White

Now I bet you thought I'd be featuring an all white card - nope! Guess what's been falling from the sky AGAIN!!!! Ugh...I can't take it anymore!! Today, we had school cancelled AGAIN which was super bad!!! My students were going to finish their posters for a statistics poster contest. The posters had to be postmarked TODAY - so I traveled on the worst roads I've ever driven on to the school and finished them up only to get an email (when I was finished) that the deadline was extended until Monday. UGH!! My middle & high schoolers had a competiton tomorrow which they've been preparing for since September. With the weather and the distance we travel to the competition, we had to cancel going. When will spring arrive?

Well the silver lining to my snow cloud is that I have the whole day tomorrow to stamp - that is after I'm done shoveling!!


Details:
Stamps - Polka Dot Basics II (PTI)
Ink - StazOn Black
Paper - white, black; Soft Sky, Real Red (SU!)
Accessories - vinyl chipboard letters (The Paper Company), white rickrack, Embossed Curves border punch (Fiskars)


The good news of the day is that the PTI dies are back in stock & I was finally able to place my order! I tried 30 minutes after the release and everything had already sold out....I've been impatiently waiting, so now I can stalk my mailman :)

Happy Girl

And do you know why?

Yep!!!! My first card was published in Paper Crafts latest special issue, Stamp It! Cards. If you've not picked up your copy yet, I HIGHLY recommend it (and not just because they're a certain someone's card on page 16). It is jammed packed with incredible ideas organized into all the major card categories from All Occasion to Wedding. The magazine retails for $5.99, and you can get 20% off by entering the code "STAMPIT20" here.

And here's my first published card:

It seemed like Papertrey's Button Bits set was a popular set in the magazine, and you can easily see why. It so cute & so versatile! I've just been over the moon since receiving the project acceptance notification from Susan Opel in September. Waiting for the release of the magazine in January seemed like forever, but it was definitely worth the wait!

Heartfelt Thanks

I needed to create a few thank you's for students who gave me some Valentine goodies - including the cutest shoe charm bracelet! I had everything except the stitching finished when I finally got off my lazy tush and broke out the sewing machine.

Simple, but cute & effective...perfect for a thank you in my book!

So who else watched ladies figure skating tonight? My heart just broke for the Canadian skater that just lost her mom. What courage that young girl has! I was truly touched as I have been many times over these Olympics games.


Details:
Stamps - I {Heart} Hearts (SU!); Mixed Messages (PTI)
Ink - Real Red (SU!); Melon Berry (PTI); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Paper - white, Real Red, Ruby Red, Pink Pirouette (SU!); Melon Berry (PTI)
Accessories - sewing machine, dimensionals

You Know You're Weird When.....

You just love to organize! (and no....I don't love it enough to come to your house!!)

I just posted a fun project to keep your stamping items organized, so you're not buying duplicates when you're shopping. Here are some peeks:

I listed all the instructions ALONG WITH THE INVENTORY SHEET FOR YOU TO DOWNLOAD & PRINT on the Rubber Romance blog...hope you'll head over to check it out :)

Okay, I'm off to bed. It's super late & the morning will arrive in no time. I didn't get a chance to drop by to visit my blog pals for awhile, but I'm really hoping to change that tomorrow! Hope you're all well :)

MyGrafico Monday - Ahoy Mateys!!

Arghhhhh...it's Monday! Actually I don't mind Mondays that much. Thursdays are always the worst day of the week for me - hard to get out of bed & always so much to do! I think part of the reason that I like Mondays is because I can share a new MyGrafico challenge with you.

This week's Monday challenge is to add chipboard to your card/LO/project. The design team's creations featured some fun Pirate images from the set that will go to one lucky winner:

So here's my CHIPs Ahoy Matey card (hee hee!!):

I created that burnt edge look using some distress ink in Walnut Stain....I love that stuff!! Be sure to check out the great ideas the design team came up with for this week's challenge here.

Details:

Stamps - Ho Ho Ho & A Bottle Full of Rum Stamps (Blackleaf for MyGrafico)

Ink - Distress Ink - Walnut Stain & Tea Dye; Copics

Paper - Soft Suede (SU!), white

Accessories - chipboard button, hemp twine, sinamay ribbon

Whatta Weekend!! (and ribbon flower tutorial link)

Finally....sunshine!!! Talk about a mood changer :) And just in the knick of time! I've been super busy with four different competitions at school right now. The snow days have really left us pinched for time which makes my days super hectic. I haven't been up for much stamping when I get home then, so I've vegged out & enjoyed the Olympics!

Early this morning, I created this cheery birthday card for one of my stamping buddies. We get together every month; and starting this month, we'll meet at her house (which by the way is gorgeous!!). I knew I wanted to incorportate the PTI Everyday Button Bits set & teal in the card b/c she likes them both.

Turned out cute, if I do say so myself! :) I think she liked it, too!


A few people asked me for the tutorial on the flower that I made for my one-sheet box. I used the tutorial found here....I think using a different width & type of wired ribbon made mine turn out a bit differently than the one shown. To make the flower on the card, I just cut a bunch of scallop circles from tissue, crinkled them, attached them with a button in the center, and scrunched them to my liking.


I hope you all enjoyed the sunshine too & that we all have a LOT more of it soon!! (unfortunately, there's lots of snow in the forecast for western Pennsylvania...yuck!)


Details:
Stamps - Everyday Button Bits (PTI)
Ink - Chocolate Chip
Paper - Taken with Teal, Real Red, Chocolate Chip (SU!), white; dp - KI Memories
Accessories - paper piercer, ribbon, buttons (PTI & Foof-a-la), dimensionals

Think Spring!!

As I told you last night, I had this birthday card to post. My best friend loves flowers, so I knew right away that I wanted a card with a flower. I created a tissue paper flower & used PTI's Turning A New Leaf for the leaves. I just love how it turned out!

and this is the inside:

What a fun color combo too!!

Sorry this is going to be short, but my fingers are still numb from another round of shoveling/breaking up ice. Think spring, think spring, think spring!!

Details:

Stamps - Turning A New Leaf, Polka Dot Basics II, Signature Greetings (all PTI)

Ink - Melon Mambo(SU!); Versamark; Fresh Snow (PTI)

Paper - Melon Mambo, So Saffron, Certainly Celery (SU!), white; Bitty Box Basics (PTI)

Accessories - tissue paper, Petite Scallop Circles Nestabilities, button (Foof-a-la), Vintage Button Twine (PTI), scallop border punch (SU!), corner rounder, dimensionals

Flower Box

My best friend celebrated her birthday last Thursday. But with all this stinkin' snow, we haven't been able to get together to celebrate. Here's the little one sheet box I made for her to hold half of her present - a bottle of OPI nail polish in Light My Sapphire.

I stamped a piece of white cardstock with PTI's Polka Dot Basics II in Chocolate Chip then added this fun ribbon flower I created from some wired ribbon from Offray. Isn't it the cutest?! It was so easy & I know she'll love it.

Stop in tomorrow - I'll be posting her card!

MyGrafico Monday - Go Wild!!

It's Monday...hopefully, I'm back in school!! We were cancelled every day last week due to all the snow...ugh! This week's Monday challenge at MyGrafico is a fun one - incorporate PLAID in your card/LO/project. The design team used this fun camping set by Kelly Medina.

I had fun with this one.....check it out:

You could win this set by participating in the Monday challenge or Wednesday's sketch challenge or both! Remember to post a direct link to your card on the MyGrafico Challenge Blog. Can't wait to see all the plaid cards :)


Details:
Stamps - Camping In The Wild (Kelly Medina for MyGrafico)
Ink - Copics
Paper - kraft, white; My Minds Eye, DCWV, PTI Bitty Boxes
Accessories - circle punch; dimensionals

Happy Heart Day!

Just poppin' in to wish you all a very happy Valentine's Day! I haven't been too crafty lately...think I have the winter blues. I do have some stuff to share this week and a get together this weekend, so I really hope that I get out of my slump soon!!

Thought I'd share one final valentine with you. This one was inspired by this card by Charlene (Willow & Paisley).

I just loved the layout when I saw it as I scrolled through Google Reader and couldn't wait to create my own version. Thanks for the inspiration, Charlene!

Anybody watching the winter olympics? I was so happy to see Canada capture their first 'home' gold medal tonight and really excited for Apollo last night....now I'm waiting for my favorite event - curling!! haha - I know I'm weird :)


Details:
Stamps - Simple Valentine (PTI)
Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Paper - white; Imaginisce Perfectly Posh Fancy Hearts
Accessories - felt, button, ribbon

Valentines from a Nut

As I type this, I'm super duper happy because my street is getting plowed!! Yippee!! They've gone up and down the street a few times with 2 different plows...yea!! I should have one more round of shoveling tomorrow morning then I'm heading out to the post office & possibly my bf's to drop off her birthday gift. Still gotta make a card!!

First I thought I'd start to share some of the valentines that I'm taking to the p.o. - these ones are from Coconut...my cat! Yes, I know this is bizarre....keep in mind, I've been trapped in my house for days now. (okay, I know I'd probably do this regardless of the snow...it's nice to have an excuse for my zaniness sometimes!!)

I picked up this Stampendous Fluffles Valentine set last year - isn't it super cute?! I added some flock (Martha Stewart pewter) to the first card - love the feel, but I like the look of Fluffles w/out it.


Details -Cupid Fluffles Card:
Stamps - Fluffles Wuv (Stampendous); Simple Valentine (PTI)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Melon Mambo (SU!); Copics
Paper - Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip (SU!), white
Accessories - satin ribbon (Offray), scallop border punch, corner rounder, white embroidery floss

Details -Cupid Kneading Card:
Stamps - Fluffles Wuv (Stampendous)

Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento), Smokey Shadow (PTI)

Paper - white, Smokey Shadow (PTI); dp - Ring Around the Posie (Stacy Claire Boyd for CK)

Accessories - heart punch, scallop trim border punch, white Gelly Roll pen, dimensionals

Grumpy Smurf!!

I'm sorry to inform any of my dear pals who leave comments that I had to activate word verification on my comments. I really tried to keep it as easy as possible because I LOVE LOVE LOVE all of your comments, but I've been getting a ton of spam lately. I think if I didn't just spend another hour & a half shoveling snow (yep...we're at around 3 feet of snow here w/a blizzard warning!!) that I might just delete them as I have been doing and get over it. But no...I'm Grumpy Smurf today!! Literally too...I think I'm partially blue working out in a windchill of -1!! I'm off for some hot tea & biscotti then some heavy duty card making....that is until I need to shovel again in a few hours!! UGH!

Valentine Bookmarks

I already made Valentine Treats for my elementary students, but I loved PTI's Tiny Treats set so much that I decided to make them bookmarks as well. I absolutely love that I was able to make a different bookmark for each student....a total of 13!! Now I need to work on some food treats for my middle and high schoolers...food is a must for them!

Here are a few of my favorites:

I wanted to add something to the top of the bookmarks but didn't care for anything that I tried. I figured it might be better to make them simple...otherwise I'd be picking up ribbon or eyelets off my classroom floor!


Details:
Stamps - Tiny Treats, Polka Dot Basics II (PTI)
Paper - Pure Poppy, black, white
Ink - Fresh Snow (PTI), Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Accessories - circle punch, gingham ribbon, dimensionals

MyGrafico Monday - A Color Challenge

Good morning!! I'm excited to bring you one of my favorite color combinations as this week's MyGrafico Monday challenge - PINK, BROWN, and OLIVE GREEN. Just perfect for finishing up those Valentines.

This week the design team was asked to come up with creations using Sarah Paris's Keys To My Heart set shown here:

I decided to use one of the sentiments as my focus and created this card:

My ribbon was already curling, so I decided to go with it instead of fight it. I love the whimsical look it gives the card along with the Petal Pink Liquid Pearls I added to the sentiment.

So why don't you join us....create a card with the pink, brown, and olive green color combo and provide us with a link to it on the MyGrafico Challenge blog. You could win this terrific set!



Details:
Stamps - Keys To My Heart (Sarah Paris for MyGrafico)
Ink - none
Paper - white, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Pink Pirouette (SU!)
Accessories - border punch (SU!), corner rounder, brown polka dot ribbon, button, baker's twine, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls

I'm Snowed In!!

Within the past 24 hours, we've had at least 24 inches of snow fall in my area. 24 inches of snow!!! We're under a state of emergency, meaning no one should be out on the roads....um, duh - there's 24 inches of snow out there!! Thank heavens for my wonderful neighbors who shoveled out from around my car as I shoveled my sidewalk and then my neighbor with a Bobcat plowed out my parking area....otherwise, I might still be out there!

I'll be snowed in again tomorrow (and maybe Monday...I don't know how promising school will be), so I'm hoping to get some cards made. I spent some time writing personal notes in cards and addressing envelopes, so I can mail them on Monday. I did make one new card tonight based on this AMAZING card by my blog buddy Siobhan. Be sure to stop by Siobhan's blog & give her some love - she's oozing with talent & is just so darn sweet!!

I just loved Siobhan's layout & knew that I had to CASE the card as soon as I saw it!! I'm quite happy with how it turned out!


Details:
Stamps - I {Heart} Hearts (SU!); Hearts (Inkadinkado)
Ink - Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry (SU!); Melon Berry (PTI); Versamark
Paper - kraft, So Saffron, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip (all SU!); white
Accessories - love sticker (Kelly Panacci for Creating Keepsakes), Rich Razzleberry ribbon, button (PTI), dimensionals

Wood You Be My Valentine?

Here's a quick card that I made for this week's CARDS magazine challenge - to create a valentine without any reds or pinks. I had a lot of fun with this on, especially since I was able to use my new Stampin Up Cling Mounted I {Heart} Hearts set. Love all the heart designs in this one!!

Details:
Stamps - I {Heart} Hearts (SU!)
Paper - kraft, white, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Lemon Tart (PTI)
Ink - Chocolate Chip (SU!)
Accessories - scallop edge border punch, grosgrain ribbon, button (PTI), dimensionals

Tuesday Trigger

This week's Tuesday Trigger totally reminded me of this card I made last week. So talk about deja-va when I was making my card for the challenge!

Here's the inspiration piece from The Red Thread

and my card:

I love the untraditional valentine colors! Just perfect to send to a friend! Speaking of which I need to figure out what I'm getting my best friend for her birthday which is next week. I think the only thing that we don't have in common is papercrafting! Hopefully I come up with something by this weekend when I'm hoping to go shopping - if the weather cooperates!!!

Have a good one!


Details:
Stamps - none
Ink - Smokey Shadow (PTI)
Paper - Summer Sunrise (PTI), white; Block Party (Summer Daze Collection, Flair Designs)
Accessories - Scarlett Jewel button (PTI), button twine (PTI), heart punch

Moxie Fab with a little Taintor-tude!

Have you checked out the current Moxie Fab challenge? It's based on the super fun styling of Anne Taintor! I had such fun with this challenge because I love the cheeky sayings & I've been loving the retro style from watching the first two seasons of Mad Men from Netflix.

Here's my card:

and isn't the pattern paper awesome!! I found this printable paper as a freebie on Becky Oehler's site awhile ago....I just love how it went with this picture!


Hope you all had a great day!!

Happy Groundhog's Day!

Shadow or no shadow....that is the question! I'm sure I won't hear the answer that I'm hoping for. In case you're wondering why in the world I've made a card for Groundhog's Day, it's because I live a little over an hour from Punxytawney - home of the famous prognosticator, Phil. I make a card for my dad every year because groundhogs are his nemesis - he's needed to make countless repairs to wiring in his car because the varmits love to chew the wires. This year's card wished him 6 more weeks of unchewed wires!

I found this image from Shirley's 2 Girls last year and was so excited to finally ink it up!


Details:
Stamps - Groundhog (Shirley's 2 Girls)
Ink - Tuxedo Black (Memento); Copics
Paper - white, Pure Poppy (PTI), Old Olive (SU!); pattern paper (My Minds Eye)
Accessories - buttons (PTI), button twine (PTI), border punch (SU!), ribbon (American Crafts)

MyGrafico METAL Monday

Phew!!! I've been busy! We had parent-teacher conferences right after school on Thursday, so I didn't get home until after 8. The conferences continued Friday morning. How exhausting! Thinking I had super fabulous coupons for the Gap outlet, my BF and I headed to the outlets after school in the frigid cold.....guess who's coupons only worked at retail stores!!! Saturday was a great day stamping with the girls I meet with every month. We had such a great time, as usual!! I didn't feel well on Sunday...wonder why! I'm looking forward to a start of a new week and a new month :)

With the start of the new week, we have a new Monday challenge at MyGrafico. This week's challenge is to USE METAL on your card/LO/project. You could use brads, eyelets, clips, wire, etc. The design team is using this fun set from Tainted Sweets.

Here's what I came up with:

I'm completely in the Valentines spirit, so I thought I'd make a Valentine for my mom's puppy Stella. Stella is such a hoot - she's a border collie mix which has to be one of the most pleasant (yet active!) breeds of dogs. I used three brads for my METAL and then covered the backs with a brown heart. The inside of the card reads, "You're Paws-itively Perfect!!"


Side note: One of my 10 for '10 goals was to blog at least 25 times per month. I'm upset that I didn't meet that for January. I already have items for three more posts lined up, so hopefully I'll meet the goal this month! The other goals are coming along quite well!


Details:
Stamps - A Dogs Day (MyGrafico)
Ink - Copics
Paper - Pure Poppy (PTI); white
Accessories - heart punch, ribbon (American Crafts), olive brads (unknown)