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 Hey Everyone! I hope you had a great weekend! I spent most of it creating to my little heart's desire! Here is one card I made.  I really like using a technique I like to call stamping overlay! I stamp the sentiment over another stamped pattern, similar to stamping on patterned paper! I even used patterned paper here - that aqua mist polka dot goodness on the tea cups! To represent doilies under the tea cups, I trimmed some Hero Arts lace into two flowers and adhered them first, then popped the cups off with foam adhesive! I also layered the trim, felt, and twine to come up with a decorative element.  At the top of the card, I created another pattern using stamps. I alternated the sentiment and even included tea cups in one of the 'ticket' border stamped images. I really like that pattern and can envision it as a complete piece of patterned paper! Here's some more information: Instructions- Stamp polka dot background on white cardstock.
- Stamp cups on patterned paper, cut out, then stamp smoke on cups and polka dot stamped cardstock.
- Adhere crochet trim and pop tea cups off with foam adhesive.
- Stamp sentiment.
- Add red trim. Die cut eyelet border from white felt and adhere, then wrap twine into a bow. Add rhinestones.
- On aqua mist cardstock, stamp ticket border pattern, trim then adhere to cardstock. Trim around tickets.
- Add stitching after adhereing to card base.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - afternoon tea, off beat backgrounds Ink :: Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise; Stampin' Up! - basic black Patterned Paper :: Papertrey Ink - bitty dots Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - white, aqua mist Embellishments :: May Arts - twine; Webster's Pages - coral eyelet trim; Papertrey Ink - white felt; Kaisercraft - rhinestones Tools :: Papertrey Ink - eyelet border die; Janome - sewing machine Now, about that giveaway! Thanks so much for participating in the Blog Giveaway last week! I appreciate all of your kind words. Laura asked the question about my crafting style and whether I have always leaned towards classy/elegant. --In response, I'm not quite sure what my style is. I appreciate them all. However, I usually create a hybrid style of clean and elegant. I enjoy challenging myself to try other styles too like vintage or cutesy too. This is a good question because when I think of my style overall, I wouldn't say I am an elegant dresser or that my house is elegant, but perhaps others would describe it that way. I really fit the category of "unsure of ones style!" I like color, whether it's a lot of just a pop of it. I also appreciate embellishments and buttons that are incorporated into a clean design. I don't like too many layers, BUT sometimes, I like layering certain things, like buttons on ribbon knots or layered die cuts. I think my style has probably leaned toward the elegant side to answer your question directly, but I like some other styles too that I don't want to say that's my only style! I know that was a little long winded. Sorry about that! Onto the winner! Tammy, please e-mail me your address so I can ship this new set off to you this week! Congratulations and I hope you get great use out of it!  I really enjoyed reading about your styles and what works best for you and what doesn't! So, I decided to share the results. I'm not surprised that clean and graphic style is favored because it is a design style that usually can be created the fastest. There are not a lot of layers and embellishments usually added, and you can create more in a short amount of time. That's not to say the clean and graphic style is 'easy,' it just doesn't have a lot of elements. I was happy to see that many designers use multiple styles, like me! I read that a lot of you design based on your mood, which is how I create as well. I'm an emotional artist, so being able to force creativity in one direction when your heart is set to design in another can be very difficult. For the multi-style creators, design to your heart's content! The other styles were really close in popularity, like vintage, layering, and shabby. Oh yeah, so the "other" category included styles like eclectic, grunge, and retro-chic! Perhaps the clean style is a current trend and will change one day. Who is to say, right?! I just thought this would be an interesting perspective to share about YOU...my readers! Thanks for your participation!  I'm still feeling grateful this month. Could there be another giveaway? Hmmmm Take care, ya'll!
 Hey there! It's time for another Watch Me Wednesday video. Since Halloween will be wrapped up by next week's video date, I thought it would only be fitting to celebrate with a candy corn shaped card. I made another candy corn card here, which was featured on Paper Crafts' Moxie Fab World blog post here. I was thrilled that it was showcased there with so many other fabulous Halloween projects. Mine was so simple than my usual cards lately that I thought, I must re-do that card to 'dress it up.' So, I'm sharing how I created this shaped card and how you can embellish it more (or not like I did previously).  I stamped background patterns on the cardstock to give it some depth. I also added ribbon and tag treatment. The tag border was created using the Spellbinders Standard Circles LG die template as a stencil. I kept the cardstock in the die template after cutting and traced the circle. You can see this in the video though!  To create more texture, I added some crochet trim and embossed the top portion of the 'candy corn' with Provo Crafts' swiss dots embossing folder.  I created a template for the entire card. For all of my shaped cards, I have two shapes, one for the card front and the other for the card back. I score the top portion of the cardstock used for the card back, then adhere it to the back of the top of the card front's cardstock. That sounds really confusing, so check out the video if it really was! Click here to see the video on YouTube. :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - off beat backgrounds; Papertrey Ink- mixed messages Ink :: Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise; Tsukineko - memento tuxedo black; Ranger - spiced marmalade Cardstock :: Paper Source - white; Papertrey Ink - summer sunrise, orange zest Embellishments :: Papertrey Ink - snow white twill tape, true black buttons; Maya Road - crochet zig zag trim; May Arts - twine; Making Memories - eyelet Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-114 standard circles lg, GC-001 grand calibur, S4-278 nested candy corn; We R Memory Keepers - crop-a-dile Do you all have fall allergies? What's up with that? Well McArthur and I do. Last week, he had them and this week it's my turn! I have a big-head feeling, very itchy and burning eyes, and that dry cough. So, I'm going to take it easy because it's wearing me out! Anyway, thanks very much for watching! Have a great Hump Day!
   Hey Bleeps! I hope you had a great weekend! I got a chance to spend it with friends and family!! I even got a chance to hangout in DC on Saturday night to celebrate my friend's birthday. Since I'm always late, here's a card for her that I will {hopefully} mail today! I was inspired by the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. I altered the sketch a little bit because I just couldn't adhere my tag perfectly straight, so I angled it slightly. I call it a tag card because the entire card's focal point is the tag. I added the text background on the card front so it wouldn't be "naked!" I've got a few more birthdays I'm behind on, so I'll be making lots of birthday stuff this week! I'm sure people think I'm crazy for not sending cards timely (if at all) since I make them often, but I like to say I'm a crafter of cards, not a card sender! Then, on top of that - you'd think I'd dig in my large stash of cards to select one and send. NOPE - I always have to make a new one! Going to work on getting better at that ... now! Anyway, I'd love for you to take a peek at how I created it! Instructions- Stamp background patterns on tag.
- Add twill tape, crocheted trim, then adhere buttons.
- Die cut circle, then adhere resin frame (after adding distress ink) and add flower. *Create* your own embellishment!
- Tie twine around tag and secure resin frame tag embellishment.
- Stamp sentiment on tag front.
- Stamp background text on A2 card front, then ink the edges.
- Adhere the tag with foam adhesive at an angle
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - very vintage lables no. 5; Papertrey Ink - background basics (text style), fillable frames #4; Skipping Stones Design - grunge Ink :: Close to My Heart - desert sand, bamboo; Ranger - antique linen, vintage photo Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - aqua mist Embellishments :: Vintage Scrap Shop - tag; Hero Arts - crocheted trim; Melissa Phillips - twill tape; May Arts - twine; DeNami Design - sand buttons; Melissa Frances - resin frame; Prima - flower Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-116 standard circles sm, GC-001 grand calibur Thanks so much for visiting! I hope you have a great week!
   Hey Everyone! It's Friday Eve and I'm excited about that because the weekend is right out the corner. I've been wanting to participate in Waltzingmouse Stamps' sketch challenges again, but just can never find the time, until this week. So, here's my card I created using the sketch. I was inspired by so many designs using the Teeny Trees stamps set, that I felt compelled to use mine. I just used fabric as my focal point, instead of cardstock. So, have you all started making your holiday plans? I'm not sure what we're doing for Thanksgiving just yet, but I'm sure it's going to involve eating! I did put up a couple of fall things around the house, like my {fake} wheat centerpiece and front door wreath. I like shopping at Marshall's and Home Goods for seasonal items and boy did they have a lot! The Home Goods store was full of Christmas decor and I can't wait to go back to get some new stuff to replace some old! :) So, do you use the same holiday decor every year, add a few pieces to your collection, or start over completely? Starting over is probably a bit extreme, but some of the pieces that I purchased five years ago just isn't my style anymore and I'm ready to chuck it! I'll probably donate it. Oh My...while writing this post, I looked up on a bookcase and noticed one of those CHRISTMAS pieces...why is it still there? All year long? haha OKAY it's really going this year! :) Instructions- Trim muslin, stamp polka dotted background, trees, leaves, and sentiment.
- Add stitching, then run through Creatopia and adhere to card front.
- Add ribbon.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - teeny trees, off beat backgrounds Ink :: Clear Snap - ColorBox - chianti; Tsukineko - vintage sepia, spanish moss; Close to My Heart - autumn terracotta Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - ripe avocado Embellishments :: Craft Supply - muslin; Papertrey Ink - dark chocolate twill tape Tools :: Janome - sewing machine; Xyron - Creatopia fabric adhesive Thanks so much for your visit! Take care and I'll see you tomorrow for another Embellish Color Challenge!
  Hey Everyone! I hope you're enjoying your Sunday. I've been busy reorganizing my studio. I've organized my ribbon and buttons and added a wall mounted cabinet above my counter top workstation. I'm really excited about it and have yet to fill it up because I had to make this card! I know, really funny! Anyway, I'm really thankful for the studio space that I have and for McArthur for helping me organize my space and building the furniture and installing it! He was a real IKEA trooper yesterday and I appreciate that! I now have a full space and he's moved up to my old studio to have his own 'private' office! I'm going to miss him on the computer with me, but having an extra work table is also exciting. So, my day yesterday inspired the creation of this card to give thanks for my life. Here's a detailed photograph showcasing the felt leaf die cut that I stitched to create the veins.  Instructions- Trim cream cardstock to 4" x 5.25" and stamp leaves and text background.
- Adhere vintage trim, felt border, and green twill tape ribbon.
- Die cut label, ink the edges, and adhere to cardstock with foam adhesive.
- Die cut leaf from felt, ad stitching, then adhere to label with foam adhesive.
- Stamp sentiment on cardstock strip and adhere with foam adhesive.
- Ink the edges of the cardstock and adhere to an A2 card base, then ink those edges as well.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - blessed by you, teeny trees; Papertrey Ink - text background Ink :: Close to My Heart - bamboo, autumn terracotta, garden green; Ranger - antique linen, vintage photo; Stampin' Up! - chocolate chip Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - vintage cream, rustic cream Embellishments :: Heather Bailey - felt; Websters Pages - vintage trim; Papertey Ink - ripe avocado twill tape Tools :: Spellbinders - S4-301 labels sixteen, S4-228 nested maple leaves, wizard; Janome - sewing machine Thanks so much for hopping by! I'm really thankful for my readers and all of your support! Take care and enjoy the rest of your weekend.
 Hey there Bleeps! I hope your week is going well for you all! Today is Hump Day and that means it's time for another Watch Me Wednesday video! I created a friendship card using some fun new products I picked up at Scrapdoodles, my {not so} local scrapbook store. While I was driving into the grand shopping center, I saw the sign for a Hobby Lobby. I usually have to go way out of town to shop at one. I've been to Hobby Lobby in Georgia, Indiana, and Texas so far! But, finding out there is one somewhat near me was such great news! Then, I went to their site and did a store finder search only to find there are two more in the DC Metro area! YaaaY! I really got excited because that could me one is in the works just a tad more closer to me! After all that excitement, you would think I went in right? Wrong! I did not even stop by the store! It was something about the piece of mind that it was closer that derailed my 'need' to shop! Anyway, I hope you like my card and some of the new finds I used! Here are some detailed photographs of my project.
To view the video on YouTube, click here. :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - teeny trees Ink :: SU! - chocolate chip Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - soft stone Patterned Paper :: My Mind's Eye - lost & found collection {portobello road "party" looking glass paper} Embellishments :: Maya Road - resin blossoms cream, kraft mini tags; May Arts - twine; Pink Paislee - artisan elements; My Favorite Things - crystals Tools :: Janome - sewing machine Thanks for your visit and comments too! Take care, ya'll!
   Hey Bleeps*! Happy Hump Day to you all! Today, I have a Halloween candy bag to share with you. I used a glassine bag and created a decorative sleeve. An easy project for a simple Halloween gathering or even use smaller glassine bags to give to your local trick or treaters! It's a super quick project and you can dress up a glassine bag for any occasion, but I have candy on my mind now...big time! Note:- Check this post here. You may have won an issue of Holiday Cards & More, Vol. 5!
- Check this post here. You may have been outbid, but there's still time to bid on my card to fight the breast cancer battle. Read more there. Thanks so much!
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - victorian alphabet, little box labels; Hero Arts - cling dots Ink :: Stampin' Up! - black Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - linen, terracotta tile, simply chartreuse, harvest gold; American Crafts - black Embellishments :: Kaisercraft - black rhinestone; It's in the bag - glassine bagTools :: Spellbinders - S4-229 labels five, S4-114 standard circles LG, wizard Thanks for taking a peek today and watching my video! Have a SWEET Wednesday! *Bleeps = Blog Peeps
 What's going on, Bleeps*? Long time, no see, huh? I've been working a lot, but just not on projects specifically for the blog, but I made sure to squeeze in just enough time for my video of the week! Today, I created a soft and girly friendship card. I hope you enjoy it! Make sure to check back around 10 am EST because I'll have another post with another card you just may be interested in getting yourself!!  You can view the video here. :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - rescue remedies Ink :: Tsukinkeo - VersaFine vintage sepia; Ranger - antique linen, tea dye Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - kraft, rustic white Patterned Paper :: K & Company - life's journey collection Embellishments :: Vintage Scraps - trims; Papertrey Ink - sweet blush grosgrain ribbon; Prima - flower; Recollections - flowers, pearls; My Favorite Things - pink felt Tools :: Spellbinders - S4- 190 labels four nestabilities, wizard; Papertrey Ink - eyelet die Thanks for watching the video and checking me out! Don't forget to check back later this morning!
*Bleeps = Blog Peeps
 Hey Everyone! I cleaned my studio on Saturday and it seems like it stifled my creativity. Yes, I like 'organized chaos!' As I looked around my clean work spaces, I did not see anything to grab and work in a small 6" square foot space! So, I was not sure if I would be able to be inspired enough to create something for Waltzingmouse Stamps' Blog Waltz. But, hours and a few mistakes later, here it is! The biggest mistake I made was that I had an additional sentiment at the bottom that stated, "You are my best friend." That obviously did not make sense with the "Friend" sentiment! So, I just removed it! Anyway, thanks so much for waltzing by today. Here are some card details. Instructions- Trim patterned paper to 4" x 5.25".
- Adhere doily.
- Stamp flourish pattern on vintage tag, then adhere over top of doily.
- Stamp flower and leaf, color, then cut out and adhere on vintage tag.
- Add ribbon treatment.
- Add pearls.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - seasons of love, roses in bloom Ink :: Stampin' Up! - chocolate chip; Copic markers; Close to My Heart - bamboo Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - lemon tart, rustic cream Patterned Paper :: Kaisercraft - up, up & away collection (bumpercar) Embellishments :: Papertrey Ink - lemon tart twill tape; Vintage Scrap Shop - vintage tag; Craft Supply - doily; Recollections via Michaels - pearls Have a great Tuesday! Thanks for visiting!
  Hey there! I decided to come back today to share another card for Waltzingmouse's Waltz. The challenge was to use shades of blue and green. I focused on softer hues of the color combination and highlighted the blue a little more than the green. Instructions- Trim rustic cream cardstock to 4" x 5.25" and stamp polka dotted background.
- Add distress ink the the entire stamped background and edges.
- Stamp scalloped border image on white cardstock and cut out.
- Add twine treatment, then adhere to polka dot background stamped cardstock.
- Adhere green cardstock to the back of the chipboard frame.
- Add distress ink to the frame and green cardstock, then stamp sentiment.
- Pop chipboard frame off polka dotted background stamped cardstock.
- Add flower.
- Mat on green A2 card base.
Tips & Tricks- Stamping Off - To achieve a softer hue, stamp off on scrap paper, then onto your project. I used this technique for the polka dotted background as well as the scalloped border.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - say it with style, faux fun, off beat backgrounds Ink :: PTI - aqua mist; Ranger - tea dye, antique linen; Tsukineko - versafine (vintage sepia) Cardstock :: PTI - rustic cream, spring moss Embellishments :: May Arts - twine; Prima - flower; Tattered Angels - chipboard frame Thanks so much for waltzing by! Enjoy your weekend.  On SUNDAY, JULY 18, I will share my reveal and you don't want to miss these sneak peeks!
 Hey there! I'm so happy it's Thursday and this week is wrapping up soon. Last night, I created a card inspired by Waltzingmouse's Sketch Challenge. This card turned out so "beachy." Although that was not my intent, I'm glad I traveled down that creative road. I had a fun time turning the sketch and even my Labels Three die cut for a fun new perspective. The border stamp is so fun used with this die template! Speaking of die templates, have you all remembered to check out the Spellbinders Blog Frenzy? The sneak peeks have been amazing! Don't forget to keep check them out every day! Instructions- Trim blue patterned paper to about 4" x 5.25" and mat on another patterned paper piece.
- Trim three strips of red cardstock and adhere to the left side of patterned papers.
- Stamp label border and sentiment and die cut label.
- Add button with twine and pop off patterned paper.
- Adhere to kraft A2 card base.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - very vintage labels no. 3, blessed by you Ink :: Ranger Cardstock :: PTI - kraft, pure poppy Patterned Paper :: My Mind's Eye - breaking free collection Embellishments :: DeNami Design - sand buttons; PTI - pure poppy button; Craft Supply - twine Tools :: Spellbinders ™ - S4-189 Labels Three, wizard Thanks for coming by today! Have a great Friday Eve!!
 Hey Bleeps! I hope you had a great weekend! I'm back today with a card to share...finally! I've been in a travel mood lately, so this vintage card is what I created. There are so many fun elements and techniques used in this project and I so enjoyed this creative process. I'll take you on that journey: Instructions- Trim vellum to about a 4.75" square, then stamp text background with black ink.
- Adhere vellum to black 5" card base with adhesive in the corners.
- Add distress ink to envelope, then pop it off card front at an angle.
- Tie ribbon treatment with button and twine around card base.
- Mat vintage photo on black cardstock. Using pinking decorative scissors, trim the black mat cardstock edges, then adhere to card front.
- Stamp sentiment on cream cardstock, add distress ink, then adhere to card front.
- Add buttons to card corners to hide adhesive under vellum.
SuppliesStamps :: PTI – background basics (text style); Waltzingmouse Stamps – say it with style Cardstock :: PTI – vellum, true black, vintage cream Ink :: Tsukineko – tuxedo black; Ranger – antique linen, tea dye Embellishments :: Me & My Big Ideas – envelope, vintage photo; May Arts – twine; Memrie Marie – ribbon; PTI – true black buttons Tools :: Fiskars – decorative scissors So, what have I been up to? I've been learning the new features of the iPhone 4. We were one of the few hundreds of thousands of new iPhone owners last Thursday. Our story: We reserved the phones online, but had to pick them up in the store. We wanted the delivery option; however, got stuck on their site, so we were grateful to still get a couple reserved. I complained, but now am happy we got the chance to experience the Apple fan frenzy! We woke up early, went to the mall, our closest Apple store, and saw the line wrapped around the bottom floor. McArthur and I made the decision to leave and return after work. Great idea! The line was A LOT shorter, but HE still waited 3 hours. I said "HE!" I love that our local Apple store is in a mall. First, it was very comfortable and had a lot of stuff to do, including shopping! I shopped around and returned to check on Mac while in line. He was very patient. He held my bags and I continued to shop. I did give him a break. I waited in the line for about maybe 20 minutes while he went to the Cheesecake Factory to get a beer! :) Perfect! There were lots of funny memories in that line, including the man behind us. Another guy walked up to him and asked, "What's this line for?" And the guy behind us responded, "We're waiting in line for Fog Hat tickets." The guy mumbled, "You didn't have to be a smart ass" and walked off. I giggled really hard (you know the kind to yourself). I thought it was super funny. Well, the interesting part is, the guy returned and told the man behind us in line "You should've pre-ordered" and held out his phone to show his new iPhone 4. Weird, right?! So, I think the random guy knew what the line was for and wanted to be a jerk to show his phone. He had no bags, so why was he even in the mall? I guess to harass the folks in line. It kind of served him right to get the 'smart ass' comment that the guy blurted out. A 'real' random guy might have really thought we were waiting in line for tickets. Regardless, it gave us a good laugh in line! I hope you got a kick out of that one story! Thanks so much for visiting! Enjoy your day and take care.
Hey Everyone! Thanks so much for participating in the Bleeps Appreciation Giveaway. If you haven't entered yet, you still have one more day to enter! Please do so soon...it's all for you, Bleeps! Last night, I wanted to create, but was 'stuck.' So, what's a girl to do? A challenge! There are so many paper crafting challenges out there, but one of my newest favorites is Waltzingmouse Stamps' Sketch Challenge. Then, I saw the sketch and was sort of stumped again. That is, until I saw some holiday stamps and just got into the Christmas spirit. Well, when that happens, I don't fight it! So, I created this Christmas tag! Hey, don't throw tomatoes at me, you can't start too early for Christmas...well, I can't! Plus, when I start in my creating zone, I just let it go. I hesitated sharing this with you all today, but then I thought, what's the purpose of my blogging if it's not real?! So, here it is and what I was creating last night, while watching True Blood, Season 1! Ya'll...it's GOOD! Instructions- Stamp label border and sentiments on kraft cardstock in brown ink.
- Die cut label.
- Punch hole, set eyelet, and add twine treatment.
- Stamp hollies on ripe avocado cardstock in ripe avocado ink, cut out and pop off tag.
- Add rhinestones to hollies.
- On ripe avocado rectangle, stamp background in the center.
- Punch hole and set eyelet at the top of ripe avocado cardstock, then tie red cabbage rose ribbon with button treatment.
- Pop kraft tag off ripe avocado larger tag at an angle.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - very vintage christmas Ink :: SU! - chocolate chip; PTI - ripe avocado Cardstock :: PTI - kraft, ripe avocado Embellishments :: May Arts - twine; MemrieMare - cabbage rose ribbon, button; KaiserCraft - rhinestones Tools :: Spellbinders - large labels nestabilities (S4-168), wizard; We R Memory Keepers - crop-a-dile + eyelets Thanks so much for your visit! Have a happy Tuesday!!
 Hey Bleeps! Happy Hump Day! Today, I am sharing a card inspired by a few challenges. I usually do not combine challenges because it's very difficult to do, unless it's a generic challenge, like masculine for JustRite and The Shabby Tea Room. I also used Kazan's sketch from 2 Sketches for You! :) I'm going to be honest here. This card took me about two hours to make. I was powered from a long nap, but just wasn't prepared to spend that long on a card. Good thing I had my leftovers to eat! :) Check out how I made it - seems easier and faster, but boy did this card's thought process take for-ever! Instructions- Trim patterned paper to about 4" x 5.25", then adhere a black patterned paper strip in the middle.
- Die cut and emboss label.
- Stamp 'tags' and 'border.'
- Punch holes and set eyelets.
- Tie label onto paper with twine.
- Die cut two circles to mat together.
- On kraft circle, stamp sentiment, then pop off label die cut.
Tips & Tricks- Patterned Paper :: If you have difficulty working with multiple patterned papers (like me), I recommend placing the patterns down and walking away to stare at them from across the room to see if it's too busy, not busy enough, too much, overwhelming, or just "it!"
- Use patterns from the same or similar manufacturers. Working with the same collection is also an easy way to match patterns too. Here, I used the same vendor, but two different collections.
SuppliesStamps :: JustRite - romantic sentiments; Waltzingmouse Stamps - very vintage labels no. 1 Ink :: SU! - black Cardstock :: PTI - kraft, true black Patterned Paper :: Graphic 45 - a proper gentleman collection {harberdasher}, communique collection {a fine specimen} Embellishments :: May Arts - twine; We R Memory Keepers - eyelets Tools :: Spellbinders ™ - labels one nestability (S4-161 ), standard circles nestability small, large (S4 -114, S4-116), wizard; We R Memory Keepers - crop-a-dile, crop-a-dile big bite Now, in case that was a little too manly for you, here's something that should sweeten you up! I made some strawberry lemonade for the first time last night. I really like ordering this out at restaurants, so I thought why not?! I usually make fresh lemonade/tea and combine them (I will do a separate post for that concoction later), but this beverage screams summer and perfect for gatherings or just plain 'ole drinks in your house! Now, I'm sure you can 'jazz' it up a bit and add some 'licka' to it, but I haven't played with that just yet!  Here's how I made it: 3 lemons 6 strawberries 2.5 c sugar (about - to taste - WARNING - I don't measure) lemon juicer mortar and pestle Cut lemons in half. With one lemon, slice it a few times and set aside. Juice lemons and add to your pitcher. Crush and juice strawberries in mortar and pestle. Add strawberries to pitcher. Add sugar and water, then stir until dissolved. Add sliced lemons, stir, and serve! The mortar and pestle is a tiny one I picked up in Kanchanaburi, Thailand. I thought it was too cute. I never thought I'd use it, which is why I bought a 'baby' one! You can find one at your local kitchen gadget store. Thanks for visiting today. I hope it was refreshing!
 Hey Everyone! Well, at least we can say it's Tuesday! Today, I have a card inspired by Waltzingmouse's Sketch Challenge! They are sponsoring the current Embellish challenge, so check out both! If you haven't already, please become a fan of Embellish! We have almost reached 600 fans; our goal for the week! Check out how I made it! Instructions- Die cut scalloped square nestability and stamp circle border in the center.
- Die cut square nestability with circle nestability insert to create a frame, then emboss with impressability and sand it.
- Pop square die cut frame off scalloped square die cut.
- Stamp rose, ink, and cut out. Pop rose off circle center.
- Stamp sentiment, ink, then pop off bottom left corner.
- Add ribbon treatment and pearls.
- Adhere to 5" square card front with foam adhesive.
Tips & Tricks- When working on sketches, I like to assemble the card in sections before adhering it all together. This allows me the chance to review several design options, such as flipping the sketch or using other embellishments/shapes to incorporate into the sketch.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - blessed by you (sentiment), vintage circles small (circle border), roses in bloom (flower) Ink :: ClearSnaps - chestnut; Ranger - old paper; SU! - chocolate chip Cardstock :: Core'dinations - chocolate box collection; PTI - vintage cream, dark chocolate Embellishments :: Craft Supply - crinkly stained ribbon; SU! - pearls Tools :: Spellbinders - standard circles large nestability (S4-114), classic scalloped squares small nestability (S4-120), class squares nestability small (S4-128); fleur de lis pattern impressability (I2-1014), wizard, sanding tool So, last night I also got back into the kitchen. I tried an Orange Chicken recipe that I've cooked before. When you're like me and use recipes to build up your cooking skills, you have to cook some recipes at least twice before they're really 'introduced' into my kitchen. So, this time around, I discovered that I personally make more chicken than the recipe calls, which means I need to make more 'sauce.' The sauce is easy to whip up as I did after I made the plate pictured below. Although I did not have another orange on hand, simple soy sauce, brown sugar, and red pepper flakes on the stove was all I needed to 'juice' it up! :) Give it a go! It's super fast! I do have a huge rice cooker that I ordered from Dillards online using some wedding gift cards I had. If you don't own one and you eat rice like me...get it! McArthur came into the kitchen and said, "It looks real. Did you cut the chicken yourself?" What he meant was, he thought I ordered it and put it in the skillet and/or that the chicken was pre-cut. I did take a short cut! You know I LOVE kitchen short cuts because I have to eat and get in that studio! I buy my chicken usually from Costco. I get the boneless skinless chicken breasts. This time, I got the chicken tenders, which cuts my cutting time in half! Anyway, I love those pre-packaged chicken packs because cooking for two can be difficult, but not with those packages! I also discovered Perdue's flat chicken breasts! They're great for stuff like that Panini I made on Thursday, grilled chicken breasts in general, or chicken parmesan...no more mallets! Well, here it is - Pei Wei in my kitchen! HA! 
  Hey there, Bleeps! I hope you had a great weekend! I celebrated my birthday Saturday and danced the night away. I also got a lot of rest the entire weekend, which means I didn't get as much done in the studio, but I bet you that rest was much more important than anything I could have created! Today, I am participating in Waltzingmouse's Blog Waltz to celebrate their first year in business! Claire is a really great designer and I've been a huge fan of her company since the beginning, especially with the introduction of her stamps that match Spellbinders ™ die templates. Also, I wanted to share with you that Waltzingmouse Stamps has a great interview in Embellish Magazine's Premier Issue here. If you haven't subscribed to this issue yet, you are missing out! So, here's to your first anniversary, Claire and to many more! I wish you and Waltzingmouse huge successes in the future! Thanks for stopping by! Have a great Monday! Instructions- Trim kraft cardstock block and stamp wheat pattern background.
- Adhere patterned paper to kraft cardstock and ink the edges.
- Add flower trim.
- Die cut label and emboss, then stamp border and ink the edges.
- Die cut circle, stamp sentiment, and ink.
- Pop circle off label die cut.
- Pop label die cut off patterned paper.
- Adhere focal point to card front and stitch the edges.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse - say it with style, very vintage labels no. 5, off beat backgrounds Ink :: SU! - chocolate chip; Ranger - old photo Cardstock :: PTI - kraft, dark chocolate, melon berry Patterned Paper :: Webster's Pages Embellishments :: Webster's Pages - peach bloomer trim Tools :: Spellbinders - labels five nestabilities (S4-229 ), standard circle nestabilities large (S4- 114), wizard
 Hey there, Bleeps! I hope you enjoyed your weekend! I got the chance to head over to Archiver's in Raleigh and enjoyed a good hour and half visit there! I took my time, perused the aisles and even picked up patterned paper, a rare purchase for myself! I plan to share a few of my purchases with you on Wednesday. So, look for that later this week! Last night, I started working on a card and couldn't finish it because I was too tired. I thought I would wake up early enough to finish it this morning, but that did not happen either! So, here is a card I made last weekend. It's a masculine birthday card that feels so 'natural.' I'll be back tomorrow to share the infamous card that I cannot quite finish! It's not even a difficult one! :) Take care and thanks for visiting! Instructions(1) Create a 5.5” square card base. (2) Trim patterned paper block and adhere to card front. (3) Trim cream cardstock block, stamp text background and ink. (4) Stamp leaves and sentiment, then mat on olive cardstock block. (5) Add twine and buttons. (6) Mat on navy cardstock. (7) Pop off card front. SuppliesStamps :: Papertrey Ink - background basics (text style) + turning a new leaf; Waltzingmouse - say it with style (sentiment) Ink :: Papertrey Ink - ripe avocado + enchanted evening; Hero Arts - latte; Ranger - antique linen Cardstock :: Papertrey Ink - vintage cream + ripe avocado + enchanted evening; Patterned Paper :: My Mind’s Eye - abbey road (lucky me open toed) Embellishments :: Papertrey Ink - buttons + twine
  Happy Hump Day Bleeps! It's also St. Patrick's Day, so I'm celebrating with Ireland-based Waltzingmouse Stamps! Claire provided free St. Patrick's Day digital stamps to use and I took advantage of that gratuitous offer. Today's blog hop will feature St. Patrick's Day projects, so take a peek over at the new Waltzingmouse forum. The hop starts this afternoon, so you have time to make your card using those free digital images! I hope you enjoy your day! Thanks so much for your visit! Instructions- Make an A2 card base from new leaf cardstock.
- Trim new cardstock to a 3.5" x 4" block and dry emboss the polka dots.
- Add white ribbon treatment.
- Print digital images on white cardstock.
- Color shamrock floral bouquet, cut out, and adhere to green cardstock with foam adhesive.
- Embellish bouquet with pearls.
- Mat green cardstock on black cardstock.
- Add a scallop edge to the bottom, then adhere to card front.
- Trim sentiment and pop off card front.
SuppliesStamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - digital images (shamrock floral bouquet + sentiment) Ink :: Copic markers Paper :: PTI - new leaf + black + white; Gina K. Designs - white Embellishments :: KaiserCraft - pearls; Offray - white ribbon Tools :: SU! - scallop edge punch
  Happy Monday, Bleeps! I can say that because I'm officially on vacation! To start my celebration, I'm participating in the Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Hop! The theme is spring, so I made a chickadee new arrival card.
Instructions - Make an A2 card base.
- Trim brown strip and adhere to card front.
- Trim yellow cardstock, dry emboss polka dots, and corner round two corners.
- Add ribbon treatment.
- Die cut label and stamp label pattern.
- Stamp chickadee, color, and cut out.
- Adhere chickadee to label with foam adhesive.
- Adhere label to yellow cardstock, then adhere to card front.
- Add orange strips.
- Add buttons.
- Stamp sentiment on white cardstock strip and pop off top of yellow cardstock.
Supplies
Stamps :: Waltzingmouse Stamps - very vintage labels no. 1 + lil' buddies Ink: Clear Snap - Colorbox Chestnut; SU! - chocolate chip; Copic markers Paper :: PTI - kraft, spring moss, lemon tart, white, dark chocolate; CTMH - orange Embellishments :: Offray - white ribbon; PTI - buttons Tools :: Provo Craft - cuttlebug, swiss dots embossing folder; Spellbinders - labels 1 nestabilities; We R Memory Keepers - corner chomper
Happy Chinese New Year!
I know I am about a week late, but my friend had a party to celebrate this weekend. I made some paper fortune cookies to embellish her dinner table. They were a hit! Thanks to Hambly Screen Prints for sharing their cool tutorial. Here are a few pictures of mine. I used GCD Studio's Christmas Sleigh collection for the paper. Yes, that's Christmas paper, but works perfectly for CNY!
 
Just for Fun
As I mentioned a few weeks ago, I'm going to give a few hints to reveal the vacation location. The hints will get more detailed as the days progress. The last hint will be revealed in a card and I will not state that it is the location, but you should just know! So, here is the first hint!
Vacation Hint 1: English is not the language of choice in this travel location...
TGIF! I don't have anything to apologize about, but I think this sentiment is great. Sometimes, you may have offended someone over overstepped your boundaries a bit and may not know quite how to address the situation. This card is perfect. Just send a little note and now the past is the past!
I hope you enjoy your weekend. I'll be back tomorrow with a Caardvarks posting featuring a few cards. Thanks for visiting!
Instructions - Stamp background design on card base.
- Ink card front and edges.
- Trim purple cardstock.
- Trim rust cardstock strips and adhere.
- Add ribbon treatment.
- Stamp label and hand cut. (Tip: Nestie-friendly, but not required; try hand cutting shapes!)
- Stamp sentiment and ink.
- Adhere sentiment to purple block.
- Adhere purple block to card front.
Supplies
Stamps :: Waltzingmouse - say it in style Paper :: CutCardstock.com - purple; PTI - rustic white, terracotta tile Ink :: Versacolor - boysenberry; Ranger - vintage photo, antique linen Embellishments :: Michaels - ribbon; PTI - button, twine
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