Sky's the Limit

Hope you are all enjoying the start of a long holiday weekend here in the States! We are soaking up the hot sunshine at my parents house!

Here is another nontraditional graduation card I made. I saw this card by Jen del Muro on Pinterest and CASEd parts of it to make it my own! I used my cloud die from Lil' Inker Designs for the clouds (and now i {heart} papers carries a cloud die by Memory Box) and the sentiment is from Lil' Inker Designs as well. I embossed the background with the A2 polka dot embossing folder by Lifestyle Crafts and popped my clouds up on it. I added some Kaiser Craft rhinestones for sparkle.

Thanks so much for stopping by! Enjoy your day!

stamps: Rainbows and Clouds Sentiments (Lil' Inker Designs)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: blending white (X-Press); crumb cake (SU!)

accessories: polka dot embossing folder (Lifestyle Crafts); pink ribbon (May Arts); pink/white bakers twine (Divine Twine); button (my stash); cloud die (Lil' Inker Designs); rhinestones (Kaiser Craft) 

Graduation

It's that time of the year when the graduation parties start taking over the weekend plans! I got on the stick early (well earlier than usual anyways!) and made a few cards for the graduates. I like to make nontraditional graduation cards and write my own personal message inside. This one uses Verve's Dream Big set and some DP by Teresa Collins. It's pretty simple and straight forward but I really like it. I actually made 2 of these because a friend asked me to make her a couple graduation cards too. (Ha- genius to mass produce, I know!!)

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: Dream Big (Verve)

ink: pumpkin pie (SU!); antique linen distress ink (Ranger)

paper: old olive, pumpkin pie, very vanilla, bermuda bay (SU!); Canvas Fabrications DP (Teresa Collins)

accessories: circle, scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); taupe pearl (Recollections); butterfly punch (Martha Stewart); bermuda bay ribbon (SU!); scallop punch (Fiskars)

Happy Birthday Sweet Pea!

It's a Birthday Blog Hop for Jessica Knutsen, the owner of There She Goes clear stamps! I had the privilege of being a junior trendsetter for TSG back in 2010 and I just loved getting to know Jessica and her team! (Her stamps are fabulous too). A few of her current team members organized this little cyber party for her and I was grateful to be asked to participate. 

My card features one of my favorite TSG sets, Sweet Pea. I colored my sweet peas with my Copics and then used some Kaiser Craft Fine and Sunny DP to layer it up.

There is lots of fabulous inspiration to be had at this little party so get to hoppin'!

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday

Yesterday was my husband's birthday. The tradition in our house is that the birthday person gets to pick what mom (me) makes for dinner. My husband's only request was that I make a Pinterest dessert! (The man knows where the good stuff comes from!)  We have been watching what we eat and counting our calories to slim down and shape up after the winter so desserts have not been on the menu for quite some time now.  I made marinated chicken kabobs with grilled vegetables for dinner (low fat and good for you) and these peanut butter cup s'mores bars for dessert.  I had calculated the whole dessert recipe at about 4,000 calories. I asked my husband how many pieces I should cut the 8x8 pan into and you know what he said?! NINE! What? That would be over 400 calories per piece!! Needless to say, I cut the bars into 16 pieces and they were very good and satisfying at that (and only 250 calories each!)

Anyways, after indulging in our dessert, the kids and I gave him some new polo shirts for work and our handmade cards. (Apparently all 4 children think 42 is REALLY old!) For my card I used some Out of the Blue DP, a sentiment from Paper Smooches and this month's Sketch For You To Try.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget about the fabulous sale going on now at i {heart} papers!!

stamps: Birthday Buddies (Paper Smooches)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: basic black, more mustard (SU!); Out of the Blue DP (MME)

accessories: oval, scallop oval nestabilities (Spellbinders); black ribbon (SU!)

Bear Hugs

Happy Tuesday friends! Today it is our monthly i {heart} papers design team challenge and this month we are playing with new Paper Smooches stamps! I LOVE paper smooches- Kim's images and sentiments are so cute and whimsical so I was really excited when i {heart} papers started stocking them! Today I took the set Happy Camper (that will be released next month!) and a polka dotted Kraft Middy Bag and made a little care package for a friend. I cut out some circles from the Tiny Woods DP with my nestabilities and then colored up my bear with my Copics and trimmed him out. The striped element is actually a die cut that comes with the Tiny Woods DP (along with quite a few others) and adds just that extra little interest to your project. The sentiment is also from the Happy Camper set. I didn't glue down the top edge of my large tree circle so that I could just tuck the flap of the bag under it to secure it closed! Inside my little package is an envelope of Mrs. Grass's noodle soup and a couple of tea bags. Perfect for someone feeling a bit under the weather! 

Be sure to check out the rest of the team's projects too:

• Carolyn


• Deb


• Gretchen (that's me!)


• Loretta


• Lori


• Lynn


• Tracy


• Kate

Now onto some exciting news! You all know how much I love i {heart} papers and now it's your turn to share the love!

i {heart} papers has a new rewards program! With the new Rewards from the {heart}, simply refer a new customer and earn 10% of their first order placed in the form of a gift certificate! Just have them list you in the "how did you hear about us" section at checkout and 10% of their order will be given back to you as a thank you!

To get you and your friend started- i {heart} papers is having a Spring Cleaning Sale! Beginning today, May 15 through May 19, save up to 50% on selected items and as always, free US shipping with your $60 order! All stamps 15% off! Spellbinders 20% off! Alterables 25% off! Inks (Sorry, Copics are excluded due to the manufacturer's strict pricing rules) 10% off! 12 x 12 Collection Packs 15% off! 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 pads 10% off! Embossing folders 30% off! And much more! Check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

stamps: Happy Camper (Paper Smooches)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: early espresso, dusty durango, very vanilla (SU!); Tiny Woods DP (Kaiser Craft)

accessories: Kraft Middy Bag (Divine Twine); circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); glossy accents (Ranger); Copic sketch markers; orange twill ribbon (May Arts); large button, modern label punch (SU!); green rhinestone (Kaiser Craft); brown hemp (Michael's)

Nice Thoughts

Good sunshiney afternoon friends! I was playing around with some DP that I got last week from i {heart} papers and came up with this bright little number! My DP is from Kaiser Craft's Tigerlilly collection. I just love orange and pink together! (That seems to be the trend in the fashion world too. I just bought a maxi dress with orange and pink stripes!) Anyways, this stipple butterfly- an old SU! stamp- was dug out, dusted off and colored with my copics to match my DP. My sentiment is from Verve's Small Phrases set. I used this week's SCS sketch for my layout.

Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy your day! I'm off to enjoy a good book and a glass of tea out in the sunshine!

stamps: Stipple Butterfly (SU!); Small Phrases (Verve)

ink: memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)

paper: pretty in pink, basic black(SU!); Tigerlilly DP (Kaiser Craft); Copic White blending card stock (X-Press)

accessories: pink gems (Kaiser Craft); Copic markers; corner punch (SU!)

Cool Chick

Good afternoon my crafty friends! Overnight and early this morning we had quite the round of thunderstorms rumble through our area but now the clouds are gone and the sun is shining! It made for a perfect morning of crafting for me (rainy days always are movie days at daycare ;) I took out my Chubby Chum Pals stamps, some Jillibean Soup DP and this week's SCS sketch and went to work! I colored my cute chubby chick with my Copics and added a sentiment from another Paper Smooches set, My Peeps.  Although there are lots of layers on this card, it is 1 stamp friendly and will be popped into the mailbox later today! 

We have a busy night of soccer and a middle school open house to attend tonight (What? When did he get old enough for middle school?!!) so I must be off to find something to make for dinner. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

stamps: Chubby Chum Pals, My Peeps (Paper Smooches)

ink: memento rich cocoa (Tsukineko)

paper: whisper white, pool party (SU!); Southern Chicken Dumpling DP (Jillibean Soup)

accessories: square, circle and scallop circle nestabilities (Spellbinders); pink gems (Kaiser Craft); Copic sketch markers