My 2015 New Year Resolution...

I have to admit, I have majorly slacked in my efforts to frequently post to this blog. Life has absolutely taken a full-force, headlong plunge into 2015 and light speed. Between kids, animals, gymnastics, baseball, basketball, and all my chalkboard art, I just haven't had the energy to create one more thing. BUT, I vow to create at least one card a week. I know that doesn't sound like much, but most of my cards take a good 3 hours to complete. Crazy, I know!

That being said, I secretly hid away in my studio last night, plugged in my audio book and went to work. I was in the mood for something completely new. I'm so OVER Christmas! So, since the New Year is on the horizon, I decided to go that route. Of course, I didn't have any "New Years" stamp sets. Go figure. Another resolution... Cover all seasons/holidays. MUST ORDER NEW STAMPS PRONTO!

I am a lover of all things vintage and classic and I think this card encompasses both very well!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock ~ Basic Black, Very Vanilla

DSP ~ First Edition, Gold Glimmer Paper

Ink ~ Basic Black

Stamp Sets ~ Bright and Beautiful, Memorable Moments

Punches & Thinlets ~ Stars, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack, Small Oval

Embellishments ~ 1/2" Black Ribbon (not SU)

Tools of the Trade ~ Liquid Adhesive, Gluedots, Dimensionals

Paper Crafters Sampler ~ December Issue Release!!!

It's time for the December issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler! This month features some ADORABLE winter themed projects! Stop by and pick up your issue. You won't be disappointed, I promise! Click {Here} to go to Paper Crafters Sampler!

Sneak Peek

Chalkboard Christmas

I love chalkboard art, so I decided to incorporate it into my Christmas cards and gift tags this year!

Gift tags!!!

Paper Crafters Sampler ~ Holiday Fun

It's time for the release of the November issue for the Paper Crafters Sampler! This is a really, really fun one full of lots of great Stampin' Up! Christmas projects! You'll get full how-to instructions for each project. It will keep you busy all the way through Christmas!

Click {HERE} to go to Paper Crafters Sampler!

Sneak Peek!

Jeepers Creepers

Halloween has flown past, once again I am behind in posting...

I created these cute little dudes for my daughters 3rd grade Halloween party. They were a HUGE hit! Thanks to Stampin' Up! I was able to give them the perfect touch!

Supplies

Cardstock ~ Very Vanilla

DSP ~ Typeset

Ink ~ Basic Black, Tangerine Tango

Stamp Sets ~ Day of Celebration

Accessories ~ Chalk Talk Framelits, googly eyes, SU markers, liquid adhesive, paper trimmer, paper snips, sponges, 1/4" hole punch, cellophane bags

Paper Crafters Sampler ~ October Issue "Truly Grateful"

Happy Day! The October edition of the Paper Crafters Sampler is NOW available!

This issue is packed full of amazing, beautiful, creative and inspiring projects that you will be Truly Grateful for! Stop by today and pick up your issue and get started on those projects!

{Sneak Peek}

Paper Crafters Sampler ~ Mischief Makings in September!!!!

How is it possible that I have the makings of Halloween decorations scattered all over my work space? I'm still basking in (whats left) of the summer sun!

This month at Paper Crafters Sampler, we're celebrating Halloween. What?!?! Yep, Halloween. We have put together an amazing collection full of spooky, clever treats. Stop by and pick up your issue and you'll see all the "tricks" we used.

~ Sneak Peek ~

Paper Crafters Sampler ~ August Issue

Click {HERE} to visit Paper Crafters Sampler

We've had such a great summer filled with lots of sunscreen, sunglasses, swimming lessons, horse shows, bbq's, wheat harvest, berry picking, playdates, sleep overs, s'mores, camping trips and occasionally a lazy day here and there. 

This month the design team has put together some really amazing and extremely varying projects for our "Welcome Back to School" theme. Not one project is alike and yet they all offer an eye-opening take on clever back to school projects. 

This months template is "My Little School Desk"

Here's a SNEAK PEEK

Stop by Paper Crafters Sampler and pick up your August issue and GET YOUR CRAFT ON!

Elements of Summer ~ Paper Crafters Sampler July Issue

It's time for the monthly issue of the Paper Crafters Sampler! Our July issue features Summer! When I think of summer, I think of picnics, swimming, sandy beaches and the hot summer sun! Our design team has been busy creating our ideas of what Summer means.

Our projects include a 3-D summer basket bucket list, a 3-D camping project and lots of beautiful floral images. Plue, a mouth-watering picnic idea! These monthly issues come with full description how-to instructions! 

Click HERE to visit the Paper Crafters Sampler blog!

The Paper Players Challenge #203 ~ Let's Go to the Beach!

Good Morning fellow crafting peeps! I've been up since 3 a.m. surfing all of my favorite blogs. I'm blessed with insomnia AND I'm a crafting addict so I have a lot of project plotting time, so thanks to good ole' Pinterest I have quite the list! I'm lucky I'm still married. Thankfully I have a very loving and patient hubby that understands I suffer from chronic crafting.

Among the many different blogs I follow, The Paper Player's is one of my favorite and they have a new {really fun} challenge this week!

I absolutely LOVE nautical themes, so I jumped right on this one. This card isn't exactly "beachy" but it's close. So, I decided to enter it into this challenge. If you recognize it, it's because I created it a couple of weeks ago. But, it is still a recent creation AND it's still hanging on my "Gallery" wall at home!

Click here for card details!

Make a Wish ~ Out of this World

Okay, so I'm kind of having to eat my words from a previous post. I said something like "I don't do cutesy cards" or something like that Well, I have to admit that I actually really enjoyed putting this one together.

I purchased the Circle Thinlits a while ago. I quickly decided that it wasn't something I'd use, so I packed it up. I got it back out today to give it another shot, and realized that I might actually like it. Especially for kids cards. They add a fun little element that a regular card doesn't have. My son is going to a birthday party next weekend, so I needed a card. I thought the center focal point would make a fun theme for this Alien card. It worked perfectly!

Supplies:

Cardstock ~ Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, Night of Navy

Ink ~ Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Calypso Coral, Real Red, Tangelo Twist, Daffodil Delight, Black StazOn

Stamp Sets ~ Make a Monster (retired), Perfect Pennants

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Big Shot, Circle Thinlits, Paper Trimmer, Dimensionals, Liquid Adhesive, Blender Pen, 1/2" Circle Punch, small hole punch

Some Old and Some New ~ A Perfect Marriage

My mother-in-law called me this morning and asked if I could put together a card for a wedding they are attending this weekend. EEEEK! One... this weekend is crazy busy. Two... I really struggle with wedding cards. And three... I still haven't made a birthday card for my hubby and his party is in two days! Could I tell her no? Heck no! I will take any chance I can get for creative time. Especially since she offered to take the kids for a couple of hours. Score!

I really don't have much in the line of weddings but thankfully I hung on to this {Mr. & Mrs.} stamp. I just couldn't get rid of it. It's far too far too beautiful! I scrounged around and found this GORGEOUS ribbon. I knew I had to use it. It came from an Occasions Catalog a while ago. Last year maybe? I have a bad habit of hoarding supplies and then not getting to use them until after they're retired. I'll have to work on that.

The color scheme is pretty simple and (I think) a classy one. I used Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette and Silver Glimmer paper with a little bit of that amazing new Fancy Foil Designer Vellum. I topped it off with this fabulous bow and a few rhinestones. Yep, I'm happy. A perfect marriage. I wish I would have done a few more of these!

Where did I use {Stippled Blossoms}? It's underneath the Vellum. I think it gives it a really soft look. It was perfect for this project and added a little extra "oomph" of color.

Supplies

Cardstock ~ Basic Grey, Whisper White

DSP/Specialty Paper ~ Silver Glimmer Paper, Fancy Foil Designer Vellum, Vellum

Ink ~ Pink Pirouette, VersaMark

Stamp Sets ~ Mr. & Mrs., Stippled Blossoms

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Paper Trimmer, Big Shot, Beautifully Baroque Textured Embossing Folder, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Silver Embossing Powder, Hot Glue, Bone Folder, Glue Dots, Liquid Adhesive

Embellishments ~ Rhinestones, Wide Satin Ribbon (retired)

A Little Rusty ~ Retro Sketches Challenge #121

I am obsessed with anything rusty. I'm a junk collector so the rustier the better! I was totally inspired today while surfing Pinterest. The colors are absolutely gorgeous. I love how they contrast and compliment each other. So, I set out on a mission to create my own rusty card.

Here's my Inspiration...

The sketch came from Retro Sketches for challenge #121. It's a fun one that really worked well for this card. 

Here's the Sketch!

My initial idea was to make a gate with rusty hardware, but it didn't exactly turn the way I had it pictured in my head. I just plain ran out of room for hinges. Oh well, I really like the way the coloring turned out. I hope you like it too!

Here's my Creation!

Supplies Used:

Cardstock ~ Early Espresso, Baked Brown Sugar, Sahara Sand, Whisper White, Cajun Craze

Ink ~ Soft Suede, Baked Brown Sugar, Sahara Sand, Cajun Craze, Tangelo Twist, Hello Honey, Coastal Cabana, Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Soft Sky, Early Espresso

Stamp Sets ~ Hardwood, Chalk Talk, Gorgeous Grunge

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Sponges, Big Shot, Circle Framelits, Chalk Talk Framelits, 1/4" Circle punch, Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Piercing Mat, Liquid Adhesive, Dimensionals

Embellishments ~ Antique Brads, misc. brads

A Lullaby in the Forest ~ Retro Sketches #120

Oh, Baby!

This baby card was so fun to make. I rarely make a "cutsie" card, but I do enjoy them every once in a while. I purchased this {Life in the Forest} stamp set when it came out in the spring catalog. This is the first time I've gotten to use it. I know it's really not baby related, but it was the only stamp set I have that either wasn't retired or wasn't too mature. Paired with the new {Lullaby} DSP, this made the best card! Plus, it's not gender specific so it's a good one to keep on hand!

The inspiration for this card came from the Card Concept for challenge #13. I really like this blog. They are a bunch of very talented designers that come up with a weekly challenge. You may chose from Clean & Simple, Clean & Layering, Clean & Graphic, Shabby Chic, Freestyle Collage, and Classy & Elegant. Normally my style would fall into the Shabby Chic category, but this time I chose to go with the Clean & Layering category. I hope it fits there. 

The sketch came from Retro Sketches for challenge #120. It was a great one for layering DSP!

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar

DSP ~ Lullaby

Stamp Sets ~ Life in the Forest, Label Love

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Artisan Label punch,7/8" Scallop Circle punch, Arrows & Delicate designs Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Liquid Adhesive, Blender Pen, Black StazOn, Glue Dots

Embellishments ~ Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Crisp Cantaloupe Thick Baker's Twine

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ Art Inspired

Today at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, we've been inspired by art. I personally am inspired by Van Gogh and his amazing ability to create with little teeny tiny strokes. I wanted to recreate something of his, but not copy it in it's entirety. I also wanted to add this amazing stamp {Blended Bloom}. Since I live on a farm, I thought it was a great idea to create a sunflower. This stamp is really versatile and fit the bill perfectly.

The "brush strokes" were created free-hand using SU Markers. Just scribble away!

I've really gotten into making matching envelopes. It is a fun way to take it an extra step further in creating a very unique, one of a kind card.

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink ~ Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Tangerine Tango, Gumball Green, Soft Sky, Lagoon, Not Quite Navy, Night of Navy, Early Espresso, Basic Black, Black StazOn

Stamp Sets ~ Blended Bloom, Something to Say

Tools ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Bone Folder, Modern Label Punch, Word Window Punch, Sponges, Blender Pen, Crystal Effects

Let's Celebrate... Tuesday?

No, I'm not celebrating Tuesday, but I am gearing up to celebrate Independence Day. Yes really, July is just around the corner. HOW did that happen? The kids have been out of school for two weeks already! Since the 4th is quickly approaching, I wanted to create a fun little card to celebrate. Obviously it needed to be red, white and blue. That's a no brainer, but I didn't want to use such bright colors. So, I muted them down a bit.

I added a little extra pizzazz to this card by making it into a shaker. These are so much fun to make! 

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy

Ink ~ Night of Navy, Cherry Cobbler, Baked Brown Sugar, Soft Suede, Basic Black

Stamp Sets ~ Hardwood, Gorgeous Grunge, Chalk Lines, Memorable Moments

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Dimensionals, Double Sided Foam Mounting Tape, Hot Glue & Glue Gun, Window Sheet, Sponges, Big Shot, Deco Labels Collection Framelits, All Purpose Liquid Adhesive, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Itty Bitty Accents Punch Pack

Embellishments ~ Basic Metal Buttons, Essentials Hardware Clips, misc. red ribbon, seed beads

Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration ~ Masculine Monday

It's Monday folks! At Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, that means it's Masculine Monday! Once again, I've created a card with a nautical theme. I am addicted to them! I really need to jump out of this rut, but it's such a fun one. Since this card has such a fun summertime look, I decided to submit it to SU-Only for Challenge #99! 

Usually when I create a card I start from the base and work up. I rarely set out with a plan. I like to see where the paper takes me. Yes, it takes about ten times longer to create something this way... but that's how I roll. So, I get all the way to the end and then try to decide what embellishments to use. But with this ribbon, I knew it was going to be a nautical themed card. How could it be anything else? Okay, maybe that's just an excuse to get to do another nautical card.

I am extremely obsessed with creating things in a trio. I stamped the fish, colored them, and cut them out only to realize I didn't do three of them. Oops! But I was in a hurry and didn't have time to make another one so I added the cute little chevrons instead. I really really like the new SU Wooden Elements embellishments! Since there were only two fish, I decided to break my rule and put only two Antique Brads on the bottom. What?!? I guess it doesn't look too bad. I'll let it go this time. he he

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler

Ink ~ Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Bermuda Bay, Coastal Cabana, Cajun Craze, Pear Pizzazz, Night of Navy, Black StazOn

Stamp Sets ~ World Map, By the Tide

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Paper Trimmer, Paper Snips, Sponges, Blender Pen, Dimensionals, Glue Dots, All Purpose Liquid Adhesive, Sanding Block, Sticky Strip, Bone Folder, Paper Piercing Tool & Mat

Embellishments ~ Grosgrain Ribbon (Cherry Cobbler), Antique Brads, Essentials Wooden Elements, misc brass brads

Stylin' Stampin INKspiration ~ Technique Tuesday {Shaker Frames}

Now Go Change the World!

This stamp {World Map} has totally changed my world. I've always loved the more masculine stamps and this one definitely floats my boat! One of the things that I really like about it is that you can color it. That leaves it WIDE open for creativity! So, I set to work with my blender pen and ink. 

Since we're playing around with Shaker Frames at Stylin' Stampin' INKspiration, I thought this stamp would work perfectly for my vision. I wanted the shaker frame to resemble water. Since it's not like the treat cup and you can't put liquids in it, I chose to use beads instead. This was perfect!

Have I mentioned that I'm totally in love with this new cross grain ribbon? Well... I am! I like it so much that I ordered it in every color and this is the first time I've actually gotten to use it. I'm so glad that I have a whole rainbow of it!

What I Used:

Cardstock ~ Basic Black, Whisper White, Bermuda Bay

Stamp Sets ~ World Map, Something to Say, The Open Sea, From My Heart

Ink ~ Black StazOn, Cajun Craze, Baked Brown Sugar, Bermuda Bay, Pacific Point, Coastal Cabana, Lost Lagoon, Pear Pizzazz, Island Indigo

Tools/Other Supplies ~ Blender Pen, Apothecary Collection Framelits, Big Shot, Hot Glue, Glue, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals, Sponges, Paper Snips, Paper Trimmer, Shaker Frame, Window Sheet, Paper Piercing Mat, Paper Piercing Tool, Brayer

Embellishments ~ Antique Brads, Wooden Essential Elements, Bermuda Bay Cross Grain Ribbon, Baked Brown Sugar Twine, Seed Beads