So, I haven’t posted anything for a while. That doesn’t mean I haven’t been crafting because I always am. I just need to find the time to post more often. I’ll make a real effort to get some new pictures and posts up very soon.
Kate Spade bag April 10, 2010
Oh I am so in love with this project! I made it for a friend (assuming I can bring myself to part with it!) and it turned out so cute! It’s actually a composition book. I cut the corners off. I used versamark and clear embossing powder on red cardstock to give it a leather look. That is such a cool technique. Here’s the finished product….
Sam’s Valentine February 11, 2010
The Valentine’s Day party for Sam’s kindergarten class isn’t until tomorrow, but his teacher won’t be there. So we needed her Valentine gift a day early. I threw this together last night. I think it’s so adorable. I can’t wait to give it to her this afternoon. 
I wanted to avoid the typical candy gift. I settled on a Panera gift card. Then I made this sweet little gift card holder for it. LOVE it!
Front:
Open:
Back:
Heartfelt Thanks February 9, 2010
I made this card for the Boots 2 Stamps Inspiration Challenge. I really wanted to use my bird cage stamp that I just got in Stampin’ Up’s Happy Moments set, but I LOVE the flowers I made and the stripes….and I just couldn’t get the cage to work with those elements in a way that didn’t seem cluttered to me. I am very happy with the way this card turned out. I think it’s so sweet. I used daubers and SU ink pads to make the stripes. And the stamping was done with whisper white craft ink and clear embossing powder. Love embossing powder.
Here’s the inspiration picture:
Here’s the final product:
Spring colors February 6, 2010
I’ve had several sheets of pastel paper with white polka dots for quite a while now, about 3 years. Pastels aren’t my favorite to work with, but I’ve been wanting to use these papers for something. Today I decided to try this idea I’ve been kicking around. I don’t love it, but I think it’s pretty cute. I think I like the idea of the blocks of color. These colors just aren’t my favorite. I’ll share it anyway though. 
With love February 5, 2010
While browsing crafting blogs today, I noticed some entries into a challenge to create a black, white, and red card. I couldn’t figure out where exactly to enter said challenge….maybe it was a private group or something? But I was still inspired to make a card that fit the challenge. This is what I came up with:
Mojo Monday 124 February 4, 2010
I recently stumbled upon a site called Mojo Monday. They give sketch challenges. I really like it because I’m always looking for layout ideas. They have a sketch book of past challenge sketches and I could spend hours sifting through all of the ideas. Plus there are links to other people’s creations. There are some beautiful cards out there and some very talented crafters. I’m certainly not at the level of most of the people who enter these challenges, but it’s fun anyway. So I figured I would enter a card this week.
Here’s the sketch:
And here’s my card: 
Tri- Shutter card February 3, 2010
I made this fantastic card using a template that I found here. I haven’t made the box to go along with it yet. I need to get some more cardstock first. I’ll be sure to share it when I do though.
It’s not really the color scheme I wanted to use…especially the black. But the only 12 x 12 cardstock I had on hand at the time was black. I think it turned out nicely though. On my next trip to Michaels I am going to get a pack of 12 x 12 in assorted colors though. I want to make more of these. It’s such a dramatic display. This one is a Valentine’s Day card because I happen to have a lot of Valentine’s themed designer paper right now.
p.s. I entered this card in a craft challenge at Creative Card Crew.
Thinking of you… February 3, 2010
This might just be my favorite card ever. I love the color scheme. I love the way it turned out. I love the Thinking of You stamp. I just love everything about it. The circles are in cream and punched with the 1 3/8 inch circle punch. It also uses the 5 petal punch and boho blossoms punch from Stampin’ Up! I need to run to Michaels before the next snowstorm comes this weekend so I can make some more of these awesome cards!
Get Well Soon February 3, 2010
I love this new punch (and the new punch style) from Stampin’ Up! I borrowed it from a friend to make this card. It punches out the bird, the wing, and the branch. I can’t wait to order this punch. I have so many ideas. Here’s the one I’ve done so far.
Black & Blue February 3, 2010
I really like the look of black and blue together. Unfortunately I don’t have much in the way of blue paper. I’ll have to fix that with my next Stampin’ Up order. One of my stamping friends told me when I first started out that I should always buy the matching paper and marker whenever I buy a stamp pad. I wish I had listened! Now I desperately need some paper. *sigh* I’ll never make that mistake again! Here are two cards in black and blue.
Thank you, thank you! February 3, 2010
I recently found a set of stamps that I bought on clearance months and months ago. It had never been opened. It has some beautiful sentiments in it. I need to make more cards using them. They really are pretty. I mostly like the Thank You stamp it came with. It can be seen on the red, white, and black card below. Here are a few of my more recent thank you card creations.
Stampin’ Up! clear-mount stamps February 3, 2010
I have never been a fan of the acrylic blocks and clear stamps that you can buy in the stores. The quality just never seemed as good as a wood-mount stamp. But now Stampin’ Up has come out with a series of clear-mount stamps. I hosted our stamping club’s get together last month. So I decided I would take the opportunity to test them out since I was getting so much free merchandise anyway. No real loss that way, if I hated them. I got 3 sets: Sweetheart, Happy Moments (sale-a-bration set), and Picnic Parade (hostess set). I absolutely LOVE them! They are made with the same rubber that the wood-mount stamps use, but they mount on the acrylic blocks. They make it so easy to line up your stamp just right. And they work just as well as the wooden ones. They come in a great thin case, much like a DVD case. I can’t wait until they have even more stamps sets available in clear-mount. I’m sold! Here’s a card I made using the Picnic Parade set. I used Staz-On Jet Black ink and 8 different stamps from the set to make this card. Then I colored them in with colored pencils. It turned out pretty cute.
Bunches of Butterflies February 3, 2010
I love butterflies. One of the first Stampin’ Up sets I ever bought was the Flight of the Butterfly set. It’s still my favorite. For Christmas, my secret pal at work (who also happens to be Stampin’ Up! demonstrator) gave me the new butterfly punch. These butterfly cards just use the punch, not the stamp set. I think they’re both so much fun.
