A New Nestie!

I ordered the Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 11 and I love them! The shape is gorgeous and just as a warning to anyone who visits my blog, be prepared to see a lot more of it!

It seems January is going to be a busy month for card making, there are going to be a lot of birthdays and card giving occasions coming up. Case in point, here is the first card that's due in January and I've got to say, I think it's in my top 10 of all the cards I've ever made. Maybe because it's made with all my fav colors? Maybe because the flowers and embellishments are gorgeous? Maybe because I love every TGF Anya stamp there is? Maybe because I love Labels 11? I can't say for sure, but I do love it and I hope ______ likes it too!


Did you see the adorable little butterflies on the flowers? Yes, I am now the proud owner of the MS Classic Butterfly punch!

This card is for our cutie patootie niece who's getting her ears pierced tomorrow. All the girls in the family are meeting at the mall and making it a "girls day" to celebrate Macala's special day. In case you can't see it clearly, I put little gemstones for her (soon-to-be) new pierced earrings....too cute!


I can't believe this year is almost over, it seems to have flown by....but I think almost all of us can say that!

Francesco's 13th

It couldn't have worked out any better that (Coyote)Kim sent me some images from the GFS Skater set this week...THANK-YOU Kim, it was perfect timing! I woke up in the middle of the night last night and said to myself, "Skater Ian," knowing it was the perfect image to use for our nephew's card who just turned 13. Like I said, it was perfect timing because we celebrated his b/day this afternoon.

I used Copics to color the image, a Jenny Bowlin ticket and used some rub-ons for the number 13. I piereced, stapled, and tied also. He loved his card!

Dani's Wings

Here's a quick card I made for one of the girls at work, she's 19 and loves anything with wings. I used the same sketch as one of my previous cards because I think it a fab LO...easy and uber attractive! I used a 6x6 paper stack and cut the flowers out from one of the coordinating papers, then inked all the edges and punched some MS butterflies. I've asked for the small MS butterfly punch for Christmas and am hoping Santa and his elves have heard my request...the smaller butterflies would have been perfect on the bottom of the card, in the mean time I'll make do with what I have.



Talking about Santa, I need to decorate AND put up the tree...off I go...

Etched Block

We're back from our wonderful family cruise to the Bahamas, thanks to my in-laws for funding all 22 of us to go! Yes, you read that right...and yes, I am a lucky gal who has been blessed by marrying into a fabulous family! Here we all are...waiting at the airport to start our trip.


On to crafting....
here is an etched item that I made for the Christmas Shoebox Round on CMB, the block will be going to another "sister" in the round, who shall remain nameless due to the fact that we are Secret Sisters...which is a fun and interesting twist to the swap this round!

I'm not sure why the pictures are so small, but if you double click on the picture you should be able to get a close up.


The design was made on DS and I used the snowflakes from the Christmas Cheer cartridge....I really love how this block turned out, especially with the CS behind it. If you look through the two top left snowflakes you can see Santa in his sleigh in the sky.

So many projects, sooooooooooo little time!

GFS Saturday Sketch - 43

Here's the sketch:


Here's my take on it, I used the digi stamp Cupcake Anya...very easy and very cute!



My niece turned 7 on Saturday and she's going to love this card (at least I hope so) because of all the glitter and shine! There can't be too much glitter for this little girl...a few years ago for her 3 year pre-school picture she proudly wore a tiara, she was in her glory. It wasn't her birthday or any special occasion, just another day wear a tiara, LOL. Hugs to a wonderful 7 year old princess!

GFS WTW Background/Masking Technique

This was a great technique to try, here's my take on the challenge:

I used the new A Cheeky Xmas stamp, Frosted Lace Stickles, MS punch, misc. ornament stamp, lots of Distress Inks and the words NAUGHTY and NICE came from the GFS Xmas Sweeties set. This was a lot of fun to make and if you're wanting to give it a try, here's the tutorial that we used.


...and for a bit of good news...click here! HaHa...so strange to see my name and card on someone else's blog...but WooHoo! I could get used to it! My-O-My, what am I going to do with another GFS stamp?!! :D

Yowzers...2 GFS cards in one post!

GFS WTW-Step Card Challenge
This is the 1st step card that I've made, how fun! I've got a few ideas for some more, but this is the one that I made for the challenge. Don't ya just love the Xmas Sweeties?


GFS FFF-Cheeky Color Challenge
These are the colors that we were challenged to use this week:


I love the Navajo Anya stamp! I used MS micro beads on her dress, made the flowers, and cut some wheat from the My World Cricut cart...it came together nicely. Here's my take on the color combo:


The sentiment says it all THANKFUL FOR YOU, and if you know me and have been following my blog...you know that I am thankful for all of you!

GFS: Mystery Monday: CASE of SANDRA

Here's the card I made trying to CASE the card that Sandra made. This turned out better than the picture shows because the roses really do match her hair...waz up w/ my bad photography? I used the Hallo Bride Digi stamp...isn't she cute?!! I stamped the candelabra on a transparency and surrounded it with Glimmer Misted Prima roses, then added a smoke colored pin. All in all, it turned out great.

Re-do

After looking at pictures of the Bubbles card I wanted to re-do it because it didn't turn out the way that I originally imagined it...I really wanted patterned paper for the tub and black lace around the circle. After playing with the black lace I found it was too bulky so I gathered the ribbon and ran a stich through it, then Glimmer Misted a couple of flowers and used a cute heart jewel.

Here's the re-do, and guess what? I heard back from GFS and am getting a stamp for it! WooHoo...YAY for re-dos!

My Bubbles....or yours?!!

This is a card I'm going to send to The Greeting Farm which is running a card-for-stamp-drive, just click here to see what it's all about. I am driven to "win" something...not sure why, but I am going to keep submitting cards until I win a stamp....LOL, but so true!

With that said, here's the cute Anya from the Me Time set which is geared towards a spa day, but I thought it would also make an adorable anniversary card....don't you just love the sentiment?!! I embossed hearts, Glossy Accented the bubbles, and the pearls are made with Viva's Paper Pens....seriously, you need to try them if you haven't yet.


Thanks for looking and if you have any suggestions, please let me know...like I said, I really want to "win" a stamp!

50 and Fabulous!

Here's a mini I did for a good friend who turned 50 a couple of weeks ago...she didn't want a party, all she wanted to do was go to Vegas...to gamble a little, and have a few martini's. She kept us all updated through FB what a FABULOUS time she was having. Lucky me...I printed all the pictures off and put them in her mini, just a little bit sneaky on my part. Happy Birthday Karen!


Check out how fabulous the Viva Paper Pen pearl drops look....if you don't have them yet, they are a must!





I didn't realize the last image was fuzzy, but it's too late to retake another pix because I gave it to Karen yesterday, she loves it! I couldn't ask for a better friend!

It's been a while....

...since I've posted, almost 3 months. We went to South Carolina at the end of July, I started a new job in the middle of August, the kids went back to school at the end of August, September was filled with birthdays...yada, yada, yada...I have been busy and it's all been in a very good way. Did I mention I also had my first paying project that was due a couple of weeks ago? Yep, I finally made a few dollars for doing what I love.

Today is my dd's 16th birthday, she loves both Anime and the Chinese culture...and I love The Greeting Farm stamps, making Geisha Anya the perfect stamp for a card for her. I think everything goes together really well and I hope she likes it...we're giving her her card and present after dinner tonight. I colored the image with Copics and am in the process of learning how to use them, but I think I need a few more of these little pretties...just so I can practice a little more **wink, wink** !!



Thanks for stopping by, I promise it won't be so long before my next post.

SP-Cricuteers Challenge- July 5-11, 2010

Here was the challenge that Pam posted:
1- Cut some shapes to use on a layout with your pictures from the 4th!
2- Cut a title using red, white, and blue to use on a layout with your pictures from the 4th!
3- Cut anything!!! It's always better than nothing

Here's what I came up with....it's not my typical style that's for sure, but it still turned out cute and I finally finished a challenge.

I used A Child's Year and my new Lite, Feeling Groovy...I love this font!

CMB Vintage/Shabby Paint Can Swap

This was a great swap to be in and Susan, was my wonderful partner in it. I went outside of my comfort zone for this and I'm not sure if I made her can vintage, but I definately managed to make it shabby....thanks to my handy-dandy Distrezz-It-All! Susan has a Longeberger basket collection so I thought I would weave the paper to look "basket-y" which wasn't too difficult, but the inking and destressing of each 1/2" strip seemed to take forever....I can't say enough words of praise for the Distrezz-It-All for making it so easy!


I made the flowers out of paper punches, walnut ink, and glimmer mist....lots of scrunching in these but so much fun to make.

Did you notice the feet? I glued some wood pieces together that I found at Hobby Lobby and sprayed them with walnut ink to give them the antiqued look....I think they turned out great. The next time I am going to screw them in instead of relying on Gorilla Glue to hold them in place.


All in all, I was so happy with the way this turned out and hope Susan did too.

Thanks for taking the time to come and visit my blog....especially during these beautiful summer days!

Oh Snap!

I feel like I haven't posted in so long, but I have been busy in a very good way....I went on a sb'ing retreat to Pennsylvania with a great group of ladies! It was a 13 hour drive, and as gorgeous as the mountains were...I found them difficult to drive through. Especially with semi's in front, behind, and beside me! We had a great time and I'm looking forward to our next retreat already!

I needed to make a card for my neice who's turning 10 and I bought this Greeting Farm Stamp with her in mind, I think it's so cute!

When making this card I got out my mini-stapler from Tim Holtz and I was stapling away when I thought to myself, "I bet Donna would staple some mouths for her Macabre Monday Challenge with this!" I know it sounds kinda creepy, but she really would! LOL!

Decorations for Nico's Grad Party

Again, I've been busy! Actually I've created all this busyness for myself by making a boatload of decorations for Nico's party. He loves them all and actually thanked me for doing all that I've done so far...see, that's why I've done this for him, 'cuz he's such a great guy! He's got to be...look what he has to put up with...a paper doll that looks like him and his mom taking pictures of it! LOL!


Here's the finished graduation centerpiece I started making while I was in the Dells in April on a sb'ing weekend with some good friends.


I started this banner in the Dells too, but little did I know that when I started making it that it would be 12 feet long....too long to get a good picture, but trust me when I say that it looks awesome hanging in the kitchen!



Lastly, this was my favorite thing to make for the party....60 little pins, one for each party goer! Now, you may be asking why I would make these and you could also be thinking that I might be embarrasing my son, but the answer is simple...there is a group on Facebook and the group is aptly named: I Love Nico. It was started by one of his friends and it is just plain silly...just like everyone being forced to wear an I LOVE NICO pin! Go ahead and join his group, let him feel the love!


His party is in 2 days and I have a lot to do before it begins...busy, busy, busy!

Nico's Graduation

Not only are we blessed with having such a great son, but the weather and the day were perfect last Sunday for Nico's graduation too! Congrats to an awesome guy who has a bright and promising future ahead of himself!!!

Flower Pot Card

Don't you just love the Flower Pot cards that everyone is making? I love them too! This card is going to be perfect for my mother who loves flowers even more than me!

Greeting Farm Mouse Card

Just think, the end of the school year is approaching fast...in a little less than 3 weeks! I'm know I'm going to be busy getting things ready for my son's HS graduation and getting the kitchen at work closed down for the summer. The last thing on my mind will be making cards for the teachers, so I thought I'd get a jump on it and make the 3 cards that need to be made and check them off my to-do list!

Isn't this the cutest mouse? I received my very first order from the Greeting Farm in the mail yesterday and I just had to try one of them out. Also, if you noticed the embossing from my Nestie's is backwards you're right, and I don't care! LOL! It was my first attempt and I'm not about to re-do the entire image. Do you think the teacher's will even notice?!!

Oh, what will I do with my entire summer off? What will I do?!!

A Couple of Mother's Day Cards

I've been making a menu and trying to get the house ready for the 20+ family members who'll be coming to the house on Sunday for Mother's Day. Here's a couple of the cards I've made...

During my recent retreat to the Dells Vi was trying to show us how to sew on paper with her embroidery machine, so I decided to use my "attempt" at sewing on this card. Vi also used her Cricut and SCAL to cut the design in the paper...N-I-C-E, don't you think? The flower is absolutely gorgeous in person and was handmade by DeeAnn, lucky me for having her as a partner in STSB Round 8!


This is one of my favorite cards! I went out and bought the MS butterfly punch and am now asking myself why I waited so long to get it!


"I Love You" by Carl Sandburg

“I love you,”
said a great mother.
"I love you for what you are
knowing so well what you are.
And I love you more yet, child,
deeper yet than ever, child,
for what you are going to be,
knowing so well you are going far,
knowing your great works are ahead,
ahead and beyond,
yonder and far over yet."

I don't know why, but EVERY time I read this, I get chills and I've been reading it for years.

Wishing all of you a blessed day!

Tear Bear

Isn't this the cutest?!! I was in a swap at CMB and DeeAnn was my partner for STSB Round 8...not only did she send me some the the coolest handmade items I've seen in a long time, but she also sent a gigantic pack of tear bear patterns and mulberry papers...how sweet was that?!! I can't wait to try my hand at a few more of these, but they are definately more complicated that they look!

H2O Pen and Bleach

Every year for the past couple of years I've made a set of cards for my sister-in-laws for Mother's Day, and this year will not be an exception. With that said, I've started making the cards instead of waiting to the last minute like I usually do. This is from a set of SU stamps that my good friend Vi gave me last summer...I think they're perfect for one of my SIL's.


I stamped the images on craft paper, then grabbed my bleach filled H2O pen and went over the images with it. After it dried I used my Copics over a few parts for a touch of color. I think this set turned out great! I LOVE the creamy yellow color that the craft paper changed to from the bleach, it is so pretty when you actually see it...but finding matching paper for the color wasn't an easy feat!




Now to make 2 more sets, such a dutiful chore...LOL!