Happy Halloween!!!

Happy Halloween everyone. I don't have a project to share with you today but wanted to wish everyone a Happy Scary Halloween. My oldest daughter is home for the weekend and will be joining us for Trick or Treating tonight. She doesn't dress up but likes to walk around with her little sister. Emily is a witch this year. Hopefully the rain will hold off until we are done.

I'll be back at the beginning of the week with some more projects for you.

Have a great weekend!!!

School Bus Mini Album

I was recently the guest blogger on the JustRite Stampers blog and this is the project that I designed for it. This bus mini album was created for Emily to remember her 4th grade.

To make my school bus album - I used my Cricut Expression along with the Doodlecharms cartridge to create my bus with windows & the students with my paper doll dress up cartridge. The bus is cut at 7 ½”.

All of the page titles in my mini album were stamped using the JustRite Curlz 50 point Font set and my Horizontal Stamper.

On the second page of the album I made this cute little backpack using the Cricuit Doodlecharms cartridge and personalized it with Emily's name using Times Roman font.

For this page in the bus the crayon is a Quickutz dies.

For the next page I selected this fun little lockers from the same cartridge and used my JustRite Font to number the lockers.

Here's a great place to use her class picture. The camera is from the Makin' the Grade Cartridge. I used the 15 pt Times Roman Font to journal on the page " Say Cheese"

The apple is from the Makin' the Grade Cartridge

For these pages I created friends & classmates using Paper Doll Dressup cartridge (the faces are made using Peachy Keen face stamps)

For these pages in the bus the crayon and scissors are Quickutz dies.

Here's a little tip - I attached photo mats as well as embellishments before I bound the book together. I think it is much easier (just in case you make an error, it is easier to make another page). Once all of the pages were to my likin’ I used my Zutter Binding System along with the 5/8” wire to bind my book together. Then I tied red, yellow & black ribbon onto my wire to dress it up a bit.

This album was so much fun creating. Now I will be able to capture Emily's special moments from 4th grade.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers – Brayton 50 point font, Times Roman 25 point font, Curlz 50 point font Peachy Keen face stamps

Paper: Worldwin

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Spellbinders Octogons, Cricut Expressions, Paper Doll Dressup Cartridge, Doodlecharms cartridge, Makin’ The Grade cartridgeSU photo corner punchQuickutz die (crayon, scissors)Zutter Binding System & 5/8” wire

Snowman candle

Isn't this little snowman just the cutest thing you have ever seen?? He is from the Old Fashioned Christmas Borders & Centers set by JustRite Stampers. These stamps are so versatile and now I can use them on things other than just paper. A friend of mine told me about this technique so I had to give it a try. All you do is stamp your image onto tissue paper using a dye ink, color it with copic markers, trim the tissue paper close to your image, lay it onto your candle, cover it with waxed paper, and heat it up using a heat gun. A word of caution - when stamping on the tissue paper, be sure to have something underneath it because the ink will go through the tissue paper onto your stamping surface.

I added 2 layers of gathered lace around the bottom of my candle and 1 layer across the top of my candle.

That's it!!! Now I can make personalized candles that look like I spent lots of money to buy.

Very simple and fast gift that is also very inexpensive.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Old Fashioned Christmas, Curlz Font Ensemble

Ink: Memories Cherry Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (G17, YR09, R27)

Accessories: Candle, misc lace, tissue paper, waxed paper

Butterfly Thoughts

Today's card was inspired by the "Ways To Use It" challenge on Splitcoaststampers. It is to design a card using patches. I decided to make my card look like a window with a butterfly peeping in. My floral squares are 1 1/2" and are matted onto yellow squares that are just a tad bigger. My butterfly is colored with copics, cut out, and pop dotted onto my "window".

My fence is punched out using the Martha Stewart Picket Fence border punch and pop dotted onto the bottom of my card. I stamped my sentiment along the bottom of the fence and added Kaiser rhinestones.

Thanks for stopping in today. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Fiskars "Just Between Friends"

Paper: Paper Pizazz Garden Scattered Fowers, DCWV

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamagic Aegean Blue, Copic Markers (Y19, YR04)

Accessories: Martha Stewart Picket Fence border punch, Kaiser rhinestones, pop dots

Candy Corn treat boxes

I found the instructions for these adorable candy corn treat boxes while surfing the blogs. You can find the great tutorial here. I decided to make these for my 9 year old daughters 4th grade class for Halloween. I bought some little clear bags to put the candy corn in so that the candy will not end up all over the classroom floor. I also made a candy corn treat box for her teacher, the principal, assistant principal and the office secretary.

I added each child/adult name on the front using the Curlz Font set by JustRite Stampers and diecut them with the Spellbinders Labels Trio and the SU Key Tag. These font sets make it so easy to personalize gifts. Now there won't be any arguments between kids saying that someone took their treat box. They just need to look at the names.
Thanks for stopping in today. I hope everyone has a great day!!

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - 50 point Curlz Font, small rectangular wood stamper

Paper: DCWV

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels Trio, Acetate, pencils, SU Key Tag, candy corn, score tool, hole punch, misc ribbon

It's Hip To Be Square

Today's card is inspired by Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge today.

ssnotime110 - Feeling Square - Today's challenge has to do with shape -- squares. NO rounded corners on today's card -- so that means NO oval or circular punches or die cuts -- only square shapes. The card must be square, any size, as long as it's square and all layers added must have squared corners. Only your small embellishments can be round or oval -- so you can use buttons, brads, primas, etc. as embellishments, even though they may be round. So if you're feeling a little square, today is YOUR day!!! Have fun!!!

I didn't realize how difficult it would be to do a square themed card. I don't really have that many stamps so I wasn't sure if I was going to find something "square" but to my surprise I found this cute little square stamp by Kaiserstamp. I stamped it 3 times onto light blue cardstock using Brilliance Mediterranean Blue ink and punched them out using the postage stamp punch from McGill.

My card base is 5 3/4" x 5 3/4". The blue mat was created by cutting a light blue cardstock 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scoring it at 1/2" spaces. Then I had to trim each side a bit so that it fit over the yellow layer.

The yellow square borders were created using the Martha Stewart Checker Board Edge border punch. My "Thanks" sentiment is from SU.

So there you have it - my "square" card. I think I completed the challenge for today. Thanks for stopping in for a visit. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend.

Supplies:

Stamps: Kaiserstamp, Stampin Up

Paper: Worldwin

Ink: Brilliance Mediterranean Blue

Accessories: McGill postage stamp punch, Martha Stewart Checker Board Edge punch, Scor-it

Holiday Bells

Good Morning everyone!!! The end of the week is approaching fast. And the holidays are also approaching fast. Has anyone begun their Christmas shopping yet??? I haven't but will be starting soon. I don't like to wait until the last minute to get my shopping done. I don't like the crowds.

Today I have another Christmas card to show you and is inspired by the sketch design on Splitcoaststampers. I haven't figured out what I am going to do with all of these Christmas cards yet. I don't really send out that many. I know that my mom wanted some to send out so I will be letting her go through my stash.

My focal image is a Christmas Bell from Kaisercraft that I stamped 3 times across my paper. Then I added red stickles to it to make it pop off the page. My sentiment is Inkadinkado. Both are stamped with Versacolor Olive ink.

I used the Martha Stewart Holiday Embossed Diamond Edge border punch to punch one of my mats. I also used the Cuttlebug Floral Screen embossing folder to emboss my larger mat. My printed paper is some from my stash so I am not sure who makes it.

Supplies:

Stamps: Kaisercraft, Inkadinkado

Ink: Versacolor Olive

Accessories: Cuttlebug Floral Screen embossing folder, MS Holiday Embossed Diamond Edge border punch, red stickles, misc ribbon

Blessings

Happy Hump Day everyone!!! Sorry that I have been MIA this week. It has been a very busy week around here. Fall in Maine means lots & lots & lots of leaves to rake. I think there are more leaves this year than ever. I am also painting my youngest daughters bedroom. She is 9 years old and was ready for a change. I took her to the paint store and she picked out her own color. It is a really pretty blue. It makes her room look a lot bigger. So in between all of this I was able to make a card today.

I am following a sketch that was posted on the Crazy4Challenges blog shown here. I've never done one of their challenges but this one really caught my eye.

My card base is 5" x 7". The white layer was embossed using the Cuttlebug D'vine Swirls embossing folder. My printed paper is from the DCWV Christmas Stack. I cut several Spellbinders scallop ovals for mats and used pop dots between each layer to give it lots of dimension. My sentiment is from the Christmas Joy Borders & Centers by JustRite Stampers. I added lots of Kaiser pearls to finish off my card.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. Hopefully I will get time to be creative and have something to show you tomorrow.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Christmas Joy Borders & Centers

Paper: DCWV Christmas Stack

Ink: Versamagic Aegean Blue

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Ovals & Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Kaiser pearls, misc ribbon, Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls embossing folder, pop dots

Holiday Cheer

Today I am playing along with Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply Challenge:

Gatefolds — Today’s challenge deals with how we fold our card — we are going to do Gatefold cards today. Fun for a change! Gatefolds are cards that fold in from each side, meeting in the middle, so it opens like a gate. The folds don’t have to be symmetrical, your opening can be off center if you like. Check out all the DT samples for some great ideas with this fun fold!!!

I really struggled with this challenge - not with making the gatefold card, just trying to find some paper that I wanted to use. I don't know about you, but we have had all of our local scrapbook stores close around here so paper supplies are VERY limited. We only have AC Moore, Michaels, & JoAnn's. They have lots of paper but not any of the new designer papers. So once I decided on this holly paper, I began my card.

My card measures 11 x 5 1/2 and is scored at 2", 3 3/4", 7 1/4" & 9". My stamped image on the front of my card is from the Old Fashioned Christmas Borders & Centers set by JustRite Stampers. I colored it using my Copic markers and added red stickles to the holly berries. It is diecut with Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities and matted on a red scallop using the Spellbinders Classic Scallop Nestabilities. The inside sentiment is from the Christmas Treasures Borders & Centers also by JustRite Stampers and diecut using the Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!!

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Old Fashioned Christmas Borders & Centers, Christmas Treasures Borders & Centers

Paper: Design Originals, Worldwin

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (R29, R17, R59, YG09, YG17, YG07)

Accessories: red stickles, Spellbinders Classic Circle & Scallop Circle nestabilities

Happy Birthday to my Husband

My card today is a card that I made for my husband's birthday. His birthday is not until November but I am not known for waiting until the last minute to get things done :) Him and I are so opposite when it comes to getting things done in a timely fashion. I am more of a "get there 10 minutes early" and he is "get there at exactly the right time". It has caused some "discussion" in our marriage.

I am following the sketch from Splitcoaststampers on Wednesday. I rarely do masculine cards simply because I don't give a lot of cards to men. I actually never even think to make cards for the men in my family. When I give them a gift, I usually hand deliver it so they know that it is from me which doesn't require a card (strange thinking on my part, right??)

Anyway, for this card I chose a theme and colors that my husband loves. He is a huge hunter. Doesn't matter the season, he loves to hunt. His favorite color is hunter green. My card base measures 9" x 4 1/2". The border punch is the Fiskars Rope border punch. The brown mat is embossed using the Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder. My stamped images are from the clear gift tag stamp set by Martha Stewart. I stamped "I LOVE YOU" using the Times Roman 25 point font set by JustRite Stampers and diecut it using the Spellbinders Double Ended Tags.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. Enjoy the rest of your day and hopefully you will find time to be creative.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Times Roman 25 point font, MS Clear Gift Tag Stamps

Paper: Worldwin

Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy, Versamagic Jumbo Java

Accessories: Spellbinders Double Ended Tags, Fiskars Rope Border punch, brads, Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder

2Sketches4You challenge

This week on the 2Sketches4You blog, the sketch is sponsored by JustRite Stampers. Now anyone who reads my blog knows how much I love my JustRite Stamps. It is so easy to make a personalized card for anyone or for any occasion.

When I first saw this sketch, I thought to myself "How am I going to make a card with this!!" It looked very complex and hard to do. But once I got going it really was very easy. I decided to make an anniversary card for my mom & dad (don't look mom!!!)who will be celebrating their anniversary on October 30.

My card base is 6" x 6". The black panels are 1 3/4" wide and each is embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder.

My sentiment is a border from the Wedding Stamp Ensemble and is diecut using the Spellbinders Pinking Circle Nestabilities. It is matted onto the Lattice Pendant (also from Spellbinders). The lattice pendant was sprayed with V2 Vellum Adhesive and covered with Crystal Glitter. The corner pieces are also from the Lattice Pendant set and also glittered in the same way. The "44" is from the Curlz Font Ensemble.

The "Mom & Dad" are from the Curlz Font Ensemble and diecut using the Spellbinders Labels Trio.

So if you look at a sketch and think that it may be too hard, just give it a shot. It may be easier than you think and it could end up being one of your favorite cards.

Thanks for stopping in today.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Wedding Stamp Ensemble, Curlz Font Ensemble

Paper: DCWV

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Spellbinders Lattice Pendant, Spellbinders Pinking Circle Nestabilities, Spellbinders Labels Trio, Art Institute Crystal Glitter, Offray ribbon, Kaiser black pearls, A2 Vellum adhesive

First Snow

Everyone check your calendars. Am I mistaken by thinking that it is ONLY October 13th. As you can tell by this photo, we had our first snow today. Granted it did not stay on the ground but still it was snowing!!! Look at the pretty colorful leaves on the trees. I have not even raked my leaves yet. I have not carried my firewood into the basement yet. I still need at least another month to get all of this done.

Anyway, I figured that since I would not be able to do my "chores" today because of the snow, I would create a snow themed card. As soon as I saw the Technique challenge on Splitcoaststampers yesterday, I knew that I wanted to give it a try.

Believe it or not, the only stamped portion on my card are the 2 snowmen and the sentiment. This paper is gorgeous!! It is called "Open Field" from Murdock Country Creations. I just added some glitter around the trees and grass to bling it up. My snowmen are stamped onto white cardstock, colored using Copic markers and handcut. I applied them to my card using popdots to make them "pop" off of the snow.

To create the "stand" for my card, I applied Duncan glitter snow along the bottom portion of the card and added some glitter.

My sentiment is from the Christmas Joy Borders & Centers set by JustRite Stampers. It is stamped onto white cardstock using Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy ink and then diecut using Spellbinders Labels 4. My silver snowflakes are punched with the EK Success kaleidopunch snowflake punch.

That's it for today. Thanks so much for stopping in for a visit. Be sure to check back tomorrow for more inspiration.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Christmas Joy Borders & Centers, Stampendous snowmen

Paper: Murdock Country Creations - Open Field, DCWV cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliance Pearlescent Ivy, Copic markers (100, E11, E17, C3, R27, R17, YG09, YR16)

Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 4, Polymark Dimensional fabric paint, Duncan glitter snow, glitter glue, EK Success snowflake punch, pop dots, Pebbles, Inc pearlescent chalk

TESC86 challenge

Today's card was inspired by Taylor's Friday Sketch Challenge. You can check it out be visiting Taylor's blog. You are going to find some amazing inspiration!!! Her sketch challenges offer a great starting point for when you are totally stumped on what to do. There are a lot of times that I start with a specific sketch and then go totally off on my own. Sketch challenges are a great way to jump start your inspiration MOJO.

This card I kept fairly simple. Basic red & white cardstock so that my Christmas Stocking will "POP" off of my page. The stocking is from Lockhart and is colored using Copic markers. I diecut the image using my Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities and applied pop dots in between each layer to help the stocking jump off of my card.

You may notice that the toe of the stocking is not part of the oval. To do this, I first used a craft knife and cut around the toe and then placed my Spellbinders Oval under the cutout portion and put it through my Big Shot. I think it really gives the stamped image some extra personality.

I hope the photo helps explain how I did this.

My scalloped edge was created by using the SU Scallop Edge punch and punching 3 strips of paper and adhering them all together leaving just a little bit of the previous color showing.

To finish off the card, I added 3 buttons and applied Kaiser rhinestones to each center.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. I had a lot of fun creating this card so I am really glad that you took time out of your busy schedule to check it out.

Have a wonderful weekend!!!

Supplies:

Stamps: Inkadinkado (sentiment), Lockhart Stamping Co. (stocking)

Paper: Worldwin

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic markers (G17, YG09, R29, R27, Y19, V15, V17)

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Oval Nestabilities, SU Scallop Edge Punch, misc buttons, Kaiser rhinestones, pop dots, corner rounder

Pink Snowflakes

My card today was CASE'D from Jessica Fick's blog. She has some really nice cards on her blog. Her version of this card can be seen here.

For my version I chose some paper from the DCWV Christmas Stack. These colors aren't really Christmas colors but I think they really make a nice winter card.

My white mat is diecut using Spellbinders Classic Circle nestabilities topped with the Spellbinders Renaissance Heart Pendant topped with the snowflake border & center from the Merry Little Christmas set by JustRite Stampers.

I used my SU white gel pen to add the white dots around the pendant. I used Cotton Candy Stickles to add color to my snowflake.

This card layout is very simple yet very pretty. Thanks to Jessica for the inspiration.

Have a wonderful day!!

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Merry Little Christmas

Paper: DCWV Christmas Stack, Worldwin Cherry Cream cardstock, white cardstock

Ink: Memento London Fog

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities, Spellbinders Renaissance Hearts Pendant, Cotton Candy Stickles, Sweet Petite ribbon, Kaiser pearls, Krylon Silver Leafing Pen, SU white gel pen, popdots

Enjoy Your Birthday

Today I am playing along with the sketch challenge on 2Sketches4You. The challenges on this site are always fun to do.

For my card, I chose the designer center from the Birthday Wishes Borders & Centers set by JustRite Stampers. I used this center as the center of my "flower" which was made by using the Spellbinders Classic Scallop Circle nestabilities and then I cut each "petal" on the scallops. Each layer has popdots in between to give lots of dimension to my flower.

My bottom edge was created by using the Fiskars Upper Crest border punch. I also used this punch to create the pink layer under my flower.

To finish off my card I added some Kaiser rhinestones along the bottom edge and also on each side of my flower.

That's it for today. Thanks so much for checking in today. Have a wonderful day!!!

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Birthday Wishes Borders & Centers

Paper: Basic Grey - Two Scoops, Worldwin - Glorious Green, Pretty Pink, Blue

Ink: Versamagic - Aegean Blue, Pink Petunia

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Circles & Classic Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Fiskars Upper Crest border punch, Cuttlebug Swiss dots embossing folder, Kaiser rhinestones, pop dots

Chest Of Drawers

Happy Hump Day to everyone in blogland!!! This week is just flying by. Maybe it's because my daughter does not have school on Friday (teacher's workshop) or on Monday (holiday). Also my husband has been home every night this week (he usually travels for work).

With that being said, I have not had a lot of spare time to be creative except for yesterday. I spent the ENTIRE day creating this chest of drawers. I had seen something similar to this on Splitcoaststampers but there wasn't any directions or measurements so I was on my own. I think it came out pretty cute though. Each of the drawers pull out. What a perfect gift for someones office desk or maybe a teacher's gift. The drawers are a pretty good size too (5 1/2" wide x 3 1/2" deep).

The drawer pulls are some wooden buttons that I had and just colored them with my copic marker. I added glitter to the inside of each button to give them some bling.

I don't own the Top Note die from Stampin Up but I do have a Cricut Cartridge that makes the same exact shape. And with the Cricut I could make it any size I wanted.

My chest of drawers measures 5" tall x 6" wide x 3 3/4" deep. If I get real ambitious, I might try making some different sizes so that I will have a set.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. I really appreciate it.

Supplies:

Paper: Cosmo Cricket

Ink: Copic marker - R39

Accessories: Cricut Expression & Accent Essentials cartridge, wooded buttons, embroidery floss

Cuppie Birthday

Today I am playing along with Taylor's Friday Sketch Challenge. This is also the first time playing with Taylor's Cuppie stamps. These stamps are adorable!!! They stamp really, really nice too. They are deep cut so there are no inked edges that you don't want.

I stamped my image onto Neenah white cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored it using my Copic markers. Then I diecut it using the Spellbinders Classic oval nestabilities and matted it onto a scallop mat (also diecut with Spellbinders Classic Scallop Oval Nestabilities). I used a yellow Copic to edge the stamped image.

The larger yellow mat was embossed with the "Happy Birthday" Cuttlebug embossing folder I added turquoise Stickles to some of the flower centers for extra bling.

My blue "lace" was cut using the Fiskars Apron Lace border punch. I think this punch makes an adorable border!!!

Thanks for stopping in for a visit today. Be sure to check back tomorrow for more projects.

Supplies:

Stamps: Taylored Expressions - Sweet Celebration

Paper: Frances Meyer

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers (Y06, Y00, Y11, RV19, B24, B02, E99, BV17, C3, R17, colorless blender)

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Ovals & Scallop Ovals Nestabilities, Fiskars Apron lace border punch, CM corner punch, Stickles (Worn Lipstick, Baby Blue, Turquoise, Yellow), Cuttlebug "Happy Birthday" embossing folder, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, misc ribbon, pop dots

Buddy

My card today was made for a sad occasion. Last Friday my husband had to make a very hard decision. He had to take our dog Buddy to the vet and have him put to sleep. Buddy was 14 years old. We knew that it was coming but it was still a very difficult day. We knew that Buddy was not going to make it through the cold winter.

Buddy had a very good life. We got him when he was just a puppy. My husband was especially close to Buddy because they were hunting buddies. This time of the year was an exciting time for both of them. They would spend hours and hours bird hunting. Buddy knew when it was hunting time. He would become so excited when the leaves started changing colors and the weather got colder. He knew it was time when he heard my husband get his bell and hunting vest.

My card today will be used on my scrapbook page along with this favorite photo of Buddy. We called him "Smiling Buddy of The Ridge" because he always seemed to be smiling. He was a very happy dog.

My card also fits into Sharon Johnson's Stamp Simply challenge for today. It is almost as though Sharon knew that I needed to do a card to memorialize Buddy. (Thanks for a starting point Sharon)

Also making this card easier to make was my JustRite Stamps. I was able to spell out exactly what I wanted my card to say. I used the Times Roman 15 point & 25 point font on a 2 3/8" wood stamper.

The green background was embossed using the Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder. I thought it fit well into the overall look of my card because Buddy loved to hunt in the woods. This embossing folder makes it look like trees in the background. The fence was created using the Martha Stewart picket fence border punch.

Thanks for listening to my story. Our family realizes that Buddy is in a better place now and is not in anymore pain.

Supplies:

Stamps: JustRite Stampers - Times Roman Font 15 point & 25 point, 2 3/8" wood stamper

Ink: Versamagic Hint of Pesto

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Circle Nestabilities, Martha Stewart picket fence border punch, Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder