Where is Spring?

I'm soooo tired of the nasty, cold, gray, icky endless winter!! I don't think I've ever been so ready for Spring to start! Why did that dang groundhog have to see his shadow, anyway!

With that in mind, I was pretending it was Spring when I created this card. I got the layout from Mary Jo Albright on SCS. She was the featured stamper this week (FS55), and I "cased" this card of hers:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/ photo/798488?cat=500&ppuser=108913

She, in turn, got the sketch layout from Beate's WSC33. Here is a link to THAT challenge:

http://beate.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/ 2008/02/01/weekend-sketch-challenge-33

(Sorry, but Blogger is being retarded and won't actually let me "link" these, so you'll hafta cut and paste! Dang!)

The finished dimensions on this baby are 4" x 8 1/2". It's a big ol' card, but I really like it!! I also incorporated TLC157, which was to use two patterned papers together.

Cardstock: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose, Whisper White, Provo Craft dsp
Stamps: Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey) and Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU)
Diecut: Cuttlebug Flower
Ink: Certainly Celery, Regal Rose
Accessories: Dimensionals, Rain Dots, Doodlebug Jewels, 1" & 3/4" circle punch, May Arts polkadot organza ribbon, SU brad

This card was one I did for WT154. The challenge was to use a "window" of some sort in your creation. Having just come back from CHA where I created at least a zillion "window" cards as part of the make and take we did in the Spellbinders booth. We used the heart Nestabilities there, but I chose to use the great Star diecuts. It is kind of like a Nestie set, it just doesn't have a scallop set that coordinates. By rotating the five point star and recutting the window, I was able to create a 10-point star. I then layered stars, rotating them and filling in the spaces. (Using pop-up glue dots between every two layers made it more three dimensional).

This also brings me up to card #26 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see sidebar for details).

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Linen prints dsp
Stamps: Out on a Limb (Sentiment - Papertrey), Butterfly (unknown)
Diecut/machine: Spellbinders Stars, Wizard
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft, Whisper White craft
Accessories: Vanilla satin ribbon, pop-up glue dots, SU brads

I've also been busy creating things for the Spellbinders online gallery. I'll be posting them here soon! Have a great week (and think SUNSHINE!!!)

Fun & Funky Folding

Okay, so I promised to be back, and here I am! I can't remember the last time I sat down and made something for fun, just for me because I felt like it (well, I DID do one card like that last week, so I guess I CAN remember!)

I am always on the hunt for fun and funky ways to fold my cards. I had a LOT of fun this weekend playing with some fun ideas I found on Scor-Pal's website, PLUS replicating a fold on a card I received a while back in a swap. So, without any further adieu, here is what I've been up to . . .

This is just the MOST FUN! The layers and folds on this were so much fun to replicate, that I made TWO different cards with it. The finished card actually opens on the opposite (or right-hand) side than we are used to. That is one of the things that makes me love this card even more!!

Nichole Heady is my hero! All of the wonderful stamp sets she keeps creating for Papertrey Ink just blow me away! I LOVE this "Out on a Limb" set . . . and the fact that the acrylic images allow you to align everything perfectly!!!

Base layer (Cameo Coral): 5 3/8" x 4 1/4"
DSP layer (Linen Prints): 9 3/8" x 4", scored at 2 1/8" and 4 1/4"
Top folded card layer (Chocolate Chip): 8 3/4" x 3 1/4"
Very Vanilla (Out on a Limb image) layer: 3" x 3 3/4"

Fold the DSP on score lines. Tape the outer 2 1/8" flap toward inside or outside, depending on which side of the dsp you want to show. Tape ribbon under this layer on left-hand side. Don't forget to use a slot punch to punch a hole for the ribbon to go through on the top layer!!

Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Linen Prints dsp
Stamps: Out on a Limb - Papertrey
Ink: Cameo Coral, Chocolate Chip, Pink Passion, Old Olive
Accessories: May Arts organza polka dot ribbon, horizontal slot punch, 3/4" and 1/2" circle punch, Stickles

Here is another card using the same basic layout. This also makes card #25 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see link on sidebar for more details). I think it would be really difficult to make an ugly card using this layout!!

Base layer (Soft Sky): 5 3/8" x 4 1/4"
DSP layer (Happy Me Scrappin Kit paper): 9 3/8" x 4", scored at 2 1/8" and 4 1/4"
Top folded card layer (Soft Sky): 8 3/4" x 3 1/4"
Groovy Guava (music) layer): 3" x 3 3/4"

I also used a clear Spica pen to add a little glitter to the butterflies, but it is hard to see in the photo. I also used yet another new embossing folder - this one is called Allegro. Love it!!

Cardstock: Soft Sky, Groovy Guava, Whisper White, Happy Me DSP
Stamps: Priceless (SU)
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Groovy Guava, Soft Sky
Accessories: Cuttlebug Allegro ef, Wonder charm (unknown), Purely Pomegranate double-stitched ribbon, horizontal slot punch, clear Spica pen, flower/gem sticker (Sandylion Stickers).

Yet another fun and funky fold idea I snatched off of Scor-Pal's website (you go, Diana!). What a fun little accordian card! Start with a piece of cardstock that measures 4 1/4" x 11". Score at 1 1/2", 3", 5 1/2" and 8". Layer, embellish and fold 'er up!! This one elicited a lot of oooh's and aaaahhh's from my daughters friends (who are 13 and 14 - they think I rock!). I even let one of the girls choose the colors I should start with (she chose the Ruby Red and some Cameo Coral, which I switched out for the Groovy Guava, as I had just finished the "Out on a Limb" card using the CC).

I have also included a "closed" photo, so you could see what this baby looks like when it is all folded up. It's smaller than an A2 card, so I'm going to have to make a custom envelope for it (which is fine, since I need to relearn that skill, anyway!!)

Cardstock: Ruby Red, Groovy Guava, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Stamps: One of a Kind, Boho Backgrounds
Ink: Groovy Guava, Ruby Red, River Rock
Accessories: River Rock double stitched ribbon, red rhinestone brads, Designer Label punch, 1 3/8", 1" and 3/4" circle punch, Daisy punch (Family Treasures), 1/2" circle punch

This is a fold/layout I borrowed from a card I received from my friend, Pam Findlay (hello Control Freaks!!). Isn't it fun (okay, so have I used that word a bunch today or what??) The finished card is a 3" x 6 1/2" trifold. Start with a piece of cardstock that is 6 1/2" x 8 1/2". The left hand panel is formed with a score folded in at 2 3/4"; the right-hand panel is scored and folded at 5 3/4" (these measurements are taken from the left edge of the cardstock). The left-hand panel is then cropped 1 1/4" from the top; the right-hand panel is cropped down by 2". Both of the cropped panels then have the top corners trimmed off. I hope that makes sense!!

Cardstock: Rose Red, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Whisper White, Cutie Pie dsp
Stamps: One of a Kind, So Many Scallops
Accessories: Large oval punch, scallop circle punch, build-a-brad, Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls ef, Rose Red brads

And, as promised, here is a picture I took of me and some of my "dirty girl" friends at CHA (sorry, Jeanne, that your eyes are closed - should've taken more than one pose!! You're still gorgeous!!). I love these guys! I had only ever met Kittie and Linda in person before CHA, but loved making personal connections with (from left to right - front) Sherry (BadSherry), ME, Kittie (Kittie747), Tosh (stamps4funinCA), and back row -LindaD (Linda Duke, who I met in January when we went to a Spellbinders retreat - both of us are on their DT), and Jeanne (Jeanne S). What a fun bunch of gals!!

Ribbon & Paper & Toys, OH MY!!

Well, after spending nearly a week in sunny, lovely Anaheim at CHA Winter, I am now convinced that the California Girl in me has re-emerged! I soooo miss the lovely weather!! (I should probably explain that I was born and raised in the Bay Area . . .)

CHA was a mind-boggling, body exhausting experience! Working the booth with all of my lovely friends from Spellbinders (Jeff, Stacey, Kim, Beth, Cathy, Mary, Holly, Heidi, Donya, Michelle, Eli, and the two Jerry's - not to forget Sharon and Linda, who were at the show in other capacities, and our dear Jenn and Jenni, who couldn't be with us this time!) was an experience and a half!! We were busy, busy, busy from sunup to sundown!! In my two-hour daily break I wandered around the Convention with awe and amazement . . . there was sooo much to see and sooo much to absorb! I think my brain is ready to explode!!

So, now it is officially okay to share with you photos of the projects I made for display in the Spellbinders booth. We got to see the new Xcalibur in action, too! Man, oh man!! I sooo want one! No doubt, many of you are going to feel the same!!

This first card was a long time in coming! I made 48 passes through the Wizard to cut out all the components (which I was watching old episodes of "I Love Lucy" no less!) I had a lot of fun with it. I used a Spirellabilities die and the button from the Timeless Heritage die set. I sprinkled the "holes" in the buttons with a little Dazzling Diamond glitter, as they were stuck on with Glue Dots, and the "sticky" part was showing through!

Cardstock: ColorMates – Light Racy Raspberry, Medium Racy Raspberry, Deep Ray Raspberry, Medium Pretty Pink & SU Shimmery White
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Ribbon: Creative Impressions Lime & White Mini Gingham
Stamp: Words to Live By - Rita Marie
Diecuts: Spellbinders Spirellabilites Petals and Timeless Heritage

Isn't this little peapod just the cutest??? I pulled out my airbrush tool and Copic markers to color it in and spritz the background. I also love the oval shaped Nestabilities! Making shaped cards is now one of my favorite things to do. With all of the many shapes available in the Nesties, I hate to admit that I own almost all of 'em!! I used my Scor-Pal to create the scored lines that run diagonally across the card front.

Cardstock: ColorMates Dark Fairy Tale Pink, Dark Spring Green & SU Shimmery White
Stamp: Sweet Pea in a Pod - Lockhart Company
Ink: Assorted Copic Markers
Ribbon: Lt. Pink grosgrain
Diecuts: Spellbinders Oval Nestabilities (regular and scalloped) and Valentine Sentiments (the little pink hearts)

Here I go again with those darn little "Target" mailboxes! I hate to admit how many I stocked up on LAST year!! I still have a few in my arsenal!! Isn't the paper on this awesome??? It is from "Fancy Pants"! And I went a little bit crazy with the flowers as I LOVE these diecuts! They are so much fun to mix and match!!

Cardstock: Prism Cardstock – BR176-D Tawny, R049-E Brush Red Dark, B561-E Intense Teal and ColorMates Cardstock – Deep Creamy Cocoa
Ribbon/Accessories: Stitched Ribbon – Burgundy w/Cream; ½” Organdy Ribbon – Brown w/Brown Swirls; Mini and Jumbo Round Fasteners – Burgundy all by Creative Impressions
Diecuts: Spellbinders Flower Creations, Cameo & Brooch and Julius Alphabet

This card was done to introduce one of our new "Tag Trios" diecut sets, designed by the ever-amazing Debbie Olson. She rocks and so do these dies! They are perfect for adding little sentiments to your cards, 3D items or whatever! I actually redid this card about three times, as the idea was having a hard time leaping from my head to the paper!!

Cardstock: SU Soft Sky, Fancy Pants Bluebell and Head Over Heels designer paper
Ribbon: May Arts
Ink: Copic markers, sponged basic black
Accessories: Brad and felt flower - Creative Impressions
Stamp: Simply Stated - Fancy Pants
Diecuts: Spellbinders Butterflies 2 and Tag Trio

Last, but certainly not least, I did this candle the night before I left for CHA! It was to showcase yet another one of the new "Tag Trio" diecut sets (there are four new sets in all!). I love stamping on candles! It seems like magic every single time the tissue paper "disappears" into the wax, but the image remains! What fun!

Cardstock: Real Red and Shimmery White
Ink: Copic markers and Spica glitter markers by Copic
Stamps: Simply Stated - Fancy Pants
Ribbon: SU black/white gingham, Offray red/polka dot gingham and black/polka dot gingham
Diecuts: Spellbinders Tag Trio and Bumblebee Flowers

I have some more pictures to share with you of friends I met and a few of the things I saw. Stay tuned and I'll post those in the next couple of days! I think I need a nap!!!

CHA . . . Hooray!!

Hard to believe, but I am actually on an airplane headed to Anaheim and the wonders of CHA. This is going to be such an exciting week. It’s probably not good that I have exhausted myself in order to get ready to go (it is sooo hard when you are the mom!). This has been one of the craziest and busiest weeks I have had in quite a while, but I have, surprisingly, found time to do a little stamping for myself! AND, I was able to do a two-for-one challenge card on SCS this week, combining the color challenge and sketch challenge (CC152 & SC162).

This card was so much fun. I actually did something kind of similar last year with my Big Pieces and Little Pieces sets. When I saw that the color challenge was Real Red, Ballet Blue and Apricot Appeal, I thought to myself, “No way!” But when I looked at some of the samples, I was surprised at how much I liked it.

I also got to use one of my new Cuttlebug embossing folders . . .they announced this at CHA last July, and they were just barely available in my local store (Roberts, to be exact) last Monday. This one is “Swiss Dots”! I have been sitting, waiting and wishing for this baby (any Jack Johnson fans out there??) I LOVE it! Plus, I used my new “Love & Happiness” rub-ons from SU!

Stamps: Big Flowers, Little Flowers, Boho Backgrounds
Cardstock: Real Red, Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal, Whisper White
Ink: Real Red, Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal
Punches: 1 3/8”, 1 ¼”, ¾” and ½” circle punches, horizontal slot punch
Accessories: Cuttlebug “Swiss Dots” embossing folder, red/white polka dot grosgrain ribbon, SU Love & Happiness rub-ons

Once again, I was headed off into “Butterfly Land” with this next card. It is card #23 in my own personal “Follow the Butterflies” challenge (see the link on the sidebar for more details). I can’t believe I have made 24 butterfly cards and haven’t used the same stamp set more than once! Scary! I actually have a lot more butterflies I haven’t used yet as well. I never knew I had so many!! (To be fair, several of my friends have stamped images and sent them to me! I’ve even had other friends sent me stamps and stamp sets with butterflies as well . . . hugs to all of you!!)

Once again, I got to play with the heart-shaped Nestabilities. I totally ADORE them (even though they are hijacked from my good friend, Eli!). I love these colors together. I made a similar gatefold card last summer when the new “In Colors” came out in SU’s catalog. I just mixed it up, using yet ANOTHER new Cuttlebug embossing folder. This one is called “Floral Fantasy”. I think texture is so great!! I’m sneakin’ those butterflies in everywhere I can . . . even on this Valentine’s Day card!!

Stamps: Butterfly (unknown), Houndstooth (background), Small Sayings
Cardstock, Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White
Ink: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi
Diecuts: Nestabilities Hearts
Accessories: Black/White gingham ribbon, rhinestone sticker, Stickles, Word Window Punch

I’ll post this after I get to the hotel. I look forward to my adventures this week. I will take some pictures and post them here as I get a chance! As always, thanks for lookin’!!!

On Your Mark, Get Set . . .

. . . GO! In just four more days, I will be on my way to CHA in Anaheim, California!! (For those who don't know what CHA is -it's the Craft & Hobby Association trade show, and it's AWESOME!! It's where all the vendors get together and showcase what new merchandise they will be releasing over the next several months . . .)

I'm sooo excited! This is going to be such a riot! I will be with several members of the Spellbinders Design Team, along with several of my other friends from SB, including the owners, Jeff & Stacey Caron (hi guys!!). We will be working like dogs, but it will be such a fun and new experience.

Anyway, here are a few things that I have been working on this past week (and, surprisingly, they don't ALL have butterflies on them!!)

I LOVE these new large heart-shaped tins from Papertrey Ink!! There are adorable!!! I had to come up with a Valentine's Day craft to do with some of the girls from church. I made some fun cards with them last year, but decided to do something a little different this year. These were super easy to cover, and will be a GREAT way to give that special someone a treat or whatever you want to fill this tin with! I used ZipDry craft glue to adhere the paper to the tin. I love that stuff! It dries pretty quickly, but gives you just enough time to "adjust" the paper before it is permanently stuck!! I used a borrowed set of Heart-shaped Nestabilities (thanks, Eli!) to embellish the lid. I now need to go BACK to Roberts to get some more ribbon, as I wasn't planning on using the brown gingham, so I don't have enough for the girls to do theirs (AND I forgot to buy some more Glue Dots - another thing I can't live without!!)

Stamps: Mixed Messages (Papertrey Ink)
Cardstock: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Patterned Paper: Sweetheart True Love/Swirl & Sweetheart Stripe/Circle by Pebbles Inc.
Ink: Chocolate Chip Classic & Craft
Diecuts; Heart Nestabilities

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my Copics!! I have discovered that I don't have nearly enough, however (I have 17, which sounds like a lot, 'til you go to mix and match!!) When I saw this hummingbird image in the new SU catty, I knew I HAD to have it!! It is hard to tell from this photo, but I did use my airbrush system with my Copic markers to create a slightly light blue "sky" behind the bird and flowers. I need to get me a little compressor, as I have been using canned air and it's almost gone :( . . .

I also used my circle Nestabilities to cut out this card. I have decided that it is my new favorite thing to make shaped cards using the largest Nestabilities (in all shapes, of course!). It's really fun and challenging to have a different shaped "canvas" to work with. And the embossing! Oh my goodness!!!! My Wizard is the BEST at embossing. Kicks booty on everything else I have ever used in that department (sorry to all you Cuttlebug lovers, but the Wizard really rocks socks in this department!! And I HAVE a Cuttlebug, so I've done both!!)

Stamps: Spring Song, Short & Sweet
Cardstock: Wild Wasabi, Lovely Lilac, Shimmery White
Ink: Graphite Black Brilliance (Tsukineko), Assorted Copic Markers
Diecuts: Large Scallop and Classic Circle Nestabilities

Finally, I DID do a butterfly card this week, as I am on card #23 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge (see the link on the sidebar for more details!).

I started out with this card trying to do the sketch challenge that was posted on SCS last week. I kinda ran amok and ended up doing my own thing. This card actually served two purposes . . . I was supposed to come up with a card for a swap in my upline/sideline group using at least one of the new Sale-a-Bration sets. I was able to sneak a few butterflies in there as well (I only had to make 5 of 'em, so it wasn't so bad!)

Stamps: So Many Scallops, Twill background, Sprinkles
Cardstock: Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink: Rose Red, Elegant Eggplant
Punches: Scallop, 1", 3/4" & 1/2" circles, Ticket Corner

More than likely the next time you will hear from me I'll be in Anaheim!! I'll share some pictures of some of the fun things I see and drool over, so stay tuned . . .