2010 in Retrospect

Hi everyone,

Well I'm still out of town so since I don't have anything new to share with you just yet I thought it would be fun to look back at 2010 and share some of my favorite creations with you.

I hope you'll enjoy this little step back in time :)

February 2010

...this was one of my very first blog posts ever

March 2010

it's amazing what a big difference a little bling makes isn't it?

April 2010

let's punk it up for those teenagers shall we?

May 2010

I turned this pup into a yankee fan :)

June 2010

time for some monkey love :)

July 2010

something a bit more simple but still fun

August 2010

I was soo fortunate to be a Verve Guest Diva this month. I had a blast!!!

September 2010

time to get a jumpstart on those christmas cards :)

October 2010

vintage-y black elegance as I like to call it

November 2010

Can you define good??

December 2010

last but not least...a lil sugar'n spice

and then here are some of my favorite projects of last year:

March 2010

here's an altered CD - now turned Magnet 

April 2010

a little cork message board

July 2010

a travel caddy 

 August 2010

the bridal shower gift organizer I designed for my friend's wedding

August 2010

a little ATC I created for our ATC Swap over at the Cat's Pajamas. 

September 2010

this here is the cover of a scrapbook I decorated

September 2010

a doorsign with those mischievous penguins

December 2010

some fancy packaging for the holidays...an easy alternative to making another card ;)

whew...okay I don't know about you but I'm exhausted...that was a busy year!!! Well I hope you 

enjoyed my little reflection of 2010.  What do some of your favorites look like? Why don't you leave me a link to it? I'd love to see!!

til next time,

~ Sony

{Thanks with Flair} Viva La Verve Wk1

Hi guys,

I'm very excited to be able to say that I'm all caught up with my Viva La Verve challenges this month. YAY!!! And even better...I got to dust off a few stamps that haven't seen an ink pad for quite some time...uhm uhm.

Yeah anyway...here is what I came up with using this fabulous sketch and fabulous bathroom as inspiration.

For my card here I used the Small Circles set by Waltzing Mouse, a darling company based in Ireland I think. Claire has the best images to go with your Nesties IMHO. Oh and then the cute Thanks is from the My Favorite Things set Thanks a Bunch. :)

I also felt the sudden urge to add some glitter so I traced some of the flourishes in the stamp with my Stickles Glitter and I added some sparkles to the flower as well.

thanks so much for stopping by!

~ Sony



Stamps: Small Circles (Waltzing Mouse), Thanks a Bunch (MFT)
Paper: Quite Contrary (MME), Kraft
Ink: Brilliance Black, Lettuce (Adirondack)
Accessories: Stickles Crystal Glitter, Brads, Jute Twine, Deco Fan Border Punch, Prisma Flowers, Nesties, Kraft Thread, Sewing Machine, Pop-Up Dots, Twill Tape, Pom Pom Trim (Maya Road)

{Frosted Birthday} SFYTT

Happy Saturday everyone!! Can you believe it's almost July already?

I hope you're enjoying your summer and are doing lots of fun stuff.

My summer break is rather short this year: we only get two weeks off in between terms at school so I went home to visit my parents in Florida this week, trying to work on my tan while I can since sitting in front of the computer screen all day doesn't really do much for your coloring if you know what I mean. :)

Tomorrow I'm flying back home and classes start back up on monday! Yay!! Back to work!! :)

But before that let's live in the moment a little longer and since today is Saturday that can only mean SFYTT. This week Jen has this fun and challenging sketch for us and since I feel as though I've been doing a bunch of manly cards lately I felt a girly girl card was waaayy over due.

This card here was also heavily inspired by the one and only Amy Sheffer. Amy used these awesome papers on one of her cards and I fell in love right away so I had to order them. They are called Petite Pages by Webster's Pages and I got them at Stamper's Dream.

As far as stamps go I used the Waltzing Mouse Label No.4 set for the frame - this set is specially made to go along with your Nesties and the Birthday Wishes sentiment comes from the Verve set Wishful Elegance.

For embellishments I used some sparkly chipboard flourishes I found at Michaels, some Rhinestones and I applied a heavy layer of Frost Pssst Shimmer Spritz which I also got at Stamper's Dream.

Are you ready to see what my amazing SFYTT Sisters have cooked up for you? Stop by their blogs and check it out:

* Jen del Muro and June Guest Designer ANDREA EWEN

* Amber Hight

* Amy Rohl

* Amy Sheffer

* Jenn Diercks

* Jodi Collins

* Kelly Lunceford

* Leigh O'Brien

* Megan Lock

* Susan Liles

Also are YOU interested in becoming our next month's Guest Designer and get featured on Jen's Blog? All you have to do is create something wonderful, upload it to Jen's Blog and wait for her to pick you. :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a fabulous fun-filled weekend!!

~ Sony

Stamps: Wishful Elegance (Verve), Label No.4 (Waltzing Mouse)

Paper: Petite Pages (Webster's Pages), Soft Suede (SU)

Ink: Basic Black (SU), Soft Suede (SU), Frayed Burlap (Ranger Distress Ink)

Accessories: Glittery Chipboard Flourises, Twill Tape, Ribbon, Deco Fan Border Punch, Pop-Up Dots, Frost Psst Shimmer Spray (Stamper's Dream), Rhinestones, Kraft colored Thread, Sewing Machine

{Did You Eat Your Greens?} TCP TUES108

Happy TCP Tuesday, everyone!!!

This week's challenge is brought to us by the always swanky Susan Liles and she's challenging us to use stamps from the set You Sick Thing.

Did you know that was one of my very first TCP sets ever? As soon as I saw this set I fell in love.

It is guaranteed to bring a smile to any patient...trust me...I've had lots of opportunities to test it out. Seems like everybody is getting sick lately. I'm starting to think it's really just a secret plot to get cards {wink wink}. :)

This card here is gonna go to my friend's husband Brian. He has a herniated disc and after trying to let it heal on its own (that didn't happen) and consulting with multiple doctors he is now having surgery on May 10th. Please keep him and his family in your prayers!!

I'd also like to ask you to please continue to keep Susan and her husband Eric in your prayers. Eric was diagnosed with cancer and he's currently undergoing very aggressive treatments for it. If you'd like to send a card to show a little love and support, here's their address: Susan and Eric Liles

7920 Sunrise Dr.

Watauga, TX 76148

Do you wanna play along with us this week? You could win $25 in Cat Cash and be deemed the Swankiest Stamper of the month!!

Here are the deets for the challenge.
1. Each a week one of The Cat’s Pajamas DT members will host a challenge.
2. The challenges will vary {stamp, techinque, color, theme, sketch, etc.}
3. You will have until the end of the month to complete the challenge.
4. Post your design to the guestbook on this blog. Your design must be uploaded to the guestbook to be considered.
5. TCP stamps are not required, but of course, highly encouraged. {Unless it is a challenge calling for a specific stamp}
6. There will be one winner each month. They will be deemed that month’s Swankiest Stamper and get $25 in Cat’s Cash {money to spend on the TCP site!}.
7. Only designs posted to the guestbook will be considered for the Swanky Stamper.
8. The newly crowned Swanky Stamper will be announced on the First of the Month and have his/her winning entry posted on The Cat’s Pajamas website where he/she will reign for the entire month.

Thank you so much for popping in and I can't wait to see what you come up with!!! Looking for a little more inspiration? Stop by the rest of the Cat Pack to check out their take on this challenge!

Happy Stamping!!

~ Sony :)

Tips 'n' Tricks: Be a Rebel and use your brads on only one side of your card for a fun and different look!

Stamps: You Sick Thing (TCP), Small Circles (Waltzing Mouse)

Paper: Garden Variety (CC), Cream, Black, Pure Poppy (PTI)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Antique Linen (Distress Ink), Soft Suede (SU)

Accessories: Copic Markers, Sponges, Button, Jute Twine, Grosgrain Ribbon (TCP), Sewing Machine, Nesties, Brads, Pop-Up Dots

{Pastry Heaven} a WSC Sketch

Hi guys!! I don't know about you but I had an awesome day!! I got a ton of things done, I even did some sketching for my Figure Drawing class and now I'm firing up my oven for a fabulous chocolate croissant before the MFT Release Blog Party starts. :) Life is good!

Since it's the first week of the month Cindy is presenting us with a sketch challenge for the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club.

Me...getting ready to have a croissant, came up with the idea of creating a kind of vintage-y feel bakery-signage-look alike card...and this is what that looks like to me. lol

I'm absolutely in love with this paper I just bought today actually. It's by Samantha Walker for Creative Imaginations. I layered that with a bunch of neutral and brown CS to create this sort of vintage-y feel.

The sentiment "Baked with Love" is from the MFT set Lovin' from the Oven - this set is quickly becoming one of my favorites - you can do so much with it!! The "for you" is the second half of the Essential Sentiment set stamp "I'm here for you". The circle is from the Waltzing Mouse set Small Circles and the small little accents in the middle of the circle are from the Clear Dollar Stamps set Words of Sympathy.

Since I didn't have the right width ribbon to go with my card I simply used two thinner twill tape strips: one with a bow and one without. Handy little trick, don't ya think?

So my croissant is goin' in the oven and I'm gonna do a quick clean-up before the MFT Release Party. Why don't you swing by? We have tons of fun over there!! :)

~ Sony

Stamps: Lovin' from the Oven (MFT), Essential Sentiments (MFT), Words of Sympathy (Clear Dollar Stamps), Small Circles (Waltzing Mouse)

Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip (SU), Sahara Sand (SU), Samantha Walker (Creative Imaginations)

Ink: Soft Suede (SU), Antique Linen (Distress Ink)

Accessories: Sponges, Post It Notes (for Masking), Nesties, Twill Tape, Brads, Sewing Machine, Pop-up Dots

EDITED APRIL 7th, 2010 - just for you Jocelyn :)

I used Coats & Clark Dual Duty HEAVY thread. A little tip I got from Jody. ;)

{Party Star} Mojo 133

Today the weather is really yucky here in LA but then after yesterday I'm not really surprised.

Did you guys hear about the 7.2 earthquake in Mexico yesterday? Well - we didn't just hear about it we also felt it here in LA. It was like a wave and lasted a good 30-40 seconds. The blinds were swaying back and forth and even the pool sloshed over. Mmh... guess it's time I update my earthquake kit.

But nonetheless today is a special day for me because I'm going back to school and my first class is today. Yay! I'm a little nervous and also excited at the same time...strange how that works, right?

But enough about earthquakes and school let's talk Mojo Monday. It's the first week of the month so there is a prize up for grabs. A maximum of 7 winners will receive a stamp set of their choice!!

Since going back to school has been on my mind a lot lately and I know several kids who are going to graduate from High School - I decided to make another Guy's Graduation card.

This card is really straight forward:

I used papers from the Boyfriend collection by Cosmo Cricket and Bitty Box Basics by PTI.

The star was cut out using my Nestabilities by Spellbinders.

The sentiment is from the Verve set Party Time and the little Screw Brads are made by Recollections and I found them at Michaels.

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you have a great start to the week and that there be no more earthquakes!

~ Sony

Stamps: Party Time (Verve), Small Circles (Waltzing Mouse)

Paper: Boyfriend (CC), Bitty Box Basics (PTI), Kraft, Old Olive (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede (SU), Antique Linen (Distress Ink)

Accessories: Sponges, Screw Brads, Nesties, Sewing Machine, Twill Tape, Notebook Style Punch

{Fun with Flowers} a Verve Project Parade

It's officially Spring, isn't it? Well okay maybe not quite where you live yet but it's a comin'...I know it is. :) Just hang in there a bit longer!! :)

In celebration of Spring the Verve Divas have come up with a fun theme for this month's Verve Parade:

Fun With Flowers

Now this is such a broad theme that I had a really hard time deciding on what I wanted to do...seriously...I've been wrecking my head for a few days now until today.

I was talking to one of our young people in church today and I noticed that something was off. She wasn't her usual happy self so I asked her if anything was wrong. She started crying, saying that she didn't get into the college she wanted to get into. I gave her a big ole' hug and tried to tell her that that was a sign that God had something better in store for her somewhere else but of course something like this just sucks!

So this little project here is for her! I'm hoping it'll cheer her up a little!

My Project consists of an altered Notebook, a Paperclip turned Bookmark, and a Card.

I love how Joanne stamped silhouetted flowers behind a sentiment on one of her cards so I drew a little inspiration from her here for my notebook.

The layout for the card may look familiar to you and you're right if it does: I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch because I really enjoyed it and I wanted the book and card to look related but not have the same exact layout.

I used papers from the Quite Contrary collection by My Mind's Eye and the Bitty Box Basics by Papertrey Ink - they remind me so much of school. :)

The sentiment on front of the notebook is from Verve's Beautiful You set - such a beautiful set!! I love love love their sayings! So inspirational!

The silhouetted flowers are from Verve's Because of You set. The little flourish you see on the notebook and the card is from the Clear Dollar Stamps set Words of Sympathy.

The flower with the button on the altered notebook is the same flower as the bookmark and the one on the card and it's from the Verve set Wishful Elegance.

The sentiment on the card is from My Favorite Things.

Well I hope you enjoyed stopping by and please leave me a comment! I'd love to hear from you!

~ Sony

Stamps: Wishful Elegance (Verve), Because of You (Verve), Beautiful You (Verve), Words of Sympathy (Clear Dollar Stamps), Label No. 4 (Waltzing Mouse), Essential Sentiments (MFT)

Paper: Quite Contrary (MME), Bitty Box Basics (PTI), Kraft

Ink: Lettuce (Adirondack), Soft Suede (SU)

Accessories: Buttons (MFT), Jute Twine, Paperclip, Twill Tape, Nesties, Sewing Machine

Deep Sympathy - Mojo131

Well...unfortunately I'm in need of a sympathy card today. One of my friend's mom passed away last week. She had been battling cancer for seven years and her time had come. My friend and her family were able to be there with her and from my understanding it was a very peaceful moment.

I wasn't able to make it to the funeral but I still wanted to send a little love note their way so I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch and made my sympathy card.

This card I feel is perhaps a bit unusual or out-of-the-box for a sympathy card but it is very me.

I think it's upbeat, which is exactly what I wanted and has a touch of playfulness or freshness to it. I hope it's going to make her smile! :)

I used the Textile Embossing Folder by Cuttlebug on the white background panel.

The Flower pattern was actually stamped using Verve's Wishful Elegance set and I added little rhinestones to the center of the flowers because I felt like there was something missing.

The sentiments on the front of the card and the inside are both from the Essential Sentiments set by MFT. I absolutely love the font and it adds so much to the overall feel of the card!!

The borders around the sentiments are both from the Waltzing Mouse set Label No.4.

Thank you so much for stopping by!

Have a Happy Monday!!!

Stamps: Wishful Elegance (Verve), Essential Sentiments (MFT), Label No. 4 (Waltzing Mouse)

Paper: pale pink, basic black

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Copic Markers, Rhinestones, Sewing Machine, Horizontal Slot Punch, Nesties, Ribbon

Happy Anniversary, TCP Tuesday!!

TCP Tuesday is celebrating its' 100th week and they have something AWESOME for us to join in the celebration. Basically there are 4 challenges for us to play with, each is hosted by two members of the Cat Pack and one winner will win (I believe) it's 7 of their favorite Clearly Swanky Sets PLUS some goodies from Alma!!! How amazing is that?!

Since I'm still in desperate need of building my TCP collection you know I'm going to play along. Here are my entries so far:

PJ's Lucky Showdown

Challenge #4 (Supply)

Fun Fact:

The felt card table is a sticker from Jollee.

Stamps: A Beary Good Year (TCP)

Paper: Bitty Box Basics (PTI), Basic Black (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Buttons, Jute Twine, Sewing Machine, Pop Up Dots, Copic Markers, Playing Cards, Jolee Stickers

Lucky St. Paddy's Day

Challenge #4 (Supply)

Fun Fact:

That cute little Bingo Card is from the Digi Paper set Oh so Lucky (Sweet Shoppe).

Stamps: A Beary Good Year (TCP)

Paper: Oh so Lucky (Sweet Shoppe), Old Olive (SU)

Ink: Soft Suede (SU), Memento Tuxedo Black, Meadow (Adirondack)

Accessories: Glitter Glue, Felt, Sewing Machine, Fleur de Lis Border Punch, Nesties, Ribbon

Feed Me!

Challenge #1 (Sketch)

Fun Fact:

I used a piece of Jute Twine as stick for PJ's sign.

Stamps: Happy Camper (TCP)

Paper: Mr. Campy (Cosmo Cricket), Old Olive (SU), Chocolate Chip (SU), Crushed Curry (SU)

Ink: Soft Suede (SU), Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Buttons, Jute Twine, Sewing Machine, Pop Up Dots, Copic Markers

Hula Hula

Challenge #3 (Inspiration)

Fun Fact:

This card was solely inspired by the Fringes around the Table Runner. Somehow this card reminds me of an old Tarzan movie poster lol.

Stamps: Fun in the Sun (TCP)

Paper: Retro Tropical (Creative Imaginations), Vanilla (Paper Company), Pumpkin Pie (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Soft Suede (SU)

Accessories: Mulberry Paper Flowers, Buttons, Jute Twine, Black Pen, White Gel Pen, Copic Markers, Post It Notes (for Masking)

Get Better!

Challenge #1 (Sketch), 2 (Color), 3 (Inspiration)

Fun Fact:

There's a little Paper Piecing going on.

Stamps: You Sick Thing (TCP)

Paper: Girl Friday (Cosmo Cricket), Happy Place (Sweet Shoppe), Kraft (SU), Pumpkin Pie (SU), Certainly Celery (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Copic Markers, Buttons, Jute Twine, Corner Ticket Punch, Sewing Machine

Just Because

Challenge #2 (Color)

Fun Fact:

Sprinkles glitters to match the glittery paper. :)

Stamps: Cat in the Box (TCP), Essential Sentiments (MFT), Small Circles (Waltzing Mouse)

Paper: Home Glitter Book (MME), Girl Friday (Cosmo Cricket), Pumpkin Pie (SU), Kraft (SU), Certainly Celery (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Pumpkin Pie (SU)

Accessories: Ribbon, Button, Jute Twine, Sewing Machine, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Nesties, Pop Up Dots

Be Good!

Challenge #3 (Inspiration)

Fun Fact:

How about this for different christmas colors?! The Ribbon and the Hats of the lil' penguins have glitter on them. My Button stack needed some Jute Twine but I didn't want to make it another ribbon so I just thread it through and criss-crossed it. I love how this whole cards feels like one big present. :)

Stamps: Deck the Halls (TCP)

Paper: Distracted (Kaiser Craft), Pale Rose Red (SU), Chocolate Chip (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Bashful Blue (SU)

Accessories: Ribbon, Jute Twine, Buttons, Sewing Machine, Glitter Glue, Copic Markers, Stampin' Write Markers