thanks

What a great day! It was beautiful outside - I was even able to walk and wash my car, yippee!! The hair cut got loads of second takes and compliments, and I think I like it even more than I did yesterday.

Here's a thank you card that I made for the computer aide at my school. She's so wonderful, helping with everything whenever you need it.

I embossed the flowers then went over the cardstock with an inked sponge. I love this effect!

Details:

Stamps - Stampendous Wild Blossoms & Changito the Monkey (sentiment)

Paper - Soft Sky, Ruby Red, White

Ink - Groovy Guava, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip

Accessories - White embossing powder, ribbons

Thanks for stopping by!!

Hair Yesterday, Gone Today

I finally had my haircut appointment - it's so hard to get in with my stylist (I had a 6 week wait for a haircut). It was worth the wait!! I had 10 inches taken off (donated to Locks of Love), and I love my new look. It's a modified version of an inverted bob with lots of layers. I had to go show off the new do, so I'm too tired to start any projects tonight. Be back tomorrow :)

Lucky Reader

March is right around the corner, and so is St. Patrick's Day. I figure I better start brainstorming ideas for St. Patty's treats for my elementary kiddos. The majority (10 of 12) are avid readers, so I thought bookmarks would be a big hit.



The 2" x 5 1/2" bookmarks contain St. Patrick's Day riddles and jokes. I know my students will get a kick out of them. I created text boxes for the jokes and inserted the punchline as inverted word art at the bottom. I'm going to try to place a link to the file here for those who'd like to use it. The MS Word file contains 8 different bookmark jokes ready to be printed and cut.


Details:
Stamps - Clover Riley Moose (Hanna Stamps)
Paper - Glorious Green, White
Ink - Black, Brushables Markers
Sentiment - Computer generated (Bookworm font)
Accessories - Gold Stickles (on pot of gold), gold ribbon, Prismacolors black watercolor pencil


Thanks for stopping by!

...Easter's on its way

This week's sketch challenge over at Jen's Blog, i{heart}2stamp, was a lot of fun. I incorporated her sketch challenge along with Mary's blog challenge over at SCS. Mary challenged the bloggers to blog and create using your favorite three-or-more color combo.

Here's Jen's sketch:


Here's my card which incorporates one of my favorite three-or-more color combos, blue/green/yellow/white.


The card uses two of the Michael's $1 stamps (bunnies & sentiment) - they're so great!! Also, I think this was my last bit of this particular DP. Ugh - I really like it. I'll have to be on the look out!

Details:
Stamps - Michael's $1 stamps
Paper - DP, Certainly Celery, So Saffron, White, blue (Archivers)
Ink - Black, Certainly Celery, Brushables markers
Accessories - Cuttlebug embossing folder, paper piercer, Nestabilities

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to check out these fun challenges through the links above :)

Let the games begin!!

Here's a photo of the card from the 'Long Lost Love' challenge from this weekend's VSN over at SCS. The challenge asked you to create a card using a stamp/set that you had to have, but haven't used in a long time.

I knew that I wanted to use the first SU set I ever bought. I've kept every stamp/set that I've ever bought, but I realized I need to get rid of some when I looked at my stamps for this challenge.

When I first saw Quilts Give Comfort I loved it. I thought it was so versatile and I had to have it. Over the years my style has changed significantly, so it's actually quite difficult for me to use now. It took a little thinking to come up with this card, so I think I'll be putting the set up for sale on eBay soon.



Details:
Stamps - SU Quilts Give Comfort
Paper - SU So Saffron, white, DCWV Neutral Ivory, DP
Ink - Black, Brushables markers
Accessories - ric rac

Disappointed

No photos to post today. I was away all day (8:15am - 9:45pm) at a science competition, and I'm completely drained. I was so disappointed to see that the VSN was on the same day as the competition because I love participating in the LIVE challenges. Oh well, I checked them out a little while ago and there are some awesome ones!! I have the whole day tomorrow to work on them - YIPPEE!! For now, I'm opting for some R&R.

You're Such A Deer

Here's my card for this week's Ways To Use It challenge over at SCS. The challenge was to incorporate stripes. This was great for me because I love stripes. I recently purchased these stamps from Michael's. I wanted to make a quick thank you for my mom who had to spend the day at my house while my furnace was being repaired. Ugh...money towards furnace means less money for stamps :(!



Details:
Stamps - Colorbok Friendly Forest acrylic stamps
Paper - SU Bravo Burgundy, white and black (from stash), DP (Daisy D's World Bazaar Stripe)
Ink - Bravo Burgundy
Accessories - Prima flower, button, Nesties, computer generated sentiment (font: Kim's Hand)

Thanks for stopping by!!

Hang Ten!!

If you scroll down and check the column on the right, you'll find links to the members of my blogger group. We're the eleventh blogger group over at SCS - hence Surfing Ocean's Eleven. Please be sure to stop in and visit this group of mighty creative ladies.

SC216 - Bee Lucky

I haven't worked on any challenges for awhile, so I figured I'd give this week's SCS sketch challenge a try. My card is based on the following sketch by Roxie, and it definitely presented a challenge for me. I find it difficult to incorporate circles into the layout unless they are the focus.




I will say that I'm happy with the results. It's a simple card, but I really like the monochromatic color scheme.




Details:
Stamps - Stampendous Bee Lucky
Paper - Certainly Celery, DP, green cardstock (from stash)
Ink - Black, Brushables markers
Accessories - Nestabilities, glitter gel pen, white gel pen




Thanks for stopping by!!

Going Buggy!

Here's another card made with my new $1 stamps from Michaels.



I wanted to make a card using three of these ladybug images on circles. The images needed a larger circle, so I had to create a longer card. I like the stamped flowers on the background, but I think it's missing something or something's up with the ribbon. Oh well, I'm tired so there's no sense in driving myself crazy (or should I say crazier!!)

Details:
Stamps - Ladybug (Michael's $1 bin), background flowers (Stampendous Wild Blossoms)
Ink - White, Black, Brushables markers
Paper - Kraft, White
Accessories - ribbon (Michael's), gemstones

Thanks for stopping by!!

Thank ewe!

Here's a quick thank you I made for a student's parent who sent in cookies-n-cream cheesecake on Friday. They have a farm including sheep, so I know she'll get a kick out of it. They also have llama's which made me think that I'd love a llama stamp. Anyone know of where I could find one?





Details:
Stamps - sheep (Michael's Dollar Bin)
Paper - SU Ruby Red, white, pink and DP (from stash)
Ink - black, Brushables markers
Sentiment - computer generated (Burst My Bubble)
Accessories - SU grosgrain ribbon, corner punch, white gel pen


Thanks for stopping by!!

congratWHOOlations!!

Yesterday morning and afternoon, eight of my middle school students competed at a math competition. Yeah, I know what you're thinking. Who wants to get up early on a Saturday morning and take a math test? Honestly they didn't, but the cafeteria (at the college where the competition was held) enticed them. Even better than the all-you-can-eat feast was the fact that my team of 4 won 4th place out of 18 teams AND one of my students placed 3rd out of over 120 competitors!! We now are moving on to the state competition in March.

So I decided to make some cards to congratulate them on their hard work. I love this owl from Hero Arts and incorporated it into a card for today's featured stamper challenge over at SCS.



My card is based on SCS's juliemlacey's Clickabella card.

I changed:
- Colors
- DP
- ribbon
- image
- sentiment
- embellishments
- card style (her's opens from the top; mine from the side)

Details:
Stamps - Hero Arts Big Owl (K5059)
Paper - Cricut pack (DP & Orange); Archivers (green & blue)
Ink - Black, Brushables markers
Embellishments - ribbon (Michael's), eyelets, corner punch
Sentiment - computer generated (Burst My Bubble font)


Now I'm off to make a few more of these and some thank you's. Thanks for stopping by!

Finished!!

Here are photos of one of the completed iHeartPods. I made 20! I added plastic lacing as the earbud wire and beads as the actual earbuds. I know they'll be a big hit!!










More info can be found on these posts:
iHeartpod
iHeartpod 2nd generation

Coco's Valentine

I found the Fluffles Wuv set on Ebay, and I had to have it. I just love this cute little guy! I created (with the help of my little furball jumping up on the table) this Valentine. Coco loves to jump up on the craft table to investigate.

After picking the image, I chose my ribbon first to build my color scheme around it. I really like the non-traditional look of pink, green, and blue for the valentine. If you look closely, you see a paw print background on the bottom portion of the card.

Details:

Stamp - Stampendous Fluffles Wuv

Ink - Black, Pretty in Pink, Brushables markers

Paper - White, Pretty in Pink, blue & green scraps

Accessories - Fiskars border punch, Nestabilities, ribbon, brads

Birthday Buttons

Tomorrow is my best friend's birthday. I think she'll get a kick out of this card, especially the buttons. I dragged her along shopping for papercrafting supplies, including buttons. We went through huge jars of colored buttons at a local scrapbooking store and counted out 200 (they were a steal at $0.01 each).

The card is CASE'd (copy and share everything) from the Hero Arts website. I fell in love with it the first time I saw it, and I knew it would be the perfect birthday card to give. If you look closely in the photo, you'll see the envelope that I lined with DP.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Track It

This week's challenge over at the Hero Arts blog centers around birthdays. I've wanted to create a birthdays' calendar for some time, so I figured I'd seize the moment. I used my new Big Owl stamp. He's so fun!! Great for coloring. I can't wait until Halloween - check out this great card turning the Big Owl into Franken-Owl.

Cover:


Inside:




I created the calendar sheets on MS Word. I'd be happy to share the file - leave a comment and I'll email you with the attachment.


Details:
Stamp - Hero Arts Big Owl
Ink - Black; Brushables Markers (pink, orange, yellow) and Blender marker
Paper - Kraft, So Saffron, Mellow Moss, DP
Accessories - Cuttlebug embossing folder, ribbons, button, gemstones, Fiskars border punch, SU corner punch, eyelets, Creative Keepsakes rub-on letters

Goodies!!

Tonight, my mom and I drove in to Pittsburgh to check out a stamping store that I heard about awhile ago - Stamp Fanci. First off, we made it. I say this because the combo of me driving in Pittsburgh and my mom reading the directions isn't always the best. She tends to put to where I should turn as we pass the exit. Tonight, we were in better luck!

Stamp Fanci had a great selection of stamps and supplies. I kept my purchases at a minimum because there are a few items that I've been eyeing up online. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't carry any flock - I'd luck to make some fuzzy birdies.


Tonight's goodies included Hero Arts' Big Owl. I have lots of plans for him. Doesn't he look like the owl from the Tootsie Pop commercials (circa 1970s or 80s)?




and Stampendous's Bee Lucky. Hmm...I wonder how these bees would look in rainbow rather than yellow & black.



Can't wait to get these inked up, but I need to create all of those iPods first - Valentines' Day is next week!!


On a separate note, I was so excited to find out that my heartfelt tree card was awarded honorable mention on the Hero Arts blog for last week's contest. Wahoo!!! Talk about brightening my day!

I[Heart]Pod 2nd Generation

Here are some more specifics on the iPod even though I haven't finished mine. I'm not happy with any of the string that I have, so I'm going to pick some up either tomorrow or Thursday and then I'll create the earbuds.

I wanted to provide the dimensions on the box in case anyone wanted to create it. My design will get four iPods from one sheet of 8.5" x 11" cardstock.

1. Start with a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of cardstock
2. On the 5.5" side, score at 1/2", 2 1/2", 3", and 5"
3. On the 4.25" side, score 1/2" from each end

4. Crease all score lines inward.

5. Cut all score lines along 5.5" side up to the horizontal score (the 1/2" score lines on the 4.25" side). Do this on both top and bottom. (See photo below)

6. Remove both upper and lower corner squares on left side only.

7. Glue tabs D & H onto inside of F.

8. Glue tabs E & J onto inside of G.

9. Place gum (Trident) inside of box.

10. Glue (or Velcro) B onto outside of F.

11. Glue (or Velcro) C onto outside of G.

12. Glue (or Velcro) A onto outside of I.

13. Decorate and enjoy.

Hopefully, I'll have updates in the next few days. If you have any suggestions for the type of string to use for the 'earbuds', I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks for stopping by!

I[Heart]Pod

One of my favorite things to create are little gifts/cards for my students. I teach gifted students in grades 3-12, and I've taught the same kiddos for almost six years now. They're such a fun (and ornery) bunch that love my little surprises come holiday time. Last year, I made them fun gum holders. Since our school prefers we don't hand out sugary sweets, sugar-free gum is a great option. This year I came across the cutest Valentine iPod idea at the Family Fun website in which a box of conversation hearts are covered to look like an iPod. I decided to use this idea with a twist. I created my own box that perfectly holds one pack of Trident gum.




I'm still working on this, but my phone has been ringing like crazy and I'd like to get some dinner. I wanted to post an initial photo. I still need to add some earbuds. I'll be back later to post some more photos including the details on how to make the box.

Thanks for stopping by!!

A Nail Biter!!

Poor Coco the Nut can't handle the screaming that goes with a Super Bowl like this one!! But we did it. The bad part is that the win had to come against Ken Whisenhunt, our former coach. What a great game!

Defenses Win Championships

So, we're about 8 minutes away from our 6-pack (6th Super Bowl championship for you non-Pittsburghers), and I figured I'd post my entry for this week's Hero Arts' blog challenge. This week's challenge was to use hearts on a non-Valentine project.



I was playing around with this heart image from the Happy Everything set. I wanted to create a peacock, but I wasn't happy with the way it look. After twisting and turning the hearts into different arrangements, I came up with this Christmas tree. I may still play around with the peacock idea, but I gotta get back to the game! Go Steelers!!