After a VERY rough day today (my boyfriend, Eddy, was in a car accident where he [...]]]> I really, really wanted to participate in the January Block Party at Market Street Stamps, but it almost didn’t happen. This post will be going live as I’m getting ready to board a plane headed for New Mexico!! ACK!!

After a VERY rough day today (my boyfriend, Eddy, was in a car accident where he was rear-ended by a SEMI-TRUCK!!…thank God he is okay and the car was moving — it could’ve been so much worse) I only remembered about the Block Party this evening. My brain has been a teensy been fried.

Then I ran into all kinds of “technical issues” while making my card. I can’t say it’s my very best card, but I just couldn’t start over. As I’m typing this it’s almost 1:00 am. And I have so much to do in the morning. I’m so darned tired.

There ARE lots of things I do like about the card, though.  I used the Market Fresh Kit papers & ribbon (plus a little stash of my own), and I used Cool Cats and Pawprints on Our Hearts (both sets I want to use so much more!).

I hope you all like it.

Have a fabulous weekend and I’ll see everyone when I get back from New Mexico!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin’ Up) , Patterned Paper – Lily Bee Design
Ink: Distress Ink (Ranger)
Stamps: Cool Cats, Pawprints on Our Hearts (Market Street Stamps)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Tags 5 Shapeabilities, Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Double Scallop Border (MFT)
Accessories: Velvet Ribbon (January Market Fresh Kit – Love Birds), Sheer Ribbon, Twine (stash), Button (Tim Holtz – Ideaology), Stickles (Ranger), Copics (.Too)}

All the best,

Today’s card I went with more blues and muted tones to make a vintage-type card (at least in MY eyes). [...]]]> I hope no one is tired of Valentine’s Day cards since it’s not even February yet!! I’m just having soooo much fun using my Market Fresh Kit – Love Birds that I can’t stop myself.

Today’s card I went with more blues and muted tones to make a vintage-type card (at least in MY eyes). I added some stitching, a few teeny pearls, and some shiny glitter glue, but everything else is in the kit! I die-cut the image (included in the kit) using a beautiful Cameo die from MFT (NOT in the kit). I just knew it would be perfect for this card.

A card like this would be perfect for not only Valentine’s, but also an anniversary, too.

That ribbon, by the way? SO LUSH!! It’s velvet. *sigh* I adore it so.

I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday.

{Supplies:
All supplies are from the January Market Fresh Kit – Love Birds with the following exceptions:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Distress Ink (Ranger)
Accessories: Cameo die (MFT), Stickles Glitter Glue (Ranger), Tim Holtz sanding grip (Ideaology) , Adhesive pearls (unsure – craft supply).}

All my best,

I decided to cut out the hearts from the 12 x 12 piece of “Love Me” from My Mind’s Eye and stamped just the word [...]]]> I wanted to make a sweet, little and EASY card from my Market Street Love Birds kit. The kit is so versatile and the paper included is just absolutely beautiful!

I decided to cut out the hearts from the 12 x 12 piece of “Love Me” from My Mind’s Eye and stamped just the word  ”LOVE” from the Market Street Stamps “Love Birds” Stamp. A few other small details (like distressing the edges) and this card was done!! I love cards that come together so quickly.

I’m going to try to make a really over-the-top “floofy” card next. There are stunning flowers and velvet ribbon calling my name…just dying to be used.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. We’re getting geared up to watch the 49′ers vs. the Giants here tomorrow. Gooooo NINERS!!

{Supplies:
All supplies are from the January Market Fresh Kit – Love Birds with the following exceptions:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin’ Up)
Ink: Distress Ink- Pumice Stone (Ranger), Going Gray Marker (Stampin’ Up)
Accessories: Glossy Accents (Ranger)}

All my best,

I urge you all in your Internet surfing today to take a moment to send an e-mail or call your district representatives. It’s imperative that we get the point across that they vote “NO” to the PIPA (Protect IP Act) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act).

The following [...]]]> No crafty post today. Just a plea.

I urge you all in your Internet surfing today to take a moment to send an e-mail or call your district representatives. It’s imperative that we get the point across that they vote “NO” to the PIPA (Protect IP Act) and SOPA (Stop Online Piracy Act).

The following image is linked from Google.com If you click on the below image you can sign a petition to tell Congress NOT to censor the web.

Please, I urge you. Do this one thing today.

All my best,

All you have to do is use something from your stash that represents light- candle, fireplace, stars, Christmas lights, or decorate a candle, make a lantern, etc.  OR make a project that is mostly white.  This [...]]]> This is a really fun and EASY challenge for us this week at Shopping Our Stash. Light or white? Yep. Easy.

All you have to do is use something from your stash that represents light- candle, fireplace, stars, Christmas lights, or decorate a candle, make a lantern, etc.  OR make a project that is mostly white.  This week is also sponsored by Meljens, so if you have any Meljen’s images feel free to use that instead of the light or white component OR use all three!

I made my card using more of a Winter White tone instead of bright white. I highlighted the softer white using gold and brown.

The Prima flowers and the crochet trim add that extra bit of texture that this card needed without taking away from the stamped images.

I hope that you’ll play along and link up a card on the main SOS Blog. This challenge should yield some really lovely cards and I’m looking forward to seeing what everyone makes. Please be sure to check out the rest of the DT’s designs. They’re ALL very pretty!

Have a great week!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock – Kraft & Naturals White (Stampin’ Up), Metallic Gold (Paper Temptress)
Ink: Distress Embossing Ink & Brushed Corduroy (Tim Holtz/Ranger)
Stamps: The Sounding Joy (Stampin’ Up)
Die Cutting/Embossing: Double Scallop Border (My Favorite Things)
Accessories: Crochet Trim – Victoria, Gold Elastic Cord, Gold EP (Stampin’ Up), Paper flowers – Innocence 2 (Prima)}

All my best,

This weekend Market Street Stamps has been holding a BLOCK PARTY!!!

How fun is that? [...]]]> It’s no secret that I love Market Street Stamps. So many really fun, whimsical and really PRETTY stamps.  I particularly love the background stamps. I still wonder how I ever got by without these VERY versatile stamps before.

This weekend Market Street Stamps has been holding a BLOCK PARTY!!!

How fun is that? I knew I just *had* to play along. Since I haven’t gotten my November release stamps in the mail yet (still stalking the postman for them, though) I decided to play with a couple of my fave background stamps and see what I could do.

Here is what I came up with:

Don’t tell me you don’t just love that punched tin background!! I embossed it on vellum cardstock using a pewter embossing powder. I love how authentic it looks. Almost *just* like a real punched tin ceiling. I also used my Pretty Perfect Grid background stamp to mimic the look of the patterned paper I used.  I embossed this, too. Why not? Embossing is fun.

I’m posting my card soooooo close to the deadline, though. Eep!  We’ve been on the go this whole weekend, and, in fact, JUST got home from Napa.  Wine Country in the Fall is simply breathtaking.

I hope you like this sweet little Christmas card. I really enjoyed making it.

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock -Kiwi Kiss, Vellum Cardstock (Stampin’ Up), White (Gina K Designs), Patterned Paper – I Believe (My Minds’ Eye)
Ink: Distress Inks – Embossing, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz/Ranger), Frost White (Colorbox)
Stamps: Pretty Perfect Grid, Punched Tin (Market Street Stamps)
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Petite Scallop Nestabilities, Large (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Grunge Letters (Tim Holtz/Ideaology), Pearl acrylic paint (Adirondack/Ranger), Baker’s Twine – Honeydew (The Twinery), Pewter EP (Stampin’ Up), Clear EP (Ranger), Felt Sticker (SEI), Corner Chomper (We-R-Memory Keepers)}

All my best,

I knew the occasion of Eddy’s eldest nephew was coming up, but lemme just say I had NO CLUE what kind of card to make this [...]]]> I’m one of those people that loves making cards, but when it comes to making a card for a teen…a teen BOY, no less, I kind of freak out.

I knew the occasion of Eddy’s eldest nephew was coming up, but lemme just say I had NO CLUE what kind of card to make this (now) young man. The good thing for me is that I do know his style and understand his musical tastes. (It’s a VERY good thing I’m a metal-head…scores big points with the kids. HAHHA!)

So with just a few things floating around in my little ‘ol pea brain I just decided to embrace a METAL theme. Using metal foil and a fine-gauge wire mesh and a LOT of inks…I went crazy. Kind of like a crazy train (all hail Ozzy!! hahhaha…if you don’t get that, you’re not a metal-head).

Here’s what I made for this super awesome, smart, kind, good-mannered, and all-around great young man:

and a little close-up:

I gotta say…I love this card. So many things came together in ways I just would not have expected. It was really fun to make. Hope he digs it, too.

One other teeeeeeny bit of news:

WOOHOOOOO!!! How cool is THAT?! Seriously, I am just honored that Market Street Stamps thought enough of a little ‘ol card that I made to consider it for their contest. But what a great company. Their new release is TO. DIE. FOR. I am so happy I won a gift certificate, too, so I could shop!!

Hope everyone is having an amazing week AND HAPPY DECEMBER!!!

{Supplies:
Cardstock:  White – Pure Luxury (Gina K Designs), Black Metallic (Paper Temptress)
Ink:  Distress Inks in – Iced Spruce, Evergreen Bough, Stormy Sky, Chipped Sapphire & Black Soot, Adirondack Alcohol Inks, Archival Ink in Jet Black (Ranger)
Stamps: Old Letter Writing (Hero Arts)
Die-cutting/Embossing: Labels 4 Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Rays Texture Fade (Tim Holtz Alterations/Sizzix)
Accessories:  Perfect Pearls in Pewter, Forever Blue & Forever Green, Inkssentials Foil tape sheets, Distress Crackle Paint in Pewter &  Rock Candy, and Adirondack acrylic paint in jet balck (Ranger), Tiny Attacher, Texture Hammer, Grunge Blocks (Tim Holtz/Ideaology), Wire Mesh (Scrap Yard)}

All my best,

If you don’t have any…first off: Why not? They have freebies every Friday and it’s a great way to try out a fun new and FREE stamp! Second, okay, you [...]]]> It’s Bugaboo Digi Stamps Sponsor week  at Shopping Our Stash so we’re encouraging you to break out your super fun Bugaboo digital stamps to use.

If you don’t have any…first off: Why not? They have freebies every Friday and it’s a great way to try out a fun new and FREE stamp! Second, okay, you may NOT want to use Bugaboo. (Sad face) But, you can use ANY digital stamps, image and/or sentiments OR recycle something from a greeting card to use on your new project. Sooooo many ways to play along in this challenge.

Here is what I did:

Now, I have to tell you that I’d loooooooove to take credit for manipulating this image the way I wanted it, but I had help. The wonderfully generous, awesome, and friend extraordinaire Mel McCarthy (melstampz) purchased the stamp so she could help me “do” what I needed to do. Love this girl… THANK YOU!!!  She turned the solid image into a line image for me. From there I changed the color of the lines to a soft sepia color which I then printed onto a shimmery velum and heat embossed. I painted the two butterflies with gold paint and the other areas were colored with a super soft yellow Copic.

EVERYTHING on this card is stash!! See how easy this is?  I hope you’ll play along. Just make a card & link up on the main SOS Blog.

So glad you came by today.  Have a GREAT week!

{Supplies:
Paper: Cardstock (Stampin’ Up), Patterned Paper – Basics White (Basic Grey), Sugardrop (Memorybox, Inc.) Kraft Glassine (Tim Holtz/Ideaology), Shimmer Vellum (The Paper Co.)
Ink:  Walnut Stain Distress Ink (Tim Holtz/Ranger), Ink Jet Printer
Stamps:  Silhouette – Butterfly Flowers (Bugaboo Digi Stamps), Butterfly Dreams (PTI)
Die-Cutting/Embossing:  Scalloped Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Accessories: Paper Crimper (Fiskars), Corner Chomper (We-R-Memory Keepers), White Embroidery thread (DMC), Ribbon Roses, mini-screw brads (Tim Holtz/Ideaology), Super Fine Clear EP, Acrylic Paint (Ranger), Copics (.Too).}

All my best,