Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just wanted to wish y'all a wonderful, family-filled, pumpkin=pie laden, turkey-stuffed day!! For those of you outside of the US . . . Happy Thursday!!

I'm off to finish my share of the feast (prepping, that is!)! I probably won't be around tomorrow, as I am a SERIOUS Black Friday shopper. For those of you in other countries, "Black Friday" is how merchants refer to the day after Thanksgiving . . . there are HUGE sales everywhere, starting as early as 4 or 5 a.m.!! I get a LOT of shopping done, so I'll have to be in bed early if I am going to get a jump on things!!

This is a card I did for SC204 yesterday, by the way. I think I just may take it to my aunt's house with me and give it to her!!

Hugs to all!!



Stamps: Happy Blessings, Holidays & Wishes
Paper: Bordering Blue, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, Watercolor
Ink: Black Stazon, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Bashful Blue, Old Olive
Accessories: Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio (S3150), Cuttlebug Autumn Type embossing folder, blender pen, paper distressing tool, brown microcheck ribbon by Offray

Fall is Fleeting . . .

I am always amazed at how quickly fall passes us by. Yes, the leaves are still falling and we haven't had much snow (yet), but after tomorrow we will be in the winter mode full swing (Christmas shopping galore!). I love the colors of fall and the briskness in the air. I'm not quite sure I am ready to switch gears, but I guess Mother Nature marches forward!

I did this card yesterday for CC194 - I initially thought that Really Rust, Going Gray and Very Vanilla were a totally odd combo (which they ARE!), but I like how they look together. I pulled out my Cuttlebug maple leaf embossing/die combo one last time this season. Sigh . . . jingle bells are on the way!!

Stamps: Small Sayings, Weathered
Paper: Very Vanilla, Really Rust, Going Gray, Basic Gray
Ink: Really Rust, Going Gray
Accessories: Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio (S3150), Cuttlebug Maple Leaf die/embossing folder and Distressed Stripes embossing folder, Gray Taffeta Ribbon

Me & Mini Me!

I saw a card of Jennifer Meyer's several weeks ago (she is Lovetostamp6 on SCS) that I knew I just HAD to attempt myself! I totally and instantly fell in love with it! It's awesome! I had the chance to "case" this card and put my own twist on it last week for a combined challenge I did. I used SC203 and WT193 (to use pearls or something pearly). I LOVE how it turned out!! Here is Jennifer's card:

Christmas & Snowflakes

I may just use this as NEXT year's Christmas card!!

Stamps: Winter Post
Paper: Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Baja Breeze, Shimmery White
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White craft
Accessories: Cuttlebug Snowflakes, Snowdots and Christmas Village embossing folders, designer label and 1 3/8" circle punches, Emaginations snowflake punch, single stitched choclate chip ribbon (SU Seaside), May Arts brown polka dot organza ribbon, pearl stickers, iridescent ice embossing powder

So then, after case-ing Jennifer, I cased myself yesterday for the technique lover's challenge - TLC196 - a pop-up gift card holder. But, instead of using it as a gift card holder, I made a little pop-up surprise!

This card is officially card #65 in my "Follow the Butterflies" challenge. I CANNOT believe I have done that many!! (See the link on the sidebar to the right if you want an explanation as to WHY I am doing this!)


I changed the colors a little bit from the previous card. I used Ruby Red and Blue Bayou instead of Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze (not a HUGE difference, but subtle changes are good!). I really like this idea, though. If I end up giving out any gift cards for Christmas I will definitely use this!! It's hard to see in the picture, but both the snowflakes and the white parts on the butterfly are done with sparkly-glittery white paper. It really does look COLD!! Brrrr!!!

Stamps: Fancy Flexible Phrases
Paper: Kraft, Ruby Red, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip, Dazzling Diamonds white
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Whisper White craft
Accessories: Cuttlebug Snowflakes and Christmas Village embossing folders, Quickutz Butterfly die, Martha Stewart arctic snowflake punch, word window punch, May Arts light blue polka dot organza ribbon, single stitched chocolate ribbon, rhinestones, iridescent ice embossing powder

Fun Little Project

As part of our work with the design team for "There She Goes," each of the team members takes a turn on Fridays to create a project from something that they picked up for a dollar! Hence, Jessica calls her blog posts on Fridays "Dollar Find Friday." It was my turn last Friday, and this is the project I made. She already posted it on her blog, but I thought it would be fun to share it with all of you, so here it is!

I am a lover of a good bargain. In fact, my family often calls me frugal (okay, well . . . cheap!). I am really good at hunting out great deals! Target's Dollar Spot has long been one of my favorite places to find fun, alterable items (this comes in especially handy when my daughter wants to make something for ALL of her friends).

As I was perusing the merchandise . . . on the hunt for something fab to share with all of YOU . . . I came across this cute little white cutting board. I think this would be really fun to give as a housewarming gift, or just as a "thank you" for a special friend.

The best part is, it was pretty simple and requires no special instructions. Here is a photo of the supplies I used to create my "Dollar Find". The only things not included in the photo are cardstock (I used SU's Pale Plum, Garden Green and Shimmery White), the ribbon (you can really use any coordinating color) and the green raffia (because I used my VERY last piece on the cutting board, so I had none to photograph!).

Supplies
Tea for Two, Tea for Two Special Blend and Butterfly Happiness Stamps by There She Goes
Olive Green StazOn Ink
Jet Black StazOn Ink
Family Treasures Daisy Punch
Spellbinders Standard Circle Small (S4116 - third smallest die), Standard Circle Large (S4114 - third smallest die) and Classic Scalloped Circle Large (S4124 - second smallest die)
Green rhinestone brad by Making Memories
Copic Markers - V01 Heath, BV000 Iridescent Mauve and BV02 Prune
Pale Plum, Garden Green and Shimmery White Cardstock by Stampin' Up
Green Raffia
1/4" Lt. Plum Grosgrain Ribbon
Glue Dots
Zip Dry Adhesive

The only thing of special note is that I used StazOn ink, as regular ink rubs right off of plastic surfaces (because the are non-porous). The teapot and teacups were stamped on cardstock, colored with Copic Markers, then cut out and adhered to the board with ZipDry adhesive (LOVE that stuff!). Other than that, it is all pretty straight forward. Have a great week!

Love Medallions!

After having made a medallion for TLC193 (see November 4 post HERE, I have been itching to make another one with a more "snowy" theme. This is what I came up with when I used this week's color challenge (which, coincidentally enough, is CC193 - red, black and kraft) to incorporate the medallion technique. i still NEED to get me some more corner punches so I can try some other, different-looking medallions!

Looking at my supplies list below, I was amazed at how many different things I used to create this baby. i had NO clue I used so much to put it together (although, judging by the mess I left behind, I shoulda clued in!)!!

Weekend's almost here, so enjoy it and go stamp somethin'!!

Stamps: Holiday Woodcuts (for sentiment)
Paper: Basic Black, Kraft, Real Red, Shimmery White, Diamond Dust White (snowflakes)
Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust, Lovely Lilac, Night of Navy
Accessories: Spellbinders Large Standard Circle and Large Classic Scallop Circle Nestabilities (S4114 and S4124), EK Success Interlaced Corner Adorner punch, Emaginations Snowflake Punch, 1 1/4" and 1" circle punches, Marvy jumbo and extra jumbo snowflake punches, Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder, pop-up glue dots, 5/8" red organza ribbon, white silver-edged organza ribbon

Non-Butterfly Challenge Butterfly Card!

I can't believe I actually made a card that has NOTHING to do with my own butterfly challenge! To be truthful, I had already used this image and sent it to my son, so I COULDN'T send him this, now COULD I??

I did this for FS93 last Sunday. The Featured Stamper was Kendra. That girl rocks socks!! I LOVED this little pocket card she did. And . . . well . . . you know me and funky folds! It took me, like, forEVUH to figure out how to do it with my Nesties, too, but more about that in a minute . . .

Here is Kendra's card:

BBQ Invite

I ended up using a piece of cardstock that was about 9" by 4". I scored the card to make the front "flaps" at 3" and 6". I had to place my long rectangle Nestabilities die at an angle, with the flap piece kind of "in and out" of the die. The edge I wanted to cut was on top of the die, while the rest of the cardstock was placed through the die and allowed to rest underneath it to keep from cutting it. Does that make sense?? To make the scalloped "half oval" top edge, I cut an additional piece of cardstock down to 3" x 5", then used the same "in and out" technique so that I would only cut the top edge of the cardstock. I then taped this piece to the inside middle of the card, making it appear as though it is all one piece. Got it?? The card insert itself is 4 3/8" x 2 1/2" (the Garden Green piece). The vanilla piece is approximately 4 1/8" x 2 1/4". Again, I employed the same "in and out" technique to cut the half oval top edge of the card.

So, although this IS a challenge card, it just isn't for my butterflies!!

TTFN!

Stamps: Butterfly Happiness by There She Goes
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Garden Green, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft, Garden Green
Accessories: Spellbinders Large Classic Scallop Ovals (S4111), Small Classic and Small Classic Scallop Ovals (S4112 and S4113) and Long Mega Scallop Rectangle (S4143), Cuttlebug Houndstooth embossing folder, pop-up glue dots, Offray brown microcheck ribbon

Grateful for Butterflies

It seems that, week after week, I am starting to get into a rut with my butterfly cards. I discovered, much to my dismay and chagrin, that I accidentally used the same butterfly stamp on two different cards! And here I have been trying SOOOO hard NOT to do that!! It was actually on two of the older cards I have done. I remember when I used it the second time going through the process in my head and actually thinking that it was NOT the same one!!! Oh well! I guess it was BOUND to happen!!

It seems I have been using butterflies as the focal image waaayyy more than I had intended, so this week I tried to sneak one in there. I know this butterfly has absolutely NOTHING to do with Thanksgiving, but I think he looks pretty darn good in here!! I cased myself on this card, too!! Remember the "Friendship Fruit Salad" card I did last April (yeaaaaahhhh . . . like y'all are gonna remember back THAT far!)? Here is a link to it:

Friendship Fruit Salad

I love the "quilted" look of this layout! I had some trouble coloring this for some reason. I used Adirondak ink, which I thought would be particularly good for coloring, but it seem to bleed into everything!! I was sorely disappointed, but much too lazy to go back and restamp everything . . . so there ya go . . .

This brings me up to butterfly card #64, by the way, for those of you who aren't keeping track!! (If you have no idea what I am talking about, see the link and/or slideshow to the right!!)

Have a lovely Tuesday!!

Stamps: Turkey Lurkey by Fiskars, Shapes & Shadows
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard
Ink: Adirondak Espresso, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Pumpkin Pie, Ruby Red, Summer Sun, Old Olive, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa
Accessories: 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" square punches, keytag punch, blender pends, chocolate polka dot satin ribbon (Paptertrey), pop-up glue dots

Where Have I Been, You Ask?

Well, I'll tell you!! I haven't been posting as much this past week because I chained myself to my craft table in order to finish this crazy-huge batch of cards. Many of you will remember that I did a street fair in my neighborhood several weeks ago. Needless to say, it didn't go very well. However, one of my neighbors bought a few of my cards. She called me a couple of weeks later and asked if I could make her some more thank you cards. (In my head I'm thinking . . . great! I'll do some Cuttlebugging, a little bit of image/sentiment and some ribbon . . . done!!) She says,"I'd like you to make some more like the one I bought at the street fair." Since I couldn't remember at ALL what she had purchased, I asked, "Which one is that?" She responds, "You know that lovely one that looks like a piano that pops up?" I inwardly groan . . . I remember thinking when I made that card last year that I never wanted to do it again. I was just dinking around and it ended up being way more work than I had planned! I paint a smile on and say, "Sure! How many would you like?" Her response?? "200!!" I nearly choked!!! "Really? That should be no problem," I hear myself saying back to her. Those suckers are paper-pieced, pop-up nightmares. All those black and white 1/2" strips had to be individually cut and taped down! I think I am losing my mind!! I see stripes EVERYwhere!!

The happy news?? I'M FINISHED!!! She came over and picked them up last Saturday!! HOORAY!!! The best part??? She paid me $4 a piece for them!! Yep!! You read that right!!! I made $800!!! (But it took me about 5 weeks to get 'em done!!)

These are the photos I took of the original waaayyy back last September (2007). I wanted you to see what they look like close up. I can guarantee you that I will NEVER make another one of these suckers again!!

Stamps: Elegant Notes, Polka Dot bg, All in a Row
Paper: Going Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Real Red
Ink: Basic Black, Going Gray, Real Red
Accessories: Red polka-dot May Arts organza ribbon, clear circle crystal brad, primitive heart punch, large tag punch


AND . . . before I forget . . . Spellbinders has a new WEBSITE and a new BLOG!!! Be sure to go and check them out for fresh, fun and creative ideas (and a great place to buy your Nesties and other fun dies!!)

Spellbinders WEBSITE

Spellbinders BLOG

Quick 'N Easy Tea for Two

I know I shared the Tea for Two stamps from There She Goes with y'all last week. It is soooo stinkin' cute! I made this card as a "quick and easy" project with that set. I also used my Spellbinders Labels One dies again. Shaped cards are awesome!!

For embellishments, I had originally just started with the polka dot organza ribbon, but decided it just needed "something" . . . hence the additional chocolate chip grosgrain and little rhinestone blings!!

Quick and easy card . . . quick and easy post . . . how's that??

Stamps: Tea for Two by There She Goes
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Basic Black
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels One dies (S4161), scallop square punch, wide oval punch, brown polka dot organza ribbon by May Arts, 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain ribbon, amber/brown rhinestone stickers by Doodlebug

2008 Christmas Card

I FINALLY figured out what to do for a Christmas card this year! Hooray!!

The most shocking thing of all, though, is that I actually bought a Thomas Kinkade stamp. (I hate to admit it to all the Kinkade lovers out there, but I do NOT care for his art). I knew I was sunk as soon as I saw this AMAZING card by Dawn over on SCS (aka TreasureOiler). It's jaw-droppingly beautiful!!

Dawn's Cracked Cottage

I almost immediately headed on over to Cornish Heritage Farms and bought this image. I think doing these images monochromatically does them much more justice (at least in my mind)! I also got to use my Labels One dies from Spellbinders. LOVE the shape of these!!

Now I just have to make about 60 more of 'em . . . sigh . . .

Stamps: Stonehearth Hutch by Thomas Kinkade, Believe by PTI
Paper: Night of Navy, Shimmery White, Brushed Silver
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels One dies (S4161), Cuttlebug Snow Dots embossing folder, navy and shimmery white organza ribbon, large oval punch, Martha Stewart branch punch, pop up glue dots

Featured Stamper?? ME???!!!

Imagine my total amazement and giddiness when my good friend Kathy (hi-ya, girl!!) left a comment on here last night congratulating me for being picked as this week's Featured Stamper on SCS (#92 to be exact!)!! WOW-OH-WOW-OH-WOW!! Somebody PINCH ME!!! I am sooo tickled (man, I DO sound like my mom!! That's a word SHE would use!!)!! Seriously, I feel so totally honored and excited! How much fun it is going to be for me to check out all the lovely creations in the Featured Stamper gallery! Totally stoked doesn't even BEGIN to describe me!!

Here is a card I did for the Limited Supplies challenge (LSC193) on Friday. I totally loved the Snowfall and Snowfall Additions sets when I saw them last month on PTI for their new stamp release. I simply HAD to have them AND all four punches needed that coordinate with the images!! So this is REALLY an expensive card!! I got loved masking off the punched snowflakes and sponging around them. It reflects how I feel, too!!! BRRRRR is right!! It started snowing here already this week, so winter is definitely upon us!!!

I am having a hard time sleeping, as I am super happy about the FS thing! Better go and see if I can grab a few more minutes of shut-eye before I have to get up for real!!

Happy Sunday!!

Stamps: Snowfall, Snowfall Additions by Papertrey
Paper: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Shimmery White
Ink: Pale Plum, Perfect Plum, Elegant Eggplant
Accessories: scallop circle, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches, jumbo, extra jumbo and mega snowflake punches by Marvy, silver tinsel ribbon by Papertrey, pop-up glue dots, sponge

Butterfly Tree - #63!

You will have to excuse me for using the same stamp set again this week for butterfly card #63 . . . I saw this adorable punch (by Martha Stewart, no less . . . whose products I have sworn NEVER to purchase . . . I am failing miserably since she started doing so many fabulous punches!!) at Michael's last Monday night when I was looking for a corner punch to create the medallion I posted last Tuesday. I am weak and i just couldn't resist it! I have been thinking about making a tree full of butterflies for quite some times, and this punch just clinched it for me!! (If you have NO idea why I am making so many butterfly cards, see the "Follow the Butterflies" link on the sidebar to the right!)

I also used my Marvy maple leaf punch. This card was really a work in progress . . . I'd "finish" it, then go back and add a little something else . . . then a little something else. When the Ways to Use It challenge was posted Thursday morning, I changed it yet again!! I added the corner punching (ticket and tag corner punches). I think it turned out pretty cute, though. I did actually stamp the leaf images that comes with this Season of Friendship set underneath the layers of maple leaves and butterflies. In person you can see them peeking out here and there. I am also guilty of using the chocolate chip felt ribbon, yet again, that came in the Alpine ribbon package from Stampin' Up's holiday mini catalog. I totally love the stuff (think I have mentioned that before). Great texture!! (Hard as I tried, I just could NOT keep the chocolate chip cardstock out of this card, either!! I really DID try, but it somehow snuck it's way in there!!!!)

I'm off to do the typical, busy-mom-Saturday stuff. Have a wonderful fall weekend!!

Stamps: Season of Friendship
Paper: Close to Cocoa, Not Quite Navy, Kiwi Kiss, Naturals Ivory, Creamy Caramel, Baja Blue, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip craft, creamy caramel
Accessories: Martha Stewart butterfly double craft punch, ticket corner and tag corner punches, maple leaf punch (Marvy), Cuttlebug Forest Branches embossing folder, Alpine chocolate chip felt ribbon, paper piercing tool/mat, glue dots

Chocolate Chip Forever!!

It seems I can't make a card lately without using my Chocolate Chip cardstock! I swear it is the most versatile color I own (at least for me, anyway!)

I made this card the other night using Season of Friendship. That is fast becoming one of my most favorite stamp sets!! I have been thinking about this card ever since I bought it, and am just getting around to making it.

I loved cutting out the leaves to give this card extra dimension. I love doing three-dimensional stuff (as you can see, I do it practically every time)! A card just doesn't seem complete to me if it is "flat" . . .

And that Alpine chocolate chip felt ribbon!! I have used it three times this week!! I didn't even realize it was felt until I opened it up the other day! WOWZA!!! Another new fave!!

Stamps: Season of Friendship
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: Chocolate Chip, More Mustard, Old Olive, Really Rust, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: paper distressing tool, key tag punch, 3/4" and 1" circle punch, Alpine chocolate chip felt ribbon, pop-up glue dots, sponge

Amazing Circle Medallion

Ya ever see something every once in a while that just makes your jaw drop and the word "WOW!" come out of your mouth??? This circle medallion totally did that to me. Lynn (Lynn in St. Louis) hosted TLC193 and showed us this amazing fun technique. Here is a link to the medallion creator, the amazing Becca Stamps. She did a really great tutorial on it:

Becca's Medallion Tutorial

Another thanks to Lynn, 'cause I went to, YES - count 'em!, THREE different craft stores in order to find a corner punch that I could use for this technique! Jeesh!!!

I love having a new way to use my Nesabilities as well! This technique ROCKS!! I'll definitely be using it again!!

Stamps: Dotted Autumn
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa, Very Vanilla, More Mustard, Baja Breeze, Autumn Vine dsp
Ink: Really Rust, Chocolate Chip craft
Accessories: Spellbnders Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circle (Large) - S4124, and Standard Circle (Large) S4114, EK Success Interlaced corner adorner punch, Cuttlebug Leafy Branch embossing folder, Marvy maple leaf punch, 1 3/8" and 1 1/4" circle punch, Alpine felt ribbon, pop-up glue dots

Tea for Two

It has been a verrryyy long time since I participated in one of Beate's weekend sketch challenges (probably last spring!). I couldn't resist combining her latest one (WSC64) with these two new stamp sets from There She Goes - "Tea for Two" and "Tea for Two Special Blend." I thought that this card would surely brighten up the day of anyone who was feeling under the weather.

Have a wonderfully crisp, colorful and leaf-filled Monday!!

Stamps: Tea for Two and Tea for Two Special Blend by There She Goes
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral, Summer Sun, Close to Cocoa, Old Olive, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, Summer Sun, Cameo Coral, Old Olive, Basic Black
Accessories: Spellbnders Nestabilities Classic Scallop Circle (Large) - S4124, and Standard Circle (Large) S4114, scallop border punch, D'Vine Swirl Cuttlebug embossing folder, single stiched chocolate ribbon, pop-up glue dots