For YOU ... my special bud

I went to my LSS this weekend for black cardstock and brown brads and ended up spending an enormous amount of money on stuff that I REALLY didn't need (sigh). This stamp was one of the things that jumped into my basket. I just loved her little knock knees! It's a new one from Stampavie.

The card came together easily; I used Taylor's sketch as a starting point and used the paper tole technique that I've come to love.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampavie; Tina Wenke, Phrase, Stampavie; Mo Manning
Accessories: Brads, flowers, leaves, Bo Bunny paper

Happy Father's Day

This is the card I made Ken for "faddah's day." It's a pretty simple card but the story that goes with it is the temper tantrum that my oldest threw over it's design. Do you see the little cut-out frog? Caleb felt (rather strongly, apparently) that it should have a mouth. I didn't want to put one on it ... I mean, he had already made HIS card ... this was MY card that I was making. I should get to be the creative director of the show, right?!! It's MY card!

We finally compromised when I let him put mouths on the frogs for the inside of the card. He was happier though still grumped about the outside frog.

I got those little cut-out froggies from my Secret Sister this round. Love 'em Sis!

Supplies:
Stamps: Frog; Stampabilities, Phrases; Stampin Up
Accessories: Frogs, googlie eyes, ribbon

Go ahead and mock me ...

So my friend Wiggy gave me this image and the additional challenge of making a CAS card. For those of you not in the biz ... CAS means Clean And Simple: no layering, few embellishments, no designer paper. Simple. As you can see, it's not my favorite style. In fact, I think we can all agree that I really CAN'T do it.

Indeed while making the card I felt a bit like Scotty from Star Trek (I know, my nerd roots are showing) "Captain, I'm giving it all I've got but she just won't do it" (this has to be said in your best Scottish accent)

I like designer paper. I like layers. I like bling, sparkle and ribbon. The concessions I made to CAS were two: I used no designer paper. These are all embossing folders. And I used only one color and it is ... not my favorite color (tho I will admit that the yellow is very sunny and pretty on this card)

So there you have it, CAS as seen my me ... let the laughter begin.

Supplies:
Stamps: Unknown flower stamp, Phrase: SU
Embossing folders, bling, pop dots, ribbon, MS punch

After finding Bugaboo stamps ... I've decided to give digis another look. Ironic isn't since my last post was JUST about liking to "touch" my stamps? If they had another option ... I'd still prolly buy the touchable version, but I just fell in love with Stella. Some of the Christmas images are so dang funny that it made me consider starting my cards (nahhh, not yet!).

This month Bugaboo is offering 50% off everything in the store plus a chance to win a $20 gift certificate to the store. Definitely worth a looksie.

And in the spirit of giving things another chance ... I decided to give eyelets another chance. Of the five that I placed on the card, I crushed two of them into oblivion. Apparently using them requires a lighter touch!! Despite having a billion of them in my possession I don't see me using them often.

Supplies:
Stamps: All stamps by Bugaboo
Paper: DP: Bo-Bunny, Solid: SU, Garden Green
Ink: Memento
Accessories: twine, eyelets, nesties, copics

Secret Sister Monthly Image - May

Denise was the hostess for this month's Secret Sister image swap. She provided us with this cute Mo Manning image. I love Mo's work (and I LOVE that Stampabella is starting to carry it in rubbah). I'm just not that into digis ... I guess I'm just a traditionalist; I want to be able to touch my stamps!

I curved my "happy birthday" stamp to fit the scalloped nestibility shape. I like that you can do that with acrylic stamps.

Supplies:
Stamps: Mo Manning: Birthday Fairy Lee, Stampabilities: Happy Birthday
Accessories: SU Cherry Cobbler seam binding tape, twine, button, copics, nestibilities, Spica glitter pen, sewing machine

Hark! Hambo Hogs

I've been "eye-ing" a die at Archiver's to make these little flowers and I've been trying to figure out if I would actually USE it if I bought it. I have a tendency to buy things and then they sit in my drawers, gathering dust. Becca Feeken makes similar flowers on her blog with Martha Stewart punches ... and they are AMAZING! I recommend checking out her site if you haven't seen it. I made this flower with my score-pal and ... a LOT of folding.

Soooo, will I be purchasing the die? Prolly not. I have the capability to do it without the die and frankly, I don't see myself using it a lot. It's a very formal accessory and my cards are pretty casual (I'm not even sure it works with this image). Ultimately, I mail most of my cards and this decoration, while pretty, presents a bit of a challenge to the US postal system and their card crushing machines.

Supplies:
Stamps: All stamps are Hambo
Accessories: Copics, Score-Pal, button

Love Ya Mom

Using a kit from last round's Secret Sister (Denise) I sat down to make a card for my mom. After talking to several of my friends, I have come to realize that I am very lucky indeed when it comes to moms. So I'm taking a moment to say how much I appreciate her .... here!

Although the card turned out great, it was not a "great" crafting experience. I caught my hand in a Martha Stewart punch and in the process, when I jumped, I managed to knock down all my designer paper cabinets. Lovely paper rained down to the floor while I whimpered and the dog howled (he's deaf and I startled him). I didn't EVEN want to deal with the clean-up yesterday. I got most of it picked up and sorted today. I even managed to convince myself to part with some of the smaller pieces so it's actually NEATER than it was before!

For this card, I dusted off my poor neglected prisma pencils and used them. I also used the paper tole technique again. I really like how that looks.

Supplies:
Stampavie: Sarah Kay
Accessories: Pop Dots, Prisma Pencils, ribbon, butterfly charm