Sitting on Pens and Needles

I wuff you most

2012-01-29T19:42:00.008-07:00

I'm trying to play catch up, making cards for the upcoming holiday ... Valentine's, not Groundhog Day! I decided to use Jessica's sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches. It was a fun sketch tho for some reason, I struggled with it. Go figure!

I've also made a promise to myself to stop using SU Cherry Cobbler since I think the last three cards I made this week have it! Step away from Cherry Cobbler.

I used one of my favorite High Hopes image. Their challenge this week was to make a Valentine's card. Hurry on over to play because they have a great prize.

Are You Ready for Valentine's Day?!!

2012-01-26T07:00:00.001-07:00

I was so late sending out Christmas cards; I am determined to be ready for Valentine's day. I'm going to show you the cute little boxes that I made for my sons' teachers.

Here are some of the supplies that you will need:
Paper Cutter with scoring tool/Scissors
Paper:
(1) piece 6 5/8" x 11" piece of cardstock
(1) piece 4 1/4" cardstock square
(4) pieces of Designer Paper measuring 2 1/2" x 3 7/8"
Ribbon (about 20 inches)
An Oval Cutting Tool
Self healing mat
Craft knife
Adhesive (I used sticky-strip and a runner)
Scallop Edge Punch

Step One:

Line up your 6 5/8" x 11" piece of cardstock vertical with your paper cutter and score at 2 5/8". Then turn your cardstock and score at 2 5/8", 5 1/4", 7 7/8" and 10 1/2".

Step Two:

Fold on all the scored lines. Cut off the smaller piece. If you remember from the introductory photo, I planned to use my Creative Memories cutters but in the end, I decided to use my nesties. Center whatever oval cutter you plan to use and cut.

Step Three:

I ran a overhead transparency through my printer and placed Cupcakes and Candy Factory in the center. (Just a note, make certain that you're using the right kind of transparencies! I initially used ink jet transparencies in my laser printer. The result was a melted plastic sheet and an odd burning smell!)

Step Four:

Adhere the patterned paper and the acetate to the box. Use your adhesive to put the box together. Your box is done. All that's left is to make the top!

Step Five:

Score the 4 1/4" square piece of cardstock at 3 1/2" on all sides. Cut on the right score line on each side, creating flaps.

Then using your scallop punch, cut the edges off your square. I also cut the scalloped area off the flaps. This hides the edges when you fold the box together.

Step Six:

Using your scraps (look how thrifty we are!), decorate the top of your box.

I used my craft knife to cut two small slots on the top and threaded the ribbon through. I also placed white scallop to adhere the ribbon in place. I wanted the ribbon and bow to be on the side of my project.

Last step:

I printed several sizes of the image I wanted to use. I wasn't sure what size would work best. Are digital images not the BEST thing ever?!! Adhere the image to the front.

Voila! Your box is done.

All that's needed is to make a tag for the kids to sign and to fill the boxes with yummy candy.

These boxes are super easy and turn out great!

Inky Impressions "I {Heart} You!"

2012-01-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another Inky Impressions Challenge. This week it's "I {heart} you" Challenge #43.

I used Cupcakes and Candy Factory Background stamp. I love all the candy that this digi has. I also used the Eat Sleep Stamp Sketch this week. It was such a great sketch. Really fun!

So come by the Inky Impression Challenge Blog and post your card. If you use the keyword IIC43, everyone will be able to enjoy your creation. You may even be selected as a Top 3 or a winner!

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Impressions, Cupcakes and Candy Factory
Accessories: Sewing, copics, crystal effects

January MIS

2012-01-23T09:54:00.005-07:00

Could I go for a super-dooper large serving of "vegetables" right now or what!!

This is the card that I made to answer Patti's January challenge. She challenged us to use this image and come up with a funny phrase to go with it. Having gone to a million Weight Watcher meetings, I've heard a million food jokes!

This image is from Art Impressions new girlfriends line (which I was sooo excited to see that Archivers is now carrying!). To see how the rest of the group handled the image, click here.

Here's the inside.

I'll probably send this little number to my Weight Watcher buddy. Her birthday is coming up soon.

December MIS

2012-01-21T19:00:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's another late post.

But I'm happy to report that I am caught up on the Monthly Challenge ... for the next 9 days anyway!

Kathy gave us this little cutie. This is Nellie Snellen "Hokey Pokey" available from Simon Says stamps. And is she ever cute! Having said that, I have to admit that I had trouble coloring her. I gave her hair and a headband, but I noticed from our gallery some of us gave her a hat. I don't suppose it matters but it did give me pause!

I'm submitting this to Creative Card Crew for their "Seeing Red" challenge.

Supplies:
Stamps: Nellie Snellen
Accessories: SU flower and snowflake punch, Memory Box swirl die, brads, ribbon, copic, stickles

Who is making Christmas cards still? Moi!

2012-01-20T10:50:00.006-07:00

I'm a little behind in my card making. Oh heck, if we're going to be completely honest, I'm a little behind in practically everything (I just took my Christmas tree down last weekend .... my mother would have been horrified).

Ever so slowly I'm getting my act back together. I have high hopes that I will get my laundry caught up this weekend.

Today I'm sharing my November challenge from Tracey. She gave us this little cutie and asked us to make a Christmas card. I popped the squirrel and the tree up with pop dots and used my new MS punch. Gosh bless Martha's little heart, I am a such sucker for new punches and dies!

Have a GREAT Friday!

Inky Impressions "Shape Up - Anything But a Square"

2012-01-18T06:00:00.000-07:00

Yay, it's time for another Inky Impressions Challenge. This week it's "Shape Up! Anything but a Square." I have to say that this was INDEED a challenge for me. I have NEVER made a card in any shape but rectangular. It was time to step out of my box (giggle, get it? Out of my rectangular box!!) I had to take two runs at it before I liked my card, but I finally got it right. I used "MaMaa Skiing" and since she's a digi, I was able to make her big and just use her head. I wanted to make it a bit silly because after spending 2 hours to make one card, I was feeling a biiiiit punchy.

So swing on by and join the fun. If you use the keyword IIC42, everyone will be able to enjoy your creation. You may even be selected as a Top 3 or a winner!

Blog Hop!!!

2012-01-11T05:59:00.002-07:00

This is my second post of the day. If you are looking for the Inky Impressions "Red, White and Pink" challenge, please scroll down.

THIS post is all about Inky Impressions NEW RELEASES (insert excited squeal here). Please join me in welcoming:

Chatterbox LiLi
Tu-Tu Cute LiLi
and Teary Eyed LiLi

And we are hopping, blog style, to celebrate the fun. If you came from Anne's blog, you are right on track, otherwise you might want to back up and start from the beginning . I was lucky enough to get Teary Eyed LiLi. Isn't she cute?!!

The great thing about this Blog Hop is that there is a prize. You are probably saying, "How can I be eligible?" Glad you asked. Easy Peasy. Simply go to each blog in the hop and post a comment on EACH AND EVERY BLOG. THEN, you must post about Inky Impressions blog hop on YOUR blog.

Wanna know what you're playing for?

Your choice of 1 of the 3 New Releases:
--- Chatterbox LiLi, Tu-Tu Cute LiLi, or Teary Eyed LiLi (all are high quality rubber stamps)

Plus:
--- Angelica's Bunny Rubber Stamp
--- LiLi's Slumber Party Rubber Stamp
--- 3 Sentiment Rubber Stamps: My place or yours, Bring your jammies & Uh-Oh Spaghetti Oh's

AND:
--- Padded Butterfly Trim in 3 colors: Bright Pink, Turquoise, & Lime Green
--- 4 packs of Inky Pearls in Bright Pink, Lime Green, Turquoise & Tangerine
--- 4 packs of silver charms- Butterflies, Flowers, Dragonflies, Cute Littlepurses
--- 1 pack of beautiful silver flower centers
--- 1 pack of Inky Dinky Drops in Clear
--- 2 packs of Inky 6mm brads in Bright Pink & Light Green

You have until Wednesday, January 18th to play. Good luck to you, and now, I send you on your way to the talented Lesa.

Inky Impressions "Red, White and Pink" Challenge #41

2012-01-11T00:01:00.000-07:00

This week's Inky Impression Challenge was to use the colors "Red, White and Pink." This one was easy for me since those are some of my favorite colors. My pink DP drawer barely closes so it was nice to dig deep and find something good.

I used Angelica's Snowman. She's a favorite for me. We are looking for some great designs submitted. Remember, there is always an EXTRA prize given if you win AND you use an Inky Impressions stamp.

So head on over to the Inky Impressions Inspiration blog and play. Be sure to use the keyword IIC41 and link your creation below so everyone can enjoy your creation. Who knows, you may even be selected as a Top 3 or a winner!

Inky Impressions "Anything Goes" Challenge #40

2012-01-04T05:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to another Inky Impressions Challenge. This week it's Anything Goes! Wahooo. Nothing like a little freedom to get the creative juices flowing. I used "MaMaa Skiing" to kick things off and then went with a whole blingy theme! Can you go wrong with stickles, sparkly foil paper and swirls?

I think it's kinda ironic that I used MaMaa since I don't ski. I know, shocking since I live in the heart of ski nirvana!! Our family hikes, snow shoes and sleds (and that's kinda a lot since I REALLY don't like to be cold). Buuuut, I DID have a great time coloring ol' MaMaa. Come join the fun and post your card on the Inky Impressions Inspirational Blog (and maybe you'll want to do a little shopping too).

Challenges: Papertake Weekly, Digital Tuesdays,

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Impressions: MaMaa Skiing
Paper: SEI designer paper
Accessories: MS snow punch, MFT swirl die, stickles, copics,

Yep ... another belated card

2011-11-17T13:01:00.006-07:00

All I can say is ... it's a good thing that I'm fun because I NEVER mail birthday cards out on time. I'm chronically late. This card SHOULD have been mailed last Saturday but here it sits, on my dining room table waiting to be wrapped, boxed and sent to the post office.

I think that my problems stem from the fact that I am easily distracted. Take today for example: I should be mopping my floor but instead I have organized my junk drawer, sorted mail, sharpened EVERY pencil in my child's room and done a variety of tasks that needed to be done but ... weren't the task that I set forth to do. I'm blaming my mom. I can't tell you the number of times that I would come home from school to find her in the yard weeding. And when I asked her what she was doing she would reply, "cleaning the house." Yep. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Supplies:
Stamps: All stamps by Inky Antics
Accessories: CB folder, nestibilities, copics, brad, pop dots

Get Well Soon Wen

2011-10-31T00:01:00.000-06:00

My bestie is having surgery today and I am thinking about her, wishing I were with her.

I met Wendy in high school. Our moms were friends and kept talking about how much in common we had and well, wouldn't stop trying to get us together (apparently Claudia and Bev were thwarted matchmakers in another life). So in desperation to get them to just stop talking about how "nice" the other girl was ... we met. Guess what? They were right.

Almost 30 years later ... we're still friends, home girls, sistahs from otha mothas. We've made it through high school, college, dating, marriage, kids, divorce, diabetes and the ugly "c" word. I anticipate that we will have another 30 years of friendship. We'll be the two old bags at the home wearing mismatched clothes and arguing over whether "zoot" is an acceptable Scrabble word. Love ya, doll.

Ha-lloweeeeeen

2011-10-29T18:28:00.005-06:00

I wasn't going to send Halloween cards this year. It's been a tough year and my creativity was waning ... but then today I caught the bug and started to work again. I made 4 cards over today and yesterday (and this wasn't even one of them ... I made this in July) So now I have 6 cards to show you all before Monday. Hmmm, how's THAT going to work out?

Right now my oldest is having a hissy fit. His teacher will let him wear a costume to school if he writes a report about the costume. So, being the non-student that he wishes he could be, he decided that he just wouldn't wear a costume (thus avoiding the report). I told him no-way-jose. He could choose not to wear a costume ... but he WOULD be writing the report anyway. He's not a happy camper right now.

Yay, another baby!!

2011-10-24T09:48:00.007-06:00

My niece is preggers again. She's an AMAZING mom and I wanted to send a card to let her how excited we are at the prospect of another baby. I'm quite desperate for this one to be a girl (can ya tell?) I love my boys but I want to shop for a girl dog gone it!

Course I'm on boy overload right now. I'm having a play-date with four boys (a 9 year old, an 8 year old, a 6 year old and a 4 year old). All of them have a nerf gun, walkie talkies and a hard hat on. Normally I would bundle them up and send em' outside and have a happy and quiet afternoon to leaf through a magazine while waiting for my dinner to finish cooking. Curse you snow!

Supplies:
High Hopes Stamp
Nestibilities, lacey circle, copics, buttons, Memory Box die

SSMIS October

2011-10-24T09:25:00.004-06:00

Vickie's challenge for us was a vintage Stampin Up image and to use the technique of water-coloring. As you can see, I failed THAT part! When I sat down to water-color I had to really think ... HOW do you water-color again, what tools am I using?? I finally remembered but let's just say that my efforts were ... not good!

When I first saw this image I thought it looked a little sad and I immediately thought of a sympathy card (of course it could be MY state of mind too). I loved the bird and wanted to emphasize it's message of hope.

Click here to see what my sisters did with this same image.

Supplies:
Stamps: Al stamps Stampin Up: Times and Seasons (retired)
Accessories: Ribbon, Label 4 Nestibilities, Crystal Effects, CB Swiss Dots folder, pop dots, copics

September Monthly Image

2011-09-28T17:52:00.008-06:00

This is what I finally came up with for the Lockhart image that Pat sent this month for our Monthly Image Challenge. You can see the gallery of what the other girls did here. We have some AMAZING artists in our group!

Scenic images like this are soooo far outside my box that it was hard to come up with an idea. Since the image itself was so large, the layout had to be very simple. I used fall tones and doodled a bit to jazz it up.

Supplies:
Stamps: Image: Lockhart, Phrase: Memory Box
Accessories: ribbon, copics, ribbon, Nestibilities: tags, brads

Happy Birthday Deb

2011-09-25T21:54:00.007-06:00

(sigh) Yes, I know ... another belated birthday card to show. This one I'm blaming on a lack of Mojo. I started making this card Friday afternoon, when it WOULD have been on-time. I began coloring a cute Penny Black cow image and started working with my lay-out but the image was too big. Hated it! Went away, grumpy.

Saturday morning, I set out again. I scrapped the cows and started looking for a cool retro sewing stamp set that I own. That set would have been PERFECT for Deb. But I couldn't find the stamp set. Went away, grumpy.

Sunday afternoon (on her actual birthday) I forced myself to find another stamp set (it's not like I don't own a billion other perfectly good stamps). Initially I had wanted to make a card in Deb's style: retro, grunge, and CAS but in the end I just settled for finished!

Stamps: Stampabilities
Accessories: Bo Bunny paper, ribbon, brads, sewing machine, lacy circle nesties, flowers

Yep, another birthday

2011-09-22T14:00:00.000-06:00

Happy, happy day Carol!

Another card from my September birthdays. Technically, this should probably be a belated card since I only mailed it yesterday BUT I'm going to count it as on-time since I mailed it prior to her actual day. I suppose I'm being cheesy, like the airlines when they count a plane that arrives in the destination city's airspace on-time but then circles for 20 minutes before landing, but I can't have any more belated cards go out this month. My husband ALREADY says "all" my cards are late.

Supplies:
Stamps: SU
Accessories: Lacy squares, nestibilities; copics; blue bayou ribbon and paper; embroidery floss

Oh Nuts

2011-09-21T13:10:00.003-06:00

September is such a busy month.

Aside from the start of school and the craziness of that schedule change, I am lucky enough to know 9 people with birthdays this month. I feel like I walk around this month with a perpetual "Oh nuts" expression on my face because of all the birthdays I seem to miss. Thank heavens for the little reminders from facebook "You have 4 friends with birthdays this week" that come to my e-mail or I'd be sending out MORE belated cards than actual happy birthday cards this month! Confession time, I've already sent out THREE belated cards!

Hope it was happy Jackie.

Supplies:
Stamps: Inky Antics
Accessories: Lables 11, nestibilities; copics; ribbon; MS punch

Thanks

2011-08-22T12:50:00.005-06:00

I needed a quick thank you card for the principal and office staff at my oldest's new school. They all worked sooo hard to get him registered for classes today. I feel incredibly grateful for their speedy efforts. Oldest's new teacher is amazing and reminds me of Mrs. Frizzle. Today she was wearing neon orange shoes with lime green socks. Kooky!

I was laughing with DH this morning that if I ever go back to teaching, I will be lucky to be hired. I'm calling in all my markers and even burning a few educational contact bridges. Oh well. When you have a special needs kiddo, you've got to be a bit of a mama bear.

I wanted the card to have a school days feel so I turned to By LORi Designs. I love her little Landon and Lucy series. They are PERFECT for teacher/school stuff. Thankfully I don't have to mail this card ... I know that the post office would freak out over the puffiness of the pencil that I used to decorate the card!

Supplies:
Stamps: By LORi Designs, SU
Accessories: Ribbon, pencil, brads, nesties

August Secret Sistah

2011-08-19T08:45:00.007-06:00

Susie's challenge was to create the perfect local stamp store. When I think of a great store I want it to be open all the time (thus the Eat, Sleep, Stamp sign ... those are it's hours, pretty much open 24/7), it has to have great stuff (check out all the goods in the window) AND everything has to be on sale, marked down or on clearance.

I also needed an "I love you card" for the hubby. He's been a good sport while the kids and I went to Arizona to see my mom. I know it's hard for him to hold down the fort, feed our assorted menagerie of animals and be alone. Soo, I combined the SS challenge and a "love ya" card and made this.

I totally cased Patti's cute window treatment. You can see her wonderful card here or the entire collection of local stamp stores here! Fun challenge Susanne!

Supplies:
Stamps: Art Impressions
Accessories: wire, brad, pop dots, copics, Banner Nesties, SU word window punch

Going to the Chapel ...

2011-08-01T10:48:00.004-06:00

"and they're gonna get mar-harried." I guess you're kind of glad that sound isn't a part of my blog otherwise you would be required to listen to my off-key singing of The Crystal's "Going to the Chapel of Love" song.

My nephew Logan is getting married in four days so I needed a card. I totally cased the card from Francis' blog. If you haven't ever been, I highly recommend it. I loved how she used the two hearts and dressed them in wedding duds. I changed it up a bit and the inside reflects the heart theme with the verse "Two Souls with but a single thought, Two Hearts that beat as one." I usually hate my wedding cards but this one ... I gotta say, I like. Thanks SS for the ribbon bow tie. It was absolutely what I needed.

Now if only I could manufacture something for ME to wear.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin Up, Wordsworth
Accessories: button, baker's Twine, scallop punch, CB folder, All other accessories from Michaels: pearl, bling, one flower, bow tie.

Shoulda, Woulda ... Coulda

2011-07-24T15:08:00.017-06:00

So the youngest turns 6 and we planned a big bash. I had just received my monthly images from our SSMIS hostess (Lena hosted this month) and she chose THE cutest little dragon space image. It was right in keeping with the Space theme of the party... so I planned to make 12 little cards to send out. This is the proto-type.

I made a slider card.

But it got busy and we ended up sending generic Hallmark invitations (insert horrified gasp here)

And I arranged to have a friend make an R2D2 cake. Here is the picture of the cake before the devastation. Poor R2 was a victim of the heat and died in a heap of cakey rubble. We had a supermarket cake (it was delicious, stop beating yourself up Mary ... he LOVED it).

Then, the party was supposed to take place in the basement of a local store with A/C. But ... there was NO air ... none!

So the darling astronaut costumes that the kids were to wear lasted all of 15 minutes before the kids stripped them off, gasping for cooler temperatures. This is a picture of the birthday boy "using the force" to whack the balloon. He was having a blast because anytime you can whack ... is good!

But the alien cake pops were cute.
The kids had fun.
The birthday boy was excited and happy.
Mission accomplished.

Supplies:
Stamps: High Hopes, Stampin Up
Accessories: Pop dots, copics, Star punch Circle Nesties, ribbon and CB embossing folder

Diving into the SS stash

2011-07-12T15:38:00.004-06:00

(Sigh) I'm thinking that I would be kinda happy if my DH's abs looked like this (the legs kinda creep me out ... but I could do with the six-pack abs). My lovely geeky husband can be called many things but a dumb blonde is not one of them.

I'm sending this card to a friend who has cancer. It's ironic because when she was diagnosed, I kinda fell apart and she ended up comforting ME! My friend is one of the strongest, bravest people I know. Go Team Wendy!

I also wanted to post a picture of the bane of my existance ... Buzz Lightyear. I mentioned to a friend the other day about how I spent a significant portion of my Saturday trying to put this guy together for my soon to be 6 year old. I grew up with Barbies so the finer points of lego building elude me. By the time I started to work on him, the youngest had already lost a piece in his arm and one in his foot. He's together but looks kinda goofy with that replacement red piece in his arm and foot.

In my next life ...

2011-07-07T10:17:00.002-06:00

I've decided that in my next life I want to be Stampabella. She's unbelievable thin, always doing something fun and she just looks like a kick in the pants to know.

I'm kidding.

I had some time to waste and some new supplies begging me to use so I made this card for my bestest friend ever. The new items I used were the baker's twine and the pennant dies from Nestabilities. I used some images that I snagged from my friend Deb. I think it's Cosmo-bella but I'm not 100% sure.

Have a great day

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampabella, SU
Accessories: Bo Bunny paper, copics, nestibilities, ribbon, bling, MS punch, SU hardware