Big, Black Hole!

Okay, I didn't REALLY sink into the "big, black hole," but I HAVE been running like a crazy person for the last couple of weeks and have sadly neglected my blog, so I am here to remedy that! I HAVE also been stamping (when I get the chance, which is not nearly as often as I would like).

BOO!!! Halloween is my most FAVORITE holiday. (And how can I RESIST making a card with a WITCH on it???) I made this card as an inspiration from Michelle (aka Zindorf on SCS - one of the newest Dirty Dozen girls). That girl can do some mind-boggling things with her brayer! I made my best attempt to make a lovely brayered background a-la Michelle. Mine doesn't look quite as cool as hers, but I think it came out okay. I used Barely Banana, So Saffron, More Mustard, Really Rust, Orchid Opulence and Brilliant Blue, I started at the bottom with the Barely Banana, and kept brayering until I got to the Brilliant Blue at the top (which actually looks almost black). I may just have to e-mai that girl to get a few pointers!! My witchy was colored using my plain ol' non-Copic SU markers (again!! - I am really falling in love with them all over!!). I created the "web" using some black twine. This was done for SC145.

Can I just tell you that Paper Trey Ink rocks??? I think their stamps are AWESOME! I made this card for my daughter's friend, Emma, for her 14th birthday yesterday. I think gatefold cards are sooo cool! I was inspired to make this 'cause my good friend Kathy (hey-howdy, girl!) just sent me the cutest gatefold card with a great marker attachment to use with my Cricut (thanks, thanks, thanks, my friend!!). To make a gatefold, cut a piece of cardstock 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and score along the 8 1/2" edge at 2 1/8" and 6 3/8". Piece of Cake! (I know, I know, I'm sooo punny! - for those who don't know, this stamp set is called "Piece of Cake" - kinda sad when you have to explain your own jokes!!)

I have actually done TWO more butterfly cards for Devan since my last post. This one was done using "Tagger's Dozen" and "Fun Filled" (a set that I think it was a PITY for SU to retire). I thought it would be fun to punch the small flower images with a star - I think the kind of look like asters this way. (And I also realized, after I uploaded this, that I am on a ROLL with the Wild Wasabi, Groovy Guava and Purely Pomegrante cardstock - they are fun!)

This card I made for Devan almost two weeks ago (sorry for the delay). It was for SCS's TLC137 (using acetate in your creation). I already got an e-mail from Devan stating that he didn't quite get how to "do" this card. What???? Like, duh!!! You just pull the dang tab at the top! How hard can that BE?? He is a man (well, at least almost - he IS 19, but I still think of him as my little baby!). Maybe I should send him a set of instructions with my next card and letter . . . hmmmmm . . . I also used my really cool Creative Memories circle cutter to cut the hole in the front of the card (which is a little off center, as my side fold was a little goofy! Shhhh! Don't tell anyone!!) I don't have a lot of things that are non-SU products, but the cutting system from CM is really quick and easy! Love it!

For instructions on how to create a "magic" card like this one, see Beate's TERRIFIC tutorial here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/magiccard.php. These cards are kind of time consuming, but I think they are worth the effort. Lining up the images with the stamp-a-ma-jig is a little tricky, but not impossible. You will DEFINITELY get a "WOW" from whomever you give them to (unless, of course, they go to your 19-year-old son, who can't figure out how to "do" this kind of card!!)!! Patience is the key to making one of these dudes. Don't be afraid to try one, and stick with it, as the end result makes you feel pretty cool (I am speaking from experience - I felt a bit challenged the first time I made one of these guys - but I finally figured it out). Funny how the learning curve on some things is trickier for some people than it is for others!! I have confidence that you guys will probably breeze through this JUST to make me look bad!!

My dear, sweet, wonderful friend, Annette Kramer, died after a 5-year battle with breast cancer 10 years ago. I think of her often and can't believe that it has been ten years already. We were best friends from the time I moved to SLC at the age of 15 (she lived next door). She has been such an inspiration to me. As this is breast cancer awareness month, and as the color challenge this past week (CC136) was to use pink to create something to commemorate breast cancer awareness, I made this in honor of my friend (I actually ran over to the store at 6:00 a.m. to buy up some pink Jelly Bellies!). I kind of cased myself from the "Hugs & Kisses" tin I did LAST month. These are fun AND easy. The designer paper is from Rob & Bob by Provo Craft. Not sure where I got the pink grosgrain ribbon with the brown polka dots (maybe Roberts??). I thought it was too fun to pass up for this project.

Okay, hang with me, friends, I am getting there, and I have to admit I MUST BE CERTIFIABLY CRAZY!! I am going to do about 60 of these babies for my Christmas card! This is actually a tri-fold that's has finished dimensions of 3 1/4" x 6 1/4". I had a bunch of these envelopes left over, so I decided to put 'em to use. (For those who are math challenged, like me, start with a piece of cardstock that is 6 1/4" x 9 3/4". Score, along the 9 3/4" edge at 3 1/4" and 6 1/2". I know this seems like a funky size (which it is), but I got the envelopes at actionenvelope.com - they are 3 1/2" x 6 1/2". I was able to punch out the "window" with a LITTLE bit of help from some of my paper punches. I used the designer label punch to help me with the top edge of the window. It wasn't a perfect fit, as I had to trim the upper corners, plus I used a 3/4" circle punch to round out the little "bump" in the top. This was very helpful, as it is really hard to cut "pretty" through two layers of cardstock at a time!! The rest of the window I had to just cut out with scissors. I used the "stained glass" technique, which is achieved by stamping the image on vellum (usually with craft ink or versamark), then embossing with some embossing powder (in this case, white). You then color the image on the BACK side of the vellum. I used my markers (once again!).

I think it helps if you mount your completed image on a lighter color of cardstock (here I used Going Gray). It helps the image "pop" off the page better. I DO need to go and get me some vellum tape, as I don't have any and I can see where I adhered the vellum to the cardstock (which kinda bugs me - okay, it REALLY bugs me!!). I guess I can't escape that type-a attribute in my personality! Never thought I would make a gray Christmas card, either, but I LOVE Basic Gray and Going Gray together - soooooo pretty! I have already made a whopping FOUR of these cards. The plan is to do a little every few days so I can spread them out; to be honest, though, I know I will be cramming these babies together during the last part of November!!

This is a tag I made for a swap I was in. I am embarrassed to admit that I actually FORGOT I was in the swap until the swap's hostess, Amanda (hey, Brat!!) p/m'd me on SCS last week and asked if I was mailing my tags soon. YIKES!! Major embarrassment . . . egg-on-my-face!!! I was up VERY late last Friday so that I could zip these little guys in the mail on Saturday. I used my Cricut, Cuttlebug AND my wonderful new Nestabilities diecuts (these suckers are DA BOMB!!). I discovered that none of the Nestabilities templates were the correct size to fit on the little tag that I had cut out with my Cricut (Tags, Bags, Boxes & More). This turned into NO PROBLEM, as after I ran the diecut through my Cuttlebug (we're talking about the scalloped Bashful Blue piece), I was able to run it through a second time by sliding it down a couple of "scallops" and re-cutting it. It came out perfectly and fit right on top of my tag! I was stoked!! The embossed background is made using the Cuttlebug "snowflakes" embossing folder. I made my own glittery flowered brads for the snowman's hat with some red craft ink and glittery embossing powder (some that I bought 100 years ago from CTMH).

And as a little teaser . . . part of the reason for my long absence is that I was making creations to submit to Spellbinders for their 2008 Design Team Call. I won't post the items here until AFTER they announce who they picked (which, I am hopeful to say, will include ME - we won't know until November 15). I am sure that TONS of talented people applied, so I won't hold my breath, but I WILL cross my fingers (and my toes and eyes!!)

I will be back SOON, as I hate to lag behind myself!!