Paper Crafts July/August issue

ETA: Very Square Sentiments is now sold out!! But if you click on them over at i{heart}papers.com, an email notification will be sent to you as soon as they arrive! (soon, so very soon) And there are only a few Very Square left too, better move quick!

On a side note to this, WOW! THANK YOU!! I cannot believe that you all loved the first release so much!! I could cry through my jumping up and down with excitement! Thank you, thank you, thank you! (((HUGS)))

The July/August issue of Paper Crafts magazine is now for sale. Its a great issue, full of summer ideas and so much more.

And I am pretty excited to have a card in the issue! If this doesn’t say summer, I am not sure what does! :) I used the burlap because it reminded me of a beach mat or bag. Definitely tiki style. :) Have a fantastic day and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Patterned paper-Making Memories (Great Escape), Letter Stickers (American Crafts), Burlap (Hancock Fabrics)

apple picking

This is a scheduled post.

Another Spellbinders™ CHA project. This is a layout of us picking apples from our tree in our “old” backyard. That is one of many things we will miss about our “old” house.

To create the apple background, I placed the Nested Apples die underneath a piece of Core’dinations cardstock. I then sanded over the die, to bring out the core color. Pretty fun technique, huh? Give it a try! :)

thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Spellbinders (Nested Apples, Labels 12), Patterned paper (Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy), Cardstock (Core’dinations), Letter stickers (Making Memories)

Merry Christmas sled

Having an almost 4 year old overly-excited about Christmas, I have been reading “T’was the Night Before Christmas” a lot. A LOT. This project makes me smile just thinking about his anticipation.

I stamped, colored with Copics, and cut out Santa and his reindeer. The great image is from Pink Persimmon. The sled was covered with patterned paper, after some ink distressing. I stamped the sentiment, but decided it would be fun to cut it into smaller pieces and place it around Santa.

This little sled came from Michael’s and what I liked about it was the fact that covering with paper would be relatively easy. Sometimes wooden objects have too many little places to reach, but this one worked fabulously!

Tonight is the little man’s Christmas program for pre-school. He is pumped, and I have to admit, I am pretty excited too! :) I will be arming everyone with cameras and video cameras. Yes, I am one of those moms. :) thanks for stopping by!

Supplies: Stamps-(Pink Persimmon-Santa’s Sleigh), Patterned paper-(Making Memories), Ink (Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown), (Memento Tuxedo Black), Cardstock (Flourishes Classic White), (Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream), Copics

Paper Crafts Book: A Card a Day

The latest book from Paper Crafts magazine is called A Card A Day. What a beautiful publication! The whole book is full of inspiration and eye candy! I got my copy the other day and I am so honored to be included in this project. This book is a resource that I know you will grab over and over again.

Here is one of my cards that appears in the summer months. It was great to finally have a card that the American Crafts orange slice Flair I had been hoarding for months could work with!! LOL! :)

Hope the holiday craziness is going well for you! We are not even close to anything being finished, but, that is ok. :) We did take in the fabulous holiday light display called, Bentleyville, here in town last night. Amazing display and I will have some photos for you this week. If you live anywhere in Minnesota or northern Wisconsin, it is worth the drive!! thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday to my aunt Karen!! ((HUGS))

autumn blessings

I have fall on the brain! There is something about these colors that just speak to me. The papers are a new line from Making Memories called, Autumn Splendor, that I found at Michael’s the other day. Sigh. Love. But for me, its always paper love. :) The leaves are from Tattered Angels. They are called Glimmer Glass and these are from the Crème de Cocoa collection. Gorgeous pieces that can be colored with the mist.

AND…today is coupon day!! Check out the World Card Making Day website. Today all the 25 bloggers are listed and we all can share our coupon code! This coupon is good for 25% off your purchase at the CK/Paper Crafts online store. It is valid until midnight (MDT) on October 12.

CODE: GACZ-LCUJ-UDV2

Have fun shopping! :) thanks for stopping by!!

Supplies:Patterned paper-Making Memories, Cardstock-Papertrey Ink (Kraft, Pure Poppy), Stamps-Papertrey Ink (First Fruits), Ink-Palette (Dark Chocolate), Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown), Twine-May Arts, Twill-Michael’s, Button-Papertrey Ink (Dark Chocolate), Punch-Fiskars (Upper Crest) Glimmer Glass-Nature (Tattered Angels)

home from CHA

Hello again! I am home from CHA! What fun, what inspiration, what exhaustion! :) Working in the Spellbinders booth was a wonderful adventure. We got to meet so many amazing customers and show off all the fabulous new dies! AND Spellbinders took 3rd place in the Innovations showcase!! You should have seen Stacey’s beaming face! We of course had a great time, but what happens at CHA, stays at CHA! :) I will get to all the name dropping and people photo sharing tomorrow and maybe a few more products. Today, I will share with you some of my favorite finds.

Things I don’t have photos of, but LOVED!!

• Cosmo Cricket and 6x6 pads. Do I need to say more?
• Sassafras Lass with Wee Bundles, again yay!
• Nikki Sivils same thing. Her designs are fun and fresh!
• Fancy Pants, My Mind’s Eye, Pink Paislee, Crate=awesome!
• Love the new look that Darcie's is going with, check it out!! (I don't see it online yet)

Webster’s Pages has some gorgeous new lines coming out. The trims for this one are from their new line, Home for the Holidays. Vintage and modern all at the same time. I am also loving their new line, Nature’s Storybook. Gorgeous jewel tone colors that are once again updated for today.

American Crafts was new Thickers coming out. Love these Varsity letter looking ones. Be on the look out for SMALLER sized stickers. Can you say perfect for cards? :)

Yes, I really did hug this sign when I saw it. Nook and Pantry from Basic Grey is retro, 1940’s kitchen happiness. Love all the new doilies/circle look I am seeing.

DARLING paper from Crate. Isn’t that bumpy border wonderful? Would I dare cut it or would I horde it and just look at its loveliness? :)

More wonderful from Crate!! This makes me smile! :) Both are from the new line, Season. Bliss is just that too!

ADORABLE booth from Doodlebug. Check out the hot pink bar stools in the background! Sweet treats and candy motifs were prevalent.

Cherries and berries were another popular motif…this one coming from Hero Arts. Cuteness. Love the empty space in this image. I love this type of stamp. It gives you so many options. You could stamp and layer to your hearts content! Not to mention color or not.

That cute stamp is a new line of Stamps from Hero Arts, called Clings. There are several images that are a must-have!! They are also releasing a couple of large backgrounders that are WOWEE!

The release that knocked my socks off the farthest was Jenni Bowlin. Every inch of that booth was filled with oohs and aahs!! Here is a look at the new fall Bingo cards. They are coming 6 to a pack and the back to school versions are colored in darling primary colors!

Jenni Bowlin chipboard buttons….drool…

THIS will be coming home with me the second it becomes available. Red/yellow/green/brown seemed to be one of the most popular color combos at the show, but this line, Front Porch , has me head over heels!!! (Town Square is FAB too!!)

FLAMINGOS! Darling line, Pina Colada from Kaiser Craft.

Vintage was another popular look. Here is a shot of the Making Memories booth.

Tattered Angels booth was SO impressive. (and their booth was next to ours, so I could drool while working :)). WOW! WOW! WOW! That my friends, is a stamp. That butterfly is a big, beautiful, gorgeous, clear stamp!!!

Yes, that heart is a stamp and there are screens that coordinate with the stamps. At 6x6” you can use them for so many things!! The new Glimmer Mist colors are pretty amazing too. Some are in limited editions, so grab them while you can. Lots of possibilities that will be fun to play with!!

Hope you enjoyed a few of the peeks!! thanks for stopping by!

Check out THIS at The Scrap Review! :)

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday

"It is time for Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC23)!!! This week Dee Jackson is our host!!! Dee is challenging us to cut it out and pop it up!!! We are cutting out items and poping them up to add dimension and interest to our cards!!! The sky is the limit with this one. Just remember to cut it out and pop it up!!! We would love to see what you create!!!"
Check out the rest of the team:
Betty Wright
Cindy Haffner
Dee Jackson
Silke Ledlow

My card is sweet and simple today. But, I did want to share a little story with you. The first time I saw this stamp set, I knew I needed it. Sweet peas make me think of my grandpa. He was an amazing gardener. AMAZING. I had the privilege of living with my grandparents for a couple of summers during college. Right outside my room and door was a vine full of sweet peas. They have the sweetest smell and I just loved them. Just about every day when I would come home from work, on my desk would be a bunch of sweet peas in a little vase. My grandpa would pick me flowers and leave them in my room. Wasn't I lucky? What love he had for me!
as always, thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps-Flourishes (Sweet Peas, Sweet Violets)
Cardstock-Flourishes (White)
Ink-Memento (Tuxedo Black)
Patterned paper-Making Memories (Chloe's Closet)
Ribbon and lace-(May Arts, Wright's)
Copics-Crocus, Violet, Fields Collections
Spellbinders Die Template-Petite Ovals Large

more birthday cards?

Yes, its one more birthday card! :) I wanted to create something sort of beach/shabby/tropical. Very summery. The background was stamped with Polka Dot Basics. The patterned paper is from Fancy Pants. The chipboard frame was painted white, distressed with ink, and then a wood grain was stamped once the paint dried. Its a pretty subtle wood grain, so I think next time I will use an even darker shade of ink.
I am not certain of how much I will be posting in the next week or so. I always say that and end up posting, but with CHA deadlines staring me in the face, things are a bit busy. It is so much fun and such an honor to be creating, but it gets a bit nerve wracking. :) There are several things coming up quickly, but I can't share just yet. But, I promise that I will get back soon with some tutorials. I have one idea that is new and cool and I am having a hard time holding it back! :)
thanks, as always, for stopping by!!

Supplies:
Cardstock-Papertrey Ink, Bazzill
Stamps-Papertrey Ink (Everyday Classics), Hero Arts (Wood Grain)
Patterned paper-Fancy Pants
Ink-Palette (Chartruese), Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown)
Chipboard, Paint-Making Memories
Buttons-Papertrey Ink (Rustic)
Twine-May Arts

Burgers for Father's Day

Hee hee! This project just makes me smile! :) During my Father's Day conversation with DS the other day, the second thing he wanted to do for Daddy was to "gwri-ill." Yep, he says it with two syllables, so cute. Not wanting to let my three year old cook over open flame :), I found these darling cookie "burgers."

I wanted to create a burger box, kind of like the ones that Big Macs come in. This is pretty close, the lid opens, but without the domed top. Here are the dimensions.

1. Cut a piece of cardstock to 6.75" x 12".

2. Score the 12" side at:

1.5" 5.25" 6.75" 10.5"

3. Score the 6.75" side at:

1.5" 5.25"

4. Cut at the usual box places and assemble.

I added all the embellishing after the box was assembled. The colors were inspired by the Making Memories paper pack, Just Chillin' Boy. The stamp is from Stampendous and is red rubber. I stamped it onto cardstock and then stamped the word DAD onto patterned paper. It was cut out and foam mounted to the lid.

The recipe for the cookie "burgers" can be found at verybestbaking.com. Quick and easy to make and the results crack me up! The bun is Nillas, the burger is crushed Nillas and chocolate chips, the lettuce is food coloring mixed with coconut, and the ketchup and mustard are writing icing from CakeMate.

Have a great Saturday and thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:

Patterned paper-Making Memories (Just Chillin Boy)

Cardstock-Prism (Suede Brown Medium, Suede Brown Light, Intense Orange, Mystic Dark)

Stamp-Stampendous (Dad Words red rubber stamp)

Ink-Clearsnap (Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown), Tsukineko (Memento Rich Cocoa)

Star brads-Making Memories

Tools-Clearsnap (Colorbox Stylus for distressing edges), Fiskars EZ Squeeze Star Punch XL, Scor Pal

ETA: Here is a direct link to the burger recipe: BURGER RECIPE

reach for the highest star

We are off for a graduation party this weekend, so I needed a card (more procrastinating, amazing how much you can get done, when it doesn't "need" to be done! :) ). The cork letters stand out much better in real life, they are edged and polka dotted, very cute. The two cork circles toward the top left are actually the insides of the letters o and g.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend!! thanks for stopping by!

Supplies:
Stamps-Papertrey Ink (Star Prints, Around and About Sentiments)
Cardstock-Papertrey Ink (Kraft, Smokey Blue, Stamper's Select White)
Patterned paper-Making Memories (Just Chilin Boy)
Cork letters-Making Memories (Chloe's Closet)
Star Punch-Fiskars EZ Squeeze
Ink-Palette (Charcoal, Orangerie), Versamark Watermark

Depth of your Love

Just playing around with stamps and papers. I think the idea of the flower as the O in love is better than the actual results! :) My inks just weren't the right colors. Ha! That is what I tell DH every time I buy another ink pad! :) The sentiment is beautiful and it is from the set, Mother. Maybe I am just going to have to stamp that flower again and use the Jenni Bowlin pearl flower again too...
Well, today is my last official day at work. The store I work at, part-time, is closing on Saturday. Its sad and not quite real. The store has been there for 12 years. It was there when I started stamping. Some of my first projects are in the store. So strange. Life has a way of moving us on, doesn't it? I am thankful for the time I spent there and for the chance to work, especially when I needed it most. Onward and forward, with fond remembrances.
thanks for stopping by

Supplies:
Stamps-Papertrey Ink (Everyday Classics, Love Songs)
Cardstock-Papertrey Ink
Ink-Palette (Melon Berry, Giverny Green, Dark Chocolate), Colorbox Chalk (Powder Blue)
Patterned paper-Making Memories (Chloe's Closet)
Flower trim-Making Memories (Chloe's Closet)
Lace-Wright's
Pearl flower-Jenni Bowlin
Velvet brads-Creative Cafe
Tools-Spellbinders Die Template (Classic Scalloped Long Rectangle Small), Martha Stewart punch

Love

Another card sitting in my stash. The Love Songs set from Papertrey Ink is so much fun, and it has circle sentiments which are great to play with! Some Making Memories Sabrina papers again and I think you get a romantic card, which wouldn't be too girly to give your hubby.
I am starting to feel better and hoping to get back into my stamping room. Today I made a huge pile of product and stamps for all the ideas I have been dreaming of while on the couch. Time to get to work. :)
Anyone else totally want Danny to win Idol? He is fantastic! Who else do you like?
thanks for stopping by, hope you know how much I appreciate it!

Sorry I have not been around at all lately. DS was so terribly sick last week and then on Thursday night, I got it. The doctor says we got some strain of the flu that the shot didn't protect us from. Sigh. I think my fever broke this morning, but I have no energy. I am hoping that by tomrrow I will be back into the swing of things and can get back into my stamping room! :)
Here is a card I made a while back, but never shared. Ok, well this has been enough excitement for now.
thanks for stopping by! :)

Supplies:
Patterned paper-Making Memories (Sabrina)
Cardstock-Papertrey Ink (True Black)
Stamp-Papertrey Ink (Mixed Messages)
Ribbon-Papertrey Ink
Button-Making Memories
Lace and twine-Wrights
Tag-Die cut from Cuttlebug

Merry Christmas!

A very Merry Christmas to you and your family!

This post and most of the rest are going to be scheduled. ((((HUGS))) to my friends and followers and thanks for always stopping by and leaving such kind words! Enjoy the time with your families. I know that we will be enjoying time with our little man. So, please forgive me when I am not around much during the next couple weeks. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Supplies:

Stamps-JustRite Christmas Ensemble

Cardstock-PTI

Patterned paper, Brad-Making Memories

Ribbon-Michael's

Snowflake Punch-Martha Stewart

Ink-Palette

Tools-Nestabilities Circles, Labels 2

Luke 2
The Birth of Jesus

" 1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2(This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3And everyone went to his own town to register.
4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
The Shepherds and the Angels 8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."
13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
15When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."
16So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told."

Praise God for the best gift we have ever been given!

Winter?

SORRY! This project has been removed for publication in the Paper Crafts Special Issue, Holiday Cards&More 2009.

I am not ready for snow, but I had yet to ink up, Made of Snow, from Papertrey Ink. Plus, some cute new My Mind's Eye Christmas papers, and you are stuck with this! :)

The chipboard snowflake (painted with white and with Star Dust Stickles) is from Maya Road.
The Heart chipboard is from Making Memories. It was painted with red and edged with brown ink.
The button is from Creative Cafe. The twine from May Arts.

The snowman's scarf and mittens were stamped on the patterned paper and cut very carefully.
Copic markers were used to color and shade.
The background is the Polka Dot Backgrounder set from Papertrey Ink. Stamped with WaterMark ink and several dots highlighted with Stickles.
The oval was cut with Nestabilities. One in white, the other in aqua mist. I drew a line on the back and cut the aqua oval. The white base got a painting of Stickles.
The red scallop oval was the Nestabilities again. I inked the edges with Canvas ink from Palette just to make it stand out a bit more.
Enjoy World Card Making Day tomorrow!! I will be teaching classes-should be fun!
thanks for stopping by!

We received a ton of those Studio G stamps at work yesterday. One of the packs had the best sentiment, "so totally happy for you." Isn't that great? It just seemed to perfectly fit what I needed for a card. And I just got all these great Amy Butler papers-happy paper for a happy sentiment! :)

Hope you have wonderful weekend plans! thanks for stopping by!



PP-Amy Butler for K&C0
Stamp-Studio G
Grey brads, flower-Making Memories
Thread-DMC
Glass brad-Basic Grey
Ink-Memories Black