or what? Such YUMMY colors in the spice cake suite. So, along with the Spice Cake DSP, I used the following:

Very Vanilla Card Stock for my base
Spice Cake DSP (as stated) - the Pear Pizzaz print
River Rock Card Stock
Early Espresso Dye Ink
River Rock Dye Ink
Pear Pizzaz Dye Ink
Warmest Of Wishes Clear Mount Stamp Set (Hostess Set)
Designer Buttons - Spice Cake (this is the Soft Suede Color on the card)
Linen Thread
Stampin Dimensionals
Early Espresso Stampin Write Marker
Color Spritz Tool (I really really love this tool)

Now, if I could only pick out the right brown for my kitchen and breakfast nook.. lets see....

Eeeeek!!! Just a few to choose from.. :) Take time to get a bit inky!

PS I decided on Grandfather Clock Brown :)

Another Mitten

Good afternoon! Here is another version of the mitten template. I am having fun making these. They take just a few minutes to make.

Recipe for this card:

Cherry Cobbler Card Stock
Garden Green Card Stock
Whisper White Card Stock
Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - Snow Burst
Textured Impressions Embossing Folder - Stripes
Stitched Felt Winter Wishes
Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon
Cherry Cobbler Stampin Write Marker
Garden Green Stampin Write Marker
Aqua Painter
Basic Black Dye Ink
Dazzling Details
1 3/4 inch Scallop Circle
2 3/8 inch Scallop Circle

Tomorrow I'll show you how I used the new Cellophane bag's in the new Holiday Mini Catalog. We made a cute little gifty type of thing at my last workshop. I can't wait to show you ... and so easy too!

Take time to get inky!

Its Hot!

Hi everyone!! It is Thursday already. Yikes! I had a few minutes to stamp and I wanted to share this with you. I found this original idea here, on Debbie's Blog. It was so cute. The template has some very cute possibilities. I love the Domestic Goddess Suite.. so darn cute.. and trust me, I am far from a domestic goddess (but for today, we will fake it!). I used the simply score tool to make the pattern in the mitten. I used stampin write markers in the following colors: Basic Gray, Pool Party and Calypso Coral. I used Pool Party, Whisper White and Calypso Coral card stock. For a little extra touch, basic rhinestones, and whisper white taffeta ribbon. I have some other ideas flowing now.. stay tuned!

Friends Help Friends Enable Each Other!

Hi there! I'm back and I'm feeling much better after a few days away. I asked a friend of mine to tag along with me to the Chicago area (Oak Brook to be exact) and we had a ball. It has been a while since I was able to just sleep in, shop til I drop and eat til I feel like I will explode! Seriously.. we did! I have no regrets and we had a lot of laughs and we helped each other out enabling each other along the way. Ill share a few photos :)

So, first we hit The Container Store. Ever hear of it? I never had.. til I had been to Chicago. If you are into organization or need anything to help you organize .. this store is for you. Needless to say.. I think we helped out Chicago's economy! We spent.. oh... 2.5 hours in this place? It is huge.. and so many COOL ideas! See that bag Pat has... cool find right there.. at the Container Store. We then were hungry.. so we had to stop at Cheesecake Factory.. not once.. but twice.. roll me home! Oh my!

Ok.. this is another favorite of mine.. thank goodness we do NOT have a Cheesecake Factory nearby. Holy cow! Can you say.. 100000000 calories? LOL. Yowza it was sinfully good. My favorite dish: Chicken and Biscuits.. to die for! Tastes just like my grandma's. Yum! Pat loved the Mac N Cheese Cheeseburger. For dessert, we couldn't leave without cheesecake, right? Pineapple Upside Down Cheesecake was definitely a thumbs up!

I shouldnt show this..  but.. it just shows how much fun Pat had while out of town. We did stop in a contraban type of place.. shhh.. but really.. it was fun to look around and to be inspired and to get some ideas along the way.. and I did, too! I found some really cool magazines with templates, and the favorite of mine... Card Creations Magazine (which has a lot of SU stuffed showcased in it as well!).

So then we had to get to Ikea on our way home.. and I found some cool things.. however I couldnt locate this cart that I want for my studio for my big shot and all my dies.. I will get my hands on one yet.. for sure!

Isn't it just cool? It would work perfectly.. Hmm... then I found this funky way cool lamp and it had my imagination going wild..

So, I really should show you something creative today too! We made this at stamp club last week. Jenny, you so rock! I was eyeing this on Shelli Gardner's blog and fell in love with it instantly. When Jenny took the time to make a template for us and told us we'd be making a bat, I was over the moon. So, I just have to show it off..

Now that I am going "batty".. I must fly.. and find something to eat.. Take time to get inky!

A CASE.. so super cute!

Hi Everyone! Today has been a crazy day.. crazy in a good way of course. My very good friend Tammy, was willing to be my first hostess to hold a workshop - I did my very first official workshop today! Yay! It went really well and I'm very excited. I can't wait to do the next one! What a great group of gals.. just had such a wonderful time.

I have to admit, when you think I'm so very creative.. I'm not always creative.. I get into stumbling blocks and I cannot think of something to create.. and that is when I turn to my Stampin Success Magazine (for demonstrators), Stampin Connection (an on line inspiration station so to speak for demonstrators) and also of course, blog hopping. There are SO many places to find inspiration. I even look for it when I'm out and about, doing errands and such.

So, where am I going with all of this? :-) In the Holiday Mini Catalog.. I purchased the Big L Holiday Stocking Die (page 24, item #124098). It is so darn cute! While blog surfing I found this cool use of the die.. in fact 4 ways to use 1 stocking die! Who would have thought? This gals vision was super cool and when I seen it .. i had to make it.. so I wanted to share it with you all here. I will give total credit to Fran as she came up with not only making the stocking a stocking, but also a witches boot, an elf boot and a baby boot! I love the dies.. and its always great to see what other ways a tool can be used - basically its getting more bang for your buck, as they say. Who doesn't want to know how many ways you can use a tool.. it justify's the little extra you spend and it wow's all your friends and family, at the same time. I made 2 of the 4 ideas.. and here they are below. I also used the matchbox die in the middle like Fran did, so you can put little goodies inside and they stand up by themselves.. 3D decorations.. so darn cute! Take a peek below.

Pretty cute if I don't say so myself! LOL. I used the Holly Berry Bouquet DSP, very vanilla cardstock with the 5 Petal Flower Punch, and those cute new adorable mini jingle bells - 48 of those cute little buggers for only 2.95! Yowza.. a great deal!

Ok.. so here another version of the same die cut.. making it into a witche's bootie with attitude and lots of bling using the basic blingy rhinestones.. LOVE these! It's all about the bling! The non SU item is the flashy spider that I found in my stash.. and just had to add it for extra "attitude" :)

I just had so much fun putting these together. Thank you for the inspiration, Fran. Think of other possibilities with this cute diecut too! On this I cut out a circle out of the circle die.. and used a 13/4 inch circle and took a bite out of the bigger circle and attached it to make a pointy boot. I used the window punch to make "straps" and added a lot of bling. I also cut out the heel (freehand).

I will try to post tomorrow, but.. I may not be back until Wednesday. I am taking a few days off and going to do a little retail therapy - I'm SO looking forward to this. Watch out, Chicago! I'm going to find some "inspiration" and some organizing ideas at Ikea and The Container Store.. and lord knows where else.. I'll have to see what I can find. Until next time.. take time to get inky!

Last card with the button buddies!

Happy Thursday.. ! Here is the last of the Button Buddy cards that I made recently. This is a cute one using the baby rattles. I added some ribbon and tada!

I also used again, the notecards (that come with the envelopes). I used the Big Shot with the Big L Perfect Pennants and the 3 inch Circle dies. I added a little extra color with the scallop punch and some basic pearls :)

I have to get back into the dusty drywall cloud.. take time to get inky!

Some flowers for YOU!

Here we go.. I need to make more of these.. they are so addicting :) Quick and easy!! (I love that about these notecards and this set of stamps!) Again, using the Button Buddies and the brights colorful buttons! Love these! That is what I love so much about Stampin Up - they take the guess work out of having to hunt for stuff that matches.. SU has done all the for you! The papers, the inks, the buttons, the ribbons, brads, and more.. I just love it all!

Take time to get inky! Have a great day!

Yes, another adorable button buddy!

Here we go... I really like this one! A good friend of mine should really get this card, they raise cute little piggles! Again, the same basic layout, just changed it up a tiny bit. :) I really dig this set of stamps, called, button buddies.

Im heading back upstairs to the dust and mess... you all have a great day!!!

Button Buddy #2

Again, using the layout I seen from Kimbery V's blog.. I did a few different things with these little button guys.

I have not used my purple colors lately so I thought id play with Elegant Eggplant and Wild Wisteria. I did the rock n roll technique with my clear mount stamp (set is again Button Buddies). I also used Elegant Eggplant for my banner, the greeting is from Friendly Phrases (I love this set), and some Basic Pearl's for a little extra something. I used 2 dies with the sizzix big shot: Big L Perfect Pennants and the 3 inch Circle. I cannot forget the button from the Regals Collection.

Have a great day!

Button Buddies!

Here is a super quick card using the button buddies! I really like this set.. its super quick and easy to make a card. I also used the Note Cards (#107311) which come in a pack of 20 (with envelopes too!). The cards are 5 x 3 1/2 and the envelopes are 5 1/8 x 3 5/8 inches. This set is a great way to use up misc buttons that you have hanging around and they make adorable cards. :)

Now.. for the scary part.. this is my kitchen.... its as scary as Halloween:

 Um.. yeah LOL.. I know it will be beautiful when it is done... but living w/ my home this way is really not fun at the moment. When my home is in chaos.. I feel chaos.. I feel sorta scatterbrained lately.. BUT.. it will get better and it will be very pretty.................. in a few months.. In the meantime.. take out is my middle name!

Take time to get inky!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Good day to you! Thank you for stopping by today. This card took me a little time to assemble. It is not that it was a difficult card, but this was made very late at night and honestly I shouldn't have been stamping, yet I didn't want to stop. Sound familiar? :) I was on a roll but... I was so tired.. I made a few silly goofs and went thru more paper than I should have. Lesson learned... know when to stop stamping and get to bed! :-) I loved this card as soon as I spotted  it in the Holiday Mini Catalog. The whole idea of the new shaker frames REALLY caught my eye! There is a side of me that LOVES altered things.. windows, niches and doors.. so I really wanted to play with the shaker frames.

Tip: Make sure when using the Shaker Frames, that your Shaker Frame is BIGGER than the hole you punch (this way the shaker frame foam doesn't show through your window). This was the silly lack of sleep mistake I kept doing.. (blonde moment!)

Supplies Used On This Card:

Gift Givers Clear Mounted Stamps
Distressed Dots Background Stamp
Lucky Limeade Card Stock
Whisper White Cardstock
Bashful Blue Card Stock
Lucky Limeade Textured Card Stock
Subtles Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack
Basic Black, Basic Gray, Blushing Bride, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Lucky Limeade, Pink Pirouette and Pool Party Classic Stampin Write Markers
Old Olive 1/8 inch Taffeta Ribbon
Mica Flakes
Shaker Frames
Window Sheets
Aqua Painter
1 3/4 inch Circle Punch
Corner Rounder Punch
Stampin Dimensionals

I love the Mica Flakes. The photo does not do them justice, but they just sparkle! It is such a fun card. Take time to get inky!

Talented Witch?

Ok.. look at this card. Do you see anything odd about it? *giggling* ... When I made this card, I was not feeling well.. and when I stamped the witch on the broom, she then became backwards witchypoo. She is just a slight bit dyslexic - tee hee. So much for aerodynamics on her broomstick! I used Peach Parfait, Basic Black and Pick Your Poison DSP. I love this set, Out On A Limb. It was a fun card to make and it just makes me smile... up up and away!!!

Oh Oh!!!

Hi Everyone! I missed posting yesterday. I'll let you know why! (you want to know, right?) Oh my I have a mess in my house. I'd share a picture but I'm not sure which angle is better (or should I say worse? LOL). I am remodeling my kitchen. It is a complete disaster. Goodness! I am now starting to be the queen of take out. I know when its all done it will be worth the mess but right now I'm feeling out of sorts with my house all tore up and things piled up all over the place. Im such a tidy gal.. this is really really hard for me! LOL.. In the meantime.. I will try very hard to keep posting daily. :) Here is today's card:

Tada!! Yes.. another card featuring the Beau Chateau Suite. I really love this suite.. the soft colors are so yummy together. I used Soft Suede as the card base and also featuring again, the Beau Chateau Side notes and the Crumb Cake Ribbon... antique brad and a button from the subtles collection. I hope you like it.. I better run.. more work to be done before my head hits the pillow!

Another Birthday Card, Beau Chateau Style.

Hi there! As I post tonight, I have to admit.. the thought of picking up a stamp exhausts me. I am pretty darn pooped out today.. but I didn't want to go without a blog post. I'm trying very hard to blog daily. We will see how long I can do this.. :) Today I closed and winterized my pool. For something that is only open for just over 3 months.. that sure is a LOT of work.. and I don't even use it. Long story but.. I'm just glad this job is DONE! Onward with Fall, please!

So, this card pretty much duplicates yesterdays post.. just using different colors for the base, Marina Mist. I used the Beau Chateau Designer Series Paper and the Side Notes that work right along with the suite. I water colored with the Marina Mist ink pad and the Aqua Painter (inside the flowers) and I stamped in Marina Mist with the Perfectly Penned "Happy Birthday" stamp. I used the Fancy Flower punch and an Antique Brad. I topped it off with some crumb cake seam binding ribbon (I love this stuff!)

I have a cool little tip: when scrunching up your paper flowers, dampen your flowers after punched with Stampin Mist Stamp Cleaner. I know.. this sounds weird but it almost acts like a starch when the flower dries. It helps the paper become very pliable and while its damp you can mold it to the shape you like. While it was still damp, I added the brad and scrunched it some more until I was happy with its shape and let it dry over night. Pretty neato stuff! So, go for it.. punch, scrumch and spritz - make a few flowers to put on a card.

Have you peeked yet?

If you haven't.. you really should! The NEW Holiday Mini Catalog is absolutely awesome!! Click below to check it out and remember, you can click HERE to order from me 24/7 ! Happy Shopping!

Click HERE

Featuring Another Of My Fav's............

I really really love this Suite. It is called Beau Chateau. It features the following colors:

Pink Pirouette, Marina Mist, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla...

So soft and pretty.. I wanted to make some Birthday cards with it. I also used the Side Notes from Beau Cheteau. I love these.. they are uniquely shaped die cut tags and accents that offer a quick way to add dimension, texture and journaling to any project. They are heavyweight felt weave paper. There are 24 to a packet. They coordinate beautifully with the Beau Chateau Suite.

Also used: the Perfectly Penned Clear Stamp Set, Soft Suede Ink, Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder along with Marina Mist card stock for the flower along with the Fancy Flower punch, Antique Brads (love these!) and Crumb Cake 1/2 inch Seam Binding Ribbon. This ribbon is so easy to work with.. even I can tie a pretty bow! :-)

Gently Falling For You!

As fall approaches, I'm getting in the mood. I love love love this set.. called "Gently Falling". I think it is one of my favorite stamp sets in the new Holiday Mini Catalog. It is so versatile. I love the colors in the Spice Cake Suite. I know I keep saying this.. but its so true! They are so pretty.. and who would have thought pool party would have been in the mix? I'm really digging this new in color.

This is a mini scrapbook. I had gotten this idea originally from my good and very talented friend (and upline!) Jenny. I thought I'd make a fall version of this cute little project.. I really think it turned out adorable!

What I used:

12x12 piece of textured Crumb Cake Card Stock (the "base")
Early Espresso Smooth Card Stock
More Mustard Smooth Card Stock
Very Vanilla Smooth Card Stock
Pool Party Smooth Card Stock
Spice Cake DSP
Gently Falling Clear Mount Stamps
Grateful Greetings (Wood Mount)
Pool Party Classic Ink
Pear Pizzazz Classic Ink
Early Espresso Classic Ink
More Mustard Classic Ink
Early Espresso Marker
Color Spritzer Tool
Punch Pack
Basic Jewels Pearls
Mini Glue Dots and Dimensionals

Have a great day!! I'm off to work for now.. :-) 

Sour Cream Container?

That is what this reminds me of. Aren't they cute? Get a peek at that fabric!!! I'm not a seamstress nor will I ever try to be (I know my limitations!), but I have to say, if any fabric has "sold" me.. its the Stampin Up Fabrics. Oh my gosh they are so beautiful.. and the best part.. they tear wonderfully to give that "shabby chic" kinda look, which I love! Today I used colors from the Spice Cake Suite! This is some of the yummy things you can find in the new Holiday Mini Catalog. I just LOVE LOVE LOVE this suite. I love the colors featured in this: soft suede, more mustard, pool party, pear pizzaz, river rock, and very vanilla. Its so soft and so fall!

These little favors are so easy to make! Think of the possibilities for the holidays: teacher gifts, a little something for a neighbor, a dining room table decoration with an extra goodie tucked inside. The possibilities are endless with these.. for any season or party theme or reason!

To make:

Cut your paper or card stock into a square or rectangle in the size you desire. I used 5 1/4 inches x 4 1/4 inches piece of card stock.

Roll your paper to form a cylinder and adhere the sides together using Sticky Strip (snail just doesnt quite to the trick). I rolled mine widthwise to form a cylinder that was 4 1/4 inches tall.

Close one end of the cylinder, and adhere, using sticky strip.

Fill the twisty favor about 2/3 full with a treat of your choices, leaving space at the top to close and crimp the favor.

Close the top so that it is perpendicular to the bottom, and adhere, using sticky strip.

Finish by crimping both ends and adding any embellishments you like! Tada... instant party favors and guaranteed smiles!

Spirits Inside ....

Ok.. here is yet another Halloween goodie for you, using once again, the Pick Your Poison Product Suite in the *NEW* Holiday Mini Catalog! I found this little box at a craft store and covered it using basic black ink, and DSP from the suite. I also used Quick Accents from the Pick Your Poison Suite (page 8 and 9 of the Mini). I used our wonderful Simply Scored Scoring Tool to make the rosette.

What I used:

Pick Your Poison DSP
Simply Scored Scoring Tool 
Peach Parfait In Color Stitched Ribbon
Quick Accents Pick Your Poison 
Sticky Strip and Snail Adhesive
Spiders and Crow (craft store)

Take time to get a little inky and gear up for the holidays with the new Holiday Mini Catalog!

It is such a GREAT time of year!!

The new Holiday Mini Catalog is HERE!!! Look to the right sidebar here for links to check out the "flip book" of the catalog and the "supply list" too! If you need anything, don't hesitate to email or call me. Have a great day.

PS Later today I will be posting another spooky Halloween creation! Stay tuned :) Have a GREAT day!