I card wanna

I have moved...

2009-12-29T00:48:00.003-05:00

...see below post for details.

GO HERE.

I've changed my mind....Again.

2009-12-28T23:38:00.003-05:00

I'm moving. Sort of.

I have decided to consolidate my blogs.

You can find all of the posts from ICARDWANNA over at:

ICANTWANNA

It just seemed silly to me (now) to keep two.

It didn't seem silly when I started two.

But, that is me. Constantly changing my mind.

Just look at my hair styles. Haven't keep one for more than a couple of hair appts at a time.

Anyway, head over HERE.

Wishing you all a very

2009-12-24T22:54:00.003-05:00

Christmas preparations

2009-12-22T09:44:00.002-05:00

Don't forget your Christmas preparations...

I must have this...

2009-12-17T07:31:00.005-05:00

EDITED: There is a Santa. Melissa requested a trip to the scrapbook store to buy my Christmas gift. Who am I to deny the wonderful little child. So I obliged. She bought me these papers, a couple of bottles of Stickles, some Teardrops and a few spools of ribbon. I love that kid. She KNOWS me.

This collection MUST become one of my possesions.

I HAVE to get it.

It's cute and Christmas-y.

And so Very Merry.

Anticipation is making me crazy... and a bit more plump too.

2009-12-08T23:12:00.003-05:00

Whilst surfing this evening, I ran across this template from Ali Edwards. I, being a crafty person, thought to myself

"I can make a template like that."

And so I did.

Then I used Kim's freebie and made this layout.

You really need to check her out she is very talented and generous.

Thank you Kim.

Let me know if you would like the template. If I can figure out how to zip it, I will and then email it to you.

SWAP-BOT

2009-12-03T10:33:00.003-05:00

I found a new obsession, er, ah, I mean, a new playground. SWAP-BOT is a hosting site for swaps. I signed up and browsed around. I saw these adorable little matchboxes that were decorated and then filled with lovely little goodies.

Naturally I signed up for one. I found a Favorite Color swap. You send your partner a matchbox decorated and filled with goodies in their color choice. My partner likes highlighter yellow and electric blue. Here's what I came up with:

The matchbox is a 32 ct in size. I had NO idea what that was, but there is a template available on SWAP-BOT made by the founder, Rachel. It is roughly 1.5 inches by 2 inches by 1/2 inch. It was easy to make. Felt good to cut it out and glue it up. I printed the pattern onto regular paper and traced it onto the pretty papers I used. My partner has a well filled out profile, so I was able to send her some of the things she liked. They aren't really in the highlighter yellow or electric blue category, but I think they worked well anyway. The wire and fruit used on the outside of the box can be taken off and she can use them for other crafts if she wants to.

And here are the contents of the box.

I sent things she wanted and things I thought would work.

I also sent some shells because I am in Virginia Beach.

Thanks for looking. I am working on my Holiday Fun Matchbox swap today.

Maybe I'll see you in one of the future swaps.

Christmas 2009 Overlay Freebies

2009-11-11T17:42:00.006-05:00

Here's a Christmas one with snowflakes.
(click to enlarge and then right click to save)

Here's another one with out the snowflakes.

These are so easy.

Freebie Thanksgiving Overlay

2009-11-10T20:21:00.008-05:00

I have been playing in PSE and came up with this overlay for a 4x6 photo.
I really like it and thought you might too.

Just click on the black bordered copy and save as a png file.

I am new to this and don't know how to do it any other way today.
I'll look into it a bit more so hopefully next time it will be better.

Have a great day.

Thanksgiving Placecards

2009-11-08T11:27:00.003-05:00

We are hosting Thanksgiving this year. We arent' formal, fancy people. We usually just wear jeans and t-shirts. But I am going to dress up the table a bit this year with these placecards. Now I am off to plan the menu...

Paper Bag Album - Fall Beachy-ish

2009-11-06T08:41:00.012-05:00

I took a class last night at my local scrapbook store. The woman teaching the class is a doll. She offered up all sorts of goodies from her stash for us to use. Extremely generous of her. Anyway, we were to choose the papers ourselves. I wanted a Fall colored album and found papers that made me happy.

It took a lot of effort on my part to get the structure of the album together. I tend to talk quite a bit when placed in a room with other women. Go figure. I work with mostly men all day. It was HEAVEN I tell ya. The estrogen was flowing last night. I made two new friends. Who like to play with paper and glue too. I see playdates in my future.

Anyway, here is what I came up with:

Album Cover

I didn't punch holes for the binder rings like the teacher wanted us to do. Instead I scored a piece of the cardstock and wrapped it around the front and back cover to make a spine.

Album cover with flap open

Inside pages 1 and 2.
The orange piece is a little page made from the bottom of the lunch bag.

Page 1 - Tag page sticking out
I used the inside of the bag for an additional page. Punched a half circle to make the page easier to see and get out.

Page 2 - Tag page sticking out
I did the same thing here for the tag page.

Another shot of page 2 open

Page 3 and 4
The pocket that the yellow tag/page is in is actually a bag that has been cut shorter.

Page 3 - Tag/page sticking out

Back cover

Ingredients: 4 lunch sized paper bags, 3 each 12x12 double sided patterned paper, 2 each 8.5x11 solid cardstock, embellishments, adhesive, paper cutter, assorted punches, ink (for distressing)

I can't tell you the name of the patterned paper. I usually don't keep track of these things. I don' t currently have a desire to be on any design teams, so I don't have a need to know. I also can't tell you which TV station is on which channel. Or who sings that song you are listening to. If I like something, I like it. I just don't know who makes, sings or acts in it. It's one of my charms.

Thanks for looking. If you have any questions, leave me a comment. I'll do my best to answer them.

A special thanks for putting up with my really bad photography. I have a class lined up. (I hope.)

Best Witches for Halloween

2009-10-31T15:11:00.004-04:00

Happy Halloween all.

Halloween Party Sleepover Goodie Bags

2009-10-27T23:08:00.001-04:00

Here are the finished goodie bags the girls got to take home with them on Saturday. I used the regular cellophane goodie bags from the $ store, inserted a piece of black cardstock to provide a bit of stability and then stuffed with all sorts of goodies. Including a gross candy finger, creepy spiders, stickers, and a mouse. I had a time of it trying to get the bags stapled, so I ended up putting two staples in before I put the topper on. I actually had to take out two of the items that the girls wanted to include. I just put them in a bowl during the party and let them snack. I kept the decoration simple because the girls are just going to rip the bags open and toss them. And I needed to spend my time on the mini albums.

The candy skull bracelets came in a four pack. I split them up into bags and topped them with paper to match the goodie bags. Which also matches the invitations. The monster seeds came in a 10 pack. Morgan and I came up with the instructions, printed them and bagged them. It was all her idea. She is SO my kid.

Giveaway - Buttercup Reedweb at A Thousand Sheet of Paper

2009-10-27T22:21:00.004-04:00

Amy at A Thousand Sheets of Paper is giving away all of this yummy goodness. Go check out her blog. She is one talented lady. And generous too. New stamps are being released on November 2nd and to commemorate the event giveaways are running rampant. Get yourself over there. Now.

Halloween Party Sleepover Mini Album

2009-10-22T07:15:00.006-04:00

I made 16 of these mini albums for the girls that attend the party tomorrow night. I will print the photos either Sat or Sun to finish them. My girls can take the finished albums to school next week to give to their friends. I used the same type of album as last year with a few differences.

Here's how I did it:

Supplies used for the Halloween album.

1 piece - Stiff felt for cover - 3x6 inches (folded in half)

2 pieces - Cardstock for pages -2.75x5.5

1 piece - Acetate for pages - 2.75x5.5

1 piece - 12 inch ribbon for closure

1 piece - 8 inch ribbon for binding

8 pieces - 2.5x2.5 background patterned papers

Embellishments, various

Simple directions to make the mini album:

1. Fold the cover in half and punch holes for the closure ribbon. I used my Crop-a-dile. It is easier to punch these holes before you add the pages. The Crop-a-dile won't reach the center far enough to get the holes near the spine. I just kinda eyeballed it. You could measure, but it won't really make that much of a difference.

2. Fold cardstock in half and adhere background papers.

3. Fold acetate in half and layer with cardstock pages. I put cardstock, acetate, cardstock.

4. Place pages onto cover, lining up spine. Center and punch two holes for binding ribbon. You can use a binder clip to hold the pages, but I held them in place when I punched the holes.

5. Thread binding ribbon through the two holes you just punched and tie. Trim ribbon if you desire.

6. Thread closure ribbon. (see photo of album cover)

7. Now decorate. I went old school, and used white glue to get the felt spider web to stick to the felt cover. A glue dot to add the plastic spider.

NOTES: I used stiff felt for the covers. It's what I had in my stash. I think if I were to buy them specifically for the Halloween album I would have gotten black or orange, but I had brown, so they are brown. I think it works anyway. I made them 3 inches square instead of 2.5. The larger size sure made things easier to decorate. I couldn't staple them together because the stapler wouldn't reach, so I punched a couple of holes and tied them with matching ribbon. I fussy cut Martha Stewart felt spider web ribbon and glued to the cover. Then attached a plastic spider with a glue dot. I used Halloween papers from Michael's, Recollections. I just bought a pad of acetate and was anxious to use it, so I added clear pages. I cut the ring part off of those little plastic Halloween rings (spider and bat) and used them to embellish. I used the scraps of patterned paper to make some of the embellishments. I used Stampin' Up stamps and Studio G stamps. Punches I used: 2" circle, 1.5" circle scallop, mini tag, 2" square, and Stampin' Up ticket corner. I used Studio G inks in black, white, purple and green. They sparkle and they were only 50 cents each.

I hope this was useful. Please let me know if you make one. I would love to see it.

Haunted House Design

2009-10-13T07:42:00.003-04:00

I stumbled upon this site. It is Halloween year round. I will be visiting year round. I can't explain my attraction to Halloween. Any way the first challenge was to make a creepy treat container. I submitted this year's Halloween party invitations. And guess what? My project was chosen as one of the Gruesome Twosome. I am so thrilled. Go visit and check out everyone's works.

Blog candy @ Wendy's

2009-10-07T19:52:00.002-04:00

You have got to check out Wendy's works. She is a very talented lady. AND she is hosting a give away.
She is giving a shadowbox creation to one lucky winner. But you will win just by checking out her layouts.

LOAD Day 5

2009-10-05T22:49:00.003-04:00

Just a quick post to show off my nephew Aaron.

He's such a great guy.

I'll explain more about LOAD later.

Toodles. I'm off to bed now.

Order of the Opus Gluei Challenge #27 - Copy Cat

2009-10-04T10:57:00.010-04:00

I love Paperback swap. I put books up for swap and request books I want. All for the price of postage. I posted a book from my youngest daughter. I got a request for it and sent it off. A few days later I got a reply that I had made several young girls very happy. (Insert big smiley face here.) After several emails, I had decided to make and send scrapbooking supplies to these young girls. They are in a home for children who have been removed from their homes for different reasons. Then, as I am apt to do, I kept thinking that a scrapbook would be a better, more finite project for these girls. So I am making and sending 14 kits to these girls. They are split into 2 groups. Younger and older. Yesterday I made the kits for the younger girls.

The front page in the album will have punched out letters. This is PSE7 text inserted to show what it will look like.

I know these look a bit blank, but they look pretty good when you have pics in place.

The white page on the left (below) will have some word punched out and glued on.

I just need to figure out which word would be GREAT for younger girls.

The ribbon on the these pages is real ribbon.

I think I will probably run it through my Xyron to make it easier for the girls.

And older girls.

Any ideas are very welcome.

I used the punches and dies that I have. And all the paper and cardstock is from my stash.

See ORDER OF THE OPUS GLUEI - CHALLENGE #27 - COPY CAT for more info.

Basically, I copied the format of an album I already have.

Again, I have used patterned paper for ribbon strips. I think it will be easier for the girls to glue down.

I really had fun making these kits. Again, the ribbon on the last page is patterned paper.

I have pics of some of the original album pages next to my altered versions on
ORDER OF THE OPUS GLUEI.

Thanks for looking.

Halloween Party 2009 - Invitations

2009-09-29T21:17:00.004-04:00

For the last couple of years DH and I have let the girls have a Halloween Party. They each invite a couple/few friends to spend the night and we play games, eat snacks and watch Halloween movies. It is now a tradition. One which their friends actually ask about right about this time of the year.

This year I had envisioned a really creepy invitation. I wanted to put a candy finger with a string tied around with a tag attached with the party info and the message "Don't forget". It got shot down. Complete with disgusted sigh and eye roll. From each one of my daughters. I don't get it. Isn't it a great idea?!

Isn't Halloween supposed to be creepy?!

Anyway, I came up with plan "B". Matchbox invitations.

I let each girl choose two papers, then I stamped, punched and glued. Yes, I did it. I LOVE playing with glue and papers.

Once the boxes were assembled, they were missing something. So I gave the stamped spiders googly eyes and then glued a spider inside each box. Yay! I got my creepy factor in.

Spider is hidden under the candy. BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

I think candy corn is the winner, but I would rather have the M&M's anyday.

Looks innocent enough, doesn't it. ;-}

Yup. We are inviting 16 girls to add to my 3.

Talk about a scary Halloween.

Now all I have to do is print off the information, cut into rectangles, fold in half and staple to the bags of candy. Guess I should go buy more candy corn. It's pretty much gone. I have an unusually high level of candy-evaporitis-in-no-timis in my house. It is a supernatural phenomenon with no known cure.

Then I will have to make goodie bags and decorate. Fun-ness for me.

Opus Gluei Challenge #26 - Bling it on...

2009-09-27T17:39:00.003-04:00

Opus Gluei has it's 26th Challenge up.

I can't believe it has already been 26 weeks. Half a year. 6 months.

I am so happy that we have stuck it out for so long. Sometimes we got the challenges up a little late, and sometimes we got the challenge up without our projects included, BUT, we did it.

Anyway, on to this weeks' fun...

Sometimes you get inspiration for a project from your product. As I did with my glittery Glitter box.

(Not a colorful euphemism Rosemary.)

The challenge was to make it blingy, shiny, glittery. I didn't have a clue, so i pulled out my stash of glitters and realized that the container was UGLY. I think that I will start using glitter more than before. Yup, just because it is in a prettier box. I AM that shallow. At least in this instance.

Glitter and embossing powder and Stickles. Oh my!!

It's just a plain paper mache' box that I covered with glitter sticker paper. And then decorated with the scraps.

Now to figure out something in which to put my flowers and dies and glues and .....

Caardvarks - 7 Days 24 Hour Challenge

2009-09-20T23:04:00.006-04:00

For all the details and rules visit Caardvarks.

Join Caardvarks September 20 - 27th for seven, 24 hour challenges and prizes!

Grand Prize = A spot on the Caardvarks Crew Design Team!

Here's the sketch from today. Day 1.

Here's my first card. I just got the Studio G stamp today and was excited to use it.

You can't tell from the pictures, but the ink, also Studio G, has a sparkle to it. It's great.

The lace was a cream color. I inked it to get it darker.

I made this next based on a very, very, very loose interpretation of the sketch.

The chipboard reminds me of an ancient rune. It just has the right feel.

The color is off, the buttons are green, orange and purple. Same as the skulls eyes.

Here's the inside of the card. I love this bone paper. I think it's K & Co. I could be wrong.

Thanks for looking.

Halloween Blog Candy - Haunted House Mini Album Kit

2009-09-16T07:44:00.004-04:00

Die Cut Diva's blog is giving away blog candy on September 18th.

Check out this cool kit.

That makes this really cool album. Just go here and follow the directions to enter.

I would say good luck. But, I really like this little album and want it for myself.

BWAHAHAHA

Opus Gluei Challenge # 24 - Learning

2009-09-13T06:30:00.000-04:00

All of us learn new things. We might not realize it, but we learn.

Right now I am learning to take care of me.

It isn't easy. I have to MAKE myself do things strickly for me.

As part of this process, and it is a process, I am taking a class at Big Picture Scrapbooking called

ME: The Abridged Version.

In the class we are making an entire album about ourselves. ME. I am having to learn again what matters to me. What makes me tick. What is important and what I like. AND I am having fun in the process.

So far, I have ALL of the pages created digitally.

That is to say that I have the basic pages laid out for each letter in the alphabet.

I only have a handful of them completed.

Getting them all done will take me a bit of time as I have to limit my time spent on this project to 20-30 minute chunks of time.

I will get it done AND I WILL get the pages printed and put into an album.

(You can see the "a" page in the below post.)

ME: The Abridged Version

2009-09-10T22:12:00.003-04:00

This is my first page for this album. I have all the papers needed for this class. Except for the background paper. (Rosemary, I know you are thinking "How in bloody hell does she NOT have background papers?", but I don't. I want kraft and I can't find mine. I know I have it somewhere. So being the impatient soul that I am, I decided to play with PSE7 and see what popped out. I am THRILLED with the outcome.

Cathy Z is a GREAT teacher. She is teaching/leading us on how to get a book about ME. Okay if you were taking the class yours would be about YOU. But since I am taking it, mine is about ME. ME ME ME.

I have always wanted to do a book about me. With stories that my family can read later in life and get to know me a bit better. So when Cathy offered this class, it was a NO BRAINER.

Now that I have the first page done digitally, I have to find something to do with all the other patterned paper I just cut into specific sized pieces. Hmmm. Card sets maybe?????

Opus Gluei Challenge #23

2009-09-06T18:41:00.005-04:00

Flowers. So many different thoughts come to mind. I love me some flowers.
I made this card.

(Papers are all old Daisy D's. Stamp is Unity. A few dew drops and some thin ribbon. Card stock is unknown. I have had it forever. Sketch is from Sheetload of Cards. Read below for more info.)

Actually it is one of a set of six. I think I will make it a gift for a friend. We exchange gifts every year for Christmas. Not expensive ones. Just little somethings that say "I thought of you". So I am sending her these. I hope she likes them. But if she doesn't, she will be giving them away anyway, so no biggie. Right?!?!?!

I found this wonderful blog. Sheetload of Cards. I know that some of you have already been there, done that. But for me it was like striking gold this morning. I used their pattern from September of 2008. Yup. I went over there and browsed back to then. I would have gone further, except that none else in this family was gonna make these cards, so I had to save the rest for later oogling.

Caardvarks is a bad influence. In a good way. :-D

2009-09-06T11:51:00.004-04:00

You know how there are a gazillion challenge blogs out there. And you know how you really want to "do" them all, but just don't have time. (the family keeps wanting food and clean laundry. really, the nerve. I wish they would just accept that I have needs. Creative needs. Anyway, back to reality.

I have a project to do for my own challenge blog, OPUS GLUEI. This week is flowers. And later today I will post a project. I had intended to work on it this morning. But, I slept late, then I had to check my email, and surf a bit. Well, one of my stops was at ALL THE GOOD BLOG NAMES WERE TAKEN. Lauren is uber talented and very funny. Go there, but not until after you are done here. She is one of the DT members for CAARDVARKS. (do you see where this is going?!) And they posted a new challenge yesterday. They have 3 sketches from which to choose. Make a card based on one of them and whiz bang you can post in the challenge. Don't get me wrong, they are ALL great sketches, but one of them SANG out to me. I was powerless to resist the call.

Are you ready for it?

Ta-da:

Here it is.

Isn't it great?

Isn't it the best sketch you have ever seen?

I was fortunate enough to stumble upon the Martha Stewart punch "drippy goo".

It too sang to me.

This sketch and this punch are meant to be together.

Don't cha think!!!

Oh, yeah. The card I made.

(I really kinda cheated. I made this ATC 2 years ago (don't remember the manufacturer of the stickers, Quickutz bats and Bazzill paper) and now my baby has a home. The ribbon is from the Target $ section from last year. Paper is from a Walmart Halloween stack from a couple years back and the green drippy goo paper is the packaging from a K&Co Halloween Die cuts. None of which were used, or harmed, in the making of this card.)

Okay, duty calls, and now I am off to get floral...

Pink Lemonade Pie - Stampin Up Style

2009-08-16T21:38:00.005-04:00

I recently joined a Stamp Club. It's a group of ladies (Yes, I am taking the leap) that get together once a month to make cards and a few other projects. Well, the lady that is my Stampin' Up consultant, who I found through surfing blogs on the internet, Lisa, was just recognized as the 8th top seller in the USA. How cool is that!

Anyway, she is hosting a 6x6 recipe swap. Now being the #8 stamp seller in the country, she couldn't very well allow other products to be used is this swap. Yup, I used Stampin' Up products exclusively. Card stock is Rich Razzleberry (purple), Mambo Melon (pink), Dusty something or other (orangey) and Whisper White. Inks used to create the patterned look on the card stocks are the same names as the card stocks. Stamp set is something to do with Friendship. I used the little swirly stamp and the flower. Ribbon is something Curry (yellow). Patterned paper is the Razzberry Lemonade. I used a jumbo brad. I fell in love with them and had to have them after using them in a project at one of the Stamp meeting thingies. Oh, and the little white brad is from the white hardware kit. And you know me. I can't ever "follow" the "recipe", the staples are NOT Stampin' Up. But, I think it'll be okay.

(edited: Official color names are

Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo and Dusty Durango.

And the stamp set is Wings of Friendship.

Sorry if I threw you off.)

I want Candy...Notebooks

2009-08-08T22:47:00.001-04:00

I saw these cute little notebooks on Etsy and thought,

"I can do that".

Famous last words.

I usually think that right before I make a huge mess.

And spend more money than I would have if I had just bought the item that started it all.

I can't help it.

It's a condition I have.

I made one with a box of candy we already had. My middle daughter loved it and wanted one for her friends. This was early June, before school got out. And I didn't have nearly enough to do, so I agreed. I let both of my younger daughters pick out some candy at the dollar store (I love that place) and then we stopped at WalMart to get some steno notebooks. (Office Max had them for WAY too much money)

I have to warn you that I am NO teacher. My "tutorial" is only intended to give you an idea of what I did. If you still have questions, please ask. I will do my best to answer them.

So, here's what I do:

I gather my tools:

(I am using several different candy boxes. Because that is how it turned out to be the easiest for me.

Just keep in mind that they are pretty much the same.)

I take the candy out of the boxes. Sample a few of them.

Keep others around for inspirational energy.

It's what I HAVE to do. Yum.

Peel the glued seams of the box apart.

Flatten the boxes and cut along the creases.

I trim the front and back panels to the same size. And set them aside.

(Save the pretty side panels for bookmarks. I do.)

I carefully bend the locking loop back on the steno pad,

and un-twist the wire out of the notebook.

I found I can get two notebooks out of one steno pad

if I bound the Candy Notebooks on the

short side of the candy box panels.

I cut the steno covers to the same dimensions as the candy box panels.

Then glue one of the steno covers to the candy box panel.

(Make sure to check the orientation with regard to the holes in the cover.

I made one notebook upside down because I wasn't so careful.)

While the glue is setting/drying, cut the paper by carefully

grabbing 10-ish sheets at a time and cut to size using a paper trimmer.

Once everything is cut, flip the covers over and

using my Crop-a-dile, I punch through the candy box

panels using the holes of the steno pad for guides..

Place the bottom cover, papers, and top cover together.

I use a couple of binder clips to hold the stack

together while I re-wind the wire back into the holes.

Once it is all the way in, I cut the wire with a wire cutter

and then use plyers to bend a locking loop back into the wire.

And whiz bang, you have a Candy Notebook.

(see first picture in post again. I forgot to add it here

and am feeling too lazy to delete all the pics and add them again. Sorry.)

With the leftover pieces I was able to make a bunch of smaller notebooks. I am currently using one in my purse for whatever. These little notebooks are a great way to use up those little left over binding wires from my bind-it-all. I usually have little sections of 4 just hanging out.

I was eyeballing a box of mac and cheese the other day.....

It wasn't because I was hungry,

it was because I have an extra steno pad

just burning a hole on my craft table.

Oh the possibilities!

Hope you have fun. Let me know if you make any. I would love to see them.

365 Cards - Day 153 - Tag You're It and other stuff...

2009-07-31T23:09:00.002-04:00

I stayed home with a sick child today. My youngest has strep. YUK. On the up side, I got to play with my computer and paper. I was able to get some envelopes addressed for the Opus Gluei give-away. I won't show the pictures of the goodies being packed. I want them to be surprised. It should only be another day or two before they go out in the mail.

I also worked on the base for a Disney album for our coming vacation.

I happened to have a Disney Park Guide (brochure) from a previous trip. It measures 9x4, so I made my pages to fit. I also used white card stock and made a background overlay with the words "Disney World 2009" repeated in two different fonts.

I used a couple different frames for the different parks and restaurants that we have reservations at. Plus I made a cool airplane page. The girls are really looking forward to flying down there.

I still have to punch holes and maybe make a few more filler pages.

I was inspired by Lauren.
She made a couple of kickin' vacation albums built around brochures.

You can see one here and another here.
She has a fantastic creative flair. Thanks Lauren.

I will probably make a kit to take with me on vacation that is similar to Lauren's. Scissors, glue, stapler, rub-ons, pen. I don't know about the DYMO. Jury's still out.

Mine won't be nearly as cool. But it'll get done this time. Sooner.

The challenge today on 365 Cards was to use a tag on your card.

I used up some scraps that have been in my drawer for a while.

There is a bit of Little Yellow Bicycle, some other unknown bits of paper and I don't know the larger background paper.

The stamps are Unity. I am in the monthly club. AND holy moly is it ever a great deal.

You really have to check them out.

A little random bling and a scrap of fiber.

I also worked on a couple of Christmas albums from last year.

One for my mom and one for my sister.

I will show you them in a couple days.

Or weeks. We'll see how it goes.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Days 130 and 138

2009-07-16T10:09:00.002-04:00

DAY 130 - That Tickles Me

365 Cards challenged us to make humorous cards.

I made two because I could.

Day 138 - She Said, and I Quote...

Today's challenge is to use a quote. I used this quote.

Don't know to whom the credit goes.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Make up time...

2009-07-16T09:45:00.004-04:00

DAY 137 - IN A BIND

I have to admit. I was stumped with this challenge on 365 Cards. I love that they push you to use your imagination. Anyway, back to this challenge. I didn't want to use a brad. Or binder rings. Or ribbon. So I thought, and I thought. And eventually it hit me.

I saw an album on Club Scrap that is bound using wire and beads. So I modified the design a bit and came up with this. I didn't have time to do this yesterday. (You know work, feeding the family, major toothache...) But since I took today off to go to the dentist to see if I need a root canal (wish me luck, or just wish my pain away), I thought I may as well do something FUN.

Thanks for looking. And be on the lookout for more posts today with more cards...

Gluebooks to Crowabout

2009-07-07T17:54:00.003-04:00

I have regressed back to kindergarten. LOL.

I am smitten with gluebooks.

I started one and there is such freedom in just cutting/tearing, arranging and glueing.

This is a page I made the other day

because I found a magazine

that was just begging to be cut into.

And this one I made for CROWABOUT. I stumbled onto this blog, and signed up. There are weekly sheets of images available. You can use all of them, some of them, one of them. Create and post to the members only FLICKR group. I have to tell you, I was intimidated. These people have major talent. But here is my first collage using some of the images.

Images provded are: side borders, bathing beauty, cat with yarnball, man's head in frame, butterfly, nest and eggs. Images found in a magazine: chalkboard background, top and bottom borders, man sitting in chair, quote bubble, white cat standing.

Hope to see your creations soon.

365 Day 127 - Super Sketchy Sunday

2009-07-05T14:14:00.003-04:00

365 Cards challenge today is Super Sketchy Sunday.

I just love saying that.

Here's the sketch:

And here's my card.

I am back in the game.

For today anyway.

Hopefully I will get some more done,
but we will see...

Going Buggy Blog Candy

2009-06-29T20:55:00.003-04:00

Don't go to Enfys' blog before June 30th. If you do you will reduce my chances to win this blog candy. You must go to her blog and see her wonderful creations. She is wonderful.

Cupcake Candy

2009-06-29T20:35:00.002-04:00

You must not go to this site. This candy is mine and if you go there I will have less of a chance to win this Cupcake Candy. Don't go before July 1st. Because that is the day that my name will be chosen. After July 1st, go over and check out her works. Kim Ross is a very talented artist.

Stay away until July 1st. The goodies are mine. Now, go somewhere else.

Opus Gluei and Gluebooks

2009-06-28T11:21:00.005-04:00

These two are intertwined this week. I recently found this article on gluebooks. I was thrilled. A way to release creative energy without worrying about what to do with the end project. I have a tendency to have to "DO" something with what I create. So a gluebook is the perfect answer.

I took an old, slightly used composition notebook, a stick of glue, a pair of scissors and some old magazines. The first challenge on the YAHOO Gluebook group for me was PURPLE.

So, here it is. My first gluebook page. I made is a while back, but am just now posting it.

(I have a NO STRESS IN CREATING policy.)

The challenge this week on OPUS GLUEI is WHITE WEDDING. Since I don't have any weddings coming up, I decided to make a page in my gluebook. See how handy they are to have around!

Here's the right page:

I was trying to get the feel of how most brides get lost in the wedding.

Yeah, it's supposed to be about the bride, but with all the details, she is sort of just one of the ornaments.

Much like the groom, delegated to the bottom corner.

The actual commitment gets lost in the pomp and circumstance.

And the left page:

This page is just some pretty dressed and a nice little saying with some color thrown in.

Except for the knife and chain in the middle.
Take those as you will.....

And here is how they look side by side:

As you can see, I couldn't stay with just white.

I HAD to throw in a splash of color.

365 Cards - Catchin' up molasses style...

2009-06-28T09:09:00.002-04:00

I made this card for the 365 Cards - Day 117 Challenge - Simply Stamped. I made this in time to post, just didn't get to posting it. This darned family wants to eat. EVERYDAY.

Anyway, the peacock is from Unity's January Kit of the month, and the quote "Dare to be FABULOUS" is from Stampin UP. Not sure which kit. Sorry. I colored with regular ole Crayola colored pencils.

And, why YES, that is the 2009-2010 Stampin UP Catalog. Yummy. I have a wish list started...

Opus Gluei Challenge #14 - Patriotism

2009-06-21T23:48:00.003-04:00

Danny and I just took the girls to witness my nephew graduate from United States Coast Guard Boot Camp. I am so proud to be his aunt. He is such a perfect young man. I can't believe that he is a man. He was just a baby a few months ago. How did that happen!! But there is NO question now.

HE IS A MAN.

And a fine one at that. I made this project with him in mind. I hoped that the banner would look like nautical flags. It is hard to see, but there are letters that spell out "H-A-P-P-Y-4th".
(I was hoping to get a better picture, but I suck at photography, so this is all I got. You can click on it to enlarge for more detail.)

Head over to Opus Gluei for more patriotic projects.

365 Cards - Day 107 - So Girly - Melissa's Card

2009-06-15T22:46:00.004-04:00

Tonight it was Melissa (my youngest daughter - 9 yrs old) who approached me to find out what the challenge was today on 365 Cards. She was thrilled to find out that it was to make a girlie card to include the word GIRL on it. She was thrilled, I was perplexed. Melissa is a Tom-boy. I picked her up today from afterschool care she was playing basketball with the boys, not hopscotch with the girls, in her Steelers football jersey. She asked for, and received, permission to make a card using my supplies. I was not surprised that she used Tinkerbelle. Tink is one of her favs. I am surprised, pleasantly so, that she came up with the saying on the card. I am always taken aback by my youngest. She is quite unpredictable. I love it. Right after she finished her card, she asked if I would put it on my blog and enter it at 365. (Not to be out done by her sister, I'm sure.) So here is her card.

Thank you for looking at her creation. I am one very proud mommy.

365 Cards - Day 107 - So Girly

2009-06-15T22:38:00.002-04:00

Todays 365 Cards challenge was to make a girlie card. I used Hello Kitty papers from a past project, red scraps, a cupcake cut for a project I ended up not doing and made the hello girlie label tonight. The ribbon is actually two ribbons twisted together. One is this really cool wired pom-pom ribbon that I got in a kit (I think) and the other is a dollar bin special.

No make up cards tonight. I was busy with other projects this afternoon/evening. I rearranged the furniture in the family room, took the girls to get Chinese food, took them to Wal-Mart to pick up a prescription and get supplies to make some really cool candy notebooks. (I'll be posting pics soon.) And finally, at 9:30 got to play with card making goodies.

Thanks for looking.

Opus Gluei - Challenge # 13 - How does your Garden Grow?

2009-06-15T09:06:00.003-04:00

The challenge at Opus Gluei this week is to be inspired by gardens.
I have had this quilt kit for way too long. I broke it out and am really glad I did.

It has been way too long since I have sewn anything. We just got rid of a throw pillow because it needed mending and it had been too long waiting. Oops! I guess I should have hung onto it a bit longer.

Anyway, here are the few blocks that I have managed to get done. I really like them. Even if they are rather pastel-ey. Not sure that they will become a quilt.

Perhaps they will find themselves on the table in the form of placemats. Or a table runner.

Or maybe they will end up on the wall to please all who walk by.

Or on a bed for one to rest a weary head in the form of a pillow.

Whatever their final form, they will be sure to bring a smile to my face. And hopefully to everyone else that sees them.

365 Cards - Day 106 - Morgan's Card

2009-06-14T13:07:00.003-04:00

My 12 year old daughter walked by right after I posted my card. She thought it was cool and wanted to make one. Then she asked if I would post hers up too. I might have a somewhat biased opinion (snicker, snicker), but I think she did a fabulous job.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Days 106, 98 and 80

2009-06-14T12:12:00.003-04:00

This is another card I made in my attempt to catch up on 365 Cards. It is for Day 80 - You're So Plaid. It doesn't look like there is plaid on here. It didn't work out the way I had hoped. I stamped the popped up fish on plaid paper. The stamp covered all the plaid. You can barely see the plaid on the edges. But, it is the card I made for the challenge so here it is. Even though it doesn't look like it has plaid, I kind of like it.

This card was made for Day 98 - It's An Anniversary. The predominant color was to be white. I threw in a splash of silver. Friends are celebrating their 25th Wedding Anniversary and I wanted something simple for their card. It's really hard to see, but there is a ruffle of white tulle on the left edge.

I had to take the detail shot upside down because I couldn't wrap my pea brain around how to get a shot of the tulle otherwise. (Sometimes I am a real ditz.)

Looking at this card, it would qualify for several other challenges as well. 3 different textures, loosely could be for todays sketch... BUT, I am determined to make a card for each challenge. So I choose for this one to be Day 98.

Finally, today's challenge. Day 106 - Super Sketchy Sunday. Using this sketch:

I made this card. I love the summery feel of these papers. They are Citonella by K & Company. The bling is Basic Grey. Simple and bright.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Catching up one card at a time (or two)

2009-06-13T16:56:00.004-04:00

I haven't made cards in a while. Today I did. I love the challenges at 365 Cards. And visit their site EVERYDAY. I just haven't made cards in WAY TOO LONG. So today I made a few cards.

Two of those are for 365 Cards.

The first one is for today's challenge. Day 105 - Sing Along Saturday. Using Rainbow Connection for inspiration, make a card.

The second is one from the March 18 challenge. Use Green as the dominant color.

My plan is to make a card for everyone of their challenges. I have several to make up. So I will do it one card at a time. When I get the chance or the motivation. (Or the time.)

Thanks for looking.

Seriously slacking in card making...

2009-06-04T16:00:00.003-04:00

Sadly, this has been me far too much this past month with regard to making cards.

BUT, I am going to catch up with 365 cards. And make the ones I missed from their start to mine with them. Sorry if that doesn't make sense. I WILL be posting some cards soon. Hopefully by Sunday evening.

I NEED to get some crafty card making juju going.

Send any you can spare.

Thanks.

Opus Gluei Challenge # 11 Sun/Sunshine

2009-06-02T07:41:00.004-04:00

The challenge this week at Opus Gluei is to use the SUN or SUNSHINE for inspiration in your piece. I used the sun and it's rays to represent some of the things in my life that help me to shine. Corny, I know. But, that's me. And I gotta be me.

Writing on the sun: Just as the sun brings life to flowers, these things help me to shine.

I want my daughters to have a bit of what makes me tick. I want them to know that they aren't too different from me when they reach my age or stage in life. I would love to know what made my grandmother tick. Or even my mom at my age.

This is just a detail shot. I love these flowers and had to add them because they were there.

Thanks for looking.

Opus Gluei - Week 10 - Off Color

2009-05-23T03:02:00.001-04:00

The challenge at OPUS GLUEI this week is to use the color you like the least. I really don't dislike any colors. I LOVE color. And the more color, the better. So the only thing I could honestly do was to remove all color. (technically I know that black is ALL color combined, but you know what I mean)

I sat for quite some time not feeling the muse. So I finally just grabbed some black and white things and started throwing them around on a white card base until I liked the arrangement.

Thanks for looking. Now it's your turn to create something with your least favorite color.

365 Cards Day 74 - DIY Handwritten Sentiment

2009-05-13T23:36:00.003-04:00

I only made this one little card today. Yes, I am still in a hotel room. But, a few of us stopped at a bar to celebrate a birthday, and I didn't get back here until 10pm. Well, I had some calls to make, and here it is 20 minutes to midnight. I threw this little card together for the 365 Cards Day 74 - DIY Handwritten Sentiment Challenge.

The picture is terrible, but I am not going to take it again. I am tired and going to bed.

Thanks for looking.

I'll be home tomorrow, so I may or may not get a chance to make cards tomorrow or Friday. But most certainly will on Saturday or Sunday.

I don't know about tomorrow because I am not going straight home. I am taking a detour to IKEA. Yay me.

365 Cards Days 72 & 73 and Mojo Monday Week 86

2009-05-12T22:54:00.006-04:00

I am on travel for work. I am in DC for the next two nights. YAHOO. I get the whole bed to myself. And I am LOVIN' it. Don't get me wrong here. I love my family. But, I think I am going to love them even more after this small break. I packed this morning and brought my newly received Cocoa Daisy Kit. I opened it in the room after I checked in. I AM IN LOVE.

So, I dashed across the street, brought back a chef's salad and broke into action. It is amazing what you can accomplish without interruption.

365 Cards Day 72 Musical Monday - The challenge from yesterday was to use a music note on your card.

I had some music themed things leftover from an album I made for my nephew, so I grabbed that this morning on my way out the door. It's a simple card. But one of my fav's.

365 Cards Day 73 Tuesday's Trio - The challenge from today is to use a circle, bling and scallop on your card.

I had these adorable little bling stickers that were yelling to me for the last few days, so I brought them too. The stamp on the "Island" is from a previous Cocoa Daisy kit. I don't remember which kit.

Mojo Monday Week 86 offered up this sketch:

Almost everything on this card is from the May Cocoa Daisy Kit. I used one of the Snag'em Stamps from Imaginisce. The tree is from "Fairest of Them All" collection.

And this last one I made just because I LOVE this little bee stamp. It is a Cocoa Daisy exclusive.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 71 - Super Sketchy Sunday

2009-05-10T15:10:00.002-04:00

365 Cards Challenge today is to use this sketch:

And here is my Forest Friendly card:

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Catch Up Days 66, 67, 68, 69 and 70

2009-05-09T16:20:00.004-04:00

Whew. I am caught up with 365 Cards challenges. I knew I would have to put off making these cards until today. I had a busy week. But, I am now caught up and pleased with my cards.

Yup, I am patting myself on the back.

Day 66 - A Certain Sentiment #2 - You are there, I am here. Use this phrase on your card.

Day 67 - Think Pink. The dominant color should be pink.

Day 68 - I want candy. Use a piece of candy or let candy inspire you.

Day 69 - Glad for the Grad - Make a graduation card.

Day 70 - Ad Inspire - Use this AD to inspire you.

So I did.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 65 - Mother's Day Card

2009-05-04T21:07:00.005-04:00

Today's 365 Cards challenge wasn't so much a challenge but rather an opportunity to honor a special woman in your life. I am only partly completing this challenge. I have already made my Mother's Day card. I am splitting the challenge into two parts.

1. Honor important women in my life. And important in my daughters' lives.

2. Make a card. Mine just happens to be around a chocolate bar and for an important male.

I made Teacher Appreciation Gifts. Small tokens to give to the teachers at the elementary school that nurtured and taught my daughters. Two have moved on to be excellent students in middle school and one is still learning and thriving at the elementary school. All of them honor roll students. I am a full time work outside the home mom, so most of the credit goes to the fabulous teachers. I really appreciate them and don't show them often enough.

The women will receive a flower pen. Not very original, but flowers make people smile. I want them to smile. Who can write with a big flower on the end of their pens and not smile! The men will receive a chocolate bar. I can't see them writing with a big flower on the end of their pens. And who doesn't smile with chocolate.

Yup, the flowers are all pens. I made roughly 100 pens and wrapped 8 chocolate bars. They aren't very fancy, but my fingers are tired after making the pens.

(and I HAVE to post, right?!?!)

Thanks for indulging me and looking.

365 Cards - Day 64 - Super Sketchy Sunday

2009-05-03T11:34:00.002-04:00

365 Cards gave us this sketch to use today:

And here's a Thank You card.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards Day 63 Floral Fest

2009-05-02T16:20:00.005-04:00

Put 8 flowers on your card. Sounds like a lot. It is. 365 Cards really pushes you to go outside your comfort zone. I never would have put this many flowers before.

I used Making Memories Chloe's Closet collection. And various flowers. Plus ribbon unknown.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 62 - Age is just a number

2009-05-01T22:37:00.000-04:00

365 Cards continues to challenge me. Believe it or not, my family, immediate and extended, does not, I repeat, NOT, have a birthday until JULY. And the challenge today is to use a number.

"A number should be on the card - a date, age, whatever - but the number should signify the importance of the event."

I will store this card in my card box until July when my husband turns 53.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 61 - Leaf it up to me

2009-04-30T21:39:00.000-04:00

365 Cards challenge for today is to incorporate a leaf or leaves on your card.

I have to admit that I made this card, and 3 more, this last weekend at a workshop I attended. But, I really have to clean up my craft table. I have a huge table (3x6 ft) and not an inch of space to work. I have just managed to keep pulling things out and not putting anything away. So tonight I am going to start the clean-up.

Anyway, this card does fit the bill for today.

I know it is all Stampin Up stuff. But I don't know the names of any of it. Except Kiwi Kiss is the really cool name of the green paper and ink. Oh, yeah, and Cheep Talk is the name of the stamp set. I ordered the ink, papers and the stamp set. I couldn't help it. Too cute.

365 Catch Up and Mojo Monday

2009-04-29T22:30:00.000-04:00

Played catch up tonight. I had 3 cards to make for 365 Cards. And I used the Mojo Monday sketch for one of them.

Day 60 - What? - Use "What?" on your card. This is the one I used the Mojo Monday sketch on.

My oldest dd was coloring some Hello Kitty pages and I saw this one of Kitty gettin' her drink on.

Day 59 - A Certain Sentiment - I Miss You or similar. My wonderful nephew is in boot camp and can only receive mail so I made this for him. I didn't want it too froo-froo.

Day 58 - Something's Fishy - Put a fish on your card. I don't like my coloring, but I won't change it. I'll let one of my girls give it to one of their friends.

Thanks for looking.

Blog Candy over at Opus Gluei

2009-04-28T07:55:00.000-04:00

Today is the big reveal over at Opus Gluei.

Rosemary and I have decided to have a MAJOR blog candy give-away.

Here's my Booty. (giggle, giggle - I think this sounds funny, my Booty.)

My picture is awful, but the booty isn't.

Included in this package is:

1 Basic Grey Urban Prairie collection pack
1 cute little Green 2 ½ inch album from Target
1 8 page chipboard album – various shapes
1 Colorbok friends album
1 Sticko Style round accordion album in tin
1 Sticko Style cd type album
1 EK Success wallet album
1 Sticko Style long album
1 set alphabet stamps
1 pair wing stamps
1 Theresa Collins date journal stamp
1 set Brenda Walton journal stamps
1 pkg K&Co Chipboard shapes
1 set male/female chip board shapes
1 pkg Sticko Style alphabet labels (clothing type labels)
1 pkg word confetti
1 spool gold ribbon
1 pkg Dress It Up Flower buttons
1 pkg assorted embellishments
1 set clear shapes (you can barely see them at the bottom of the pic)
1 pkg Adorable Owl 3-d stickers

And I will probably add more. I just ran out of time.

Go over to Opus Gluei and get in on the fun.

365 Cards - Super Sketchy Sunday

2009-04-26T23:25:00.000-04:00

365 Cards challenge for today was to use this sketch.

Here's mine. I couldn't play with my papers and toys until tonight. Today was pretty busy. But I got it done. Love me some Friendly Forest. It's just so cute.

I even added a cute Friendly Forest journal tag inside.

I forgot to take a photo. But trust me, it's there.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Days 55 & 56

2009-04-25T23:56:00.000-04:00

Played catch up this evening for 365 Cards. I had another project I was working on for the challenge on Opus Gluei. (see my previous post) They are having a big Blog Candy give away. Big reveal on Monday. There are a couple of teasers on the site. Anyway, I finally sat down and made yesterday's card and today's.

Day 55 - Card Recipe

5x5 Card

4x4 Patterned Paper (edge could be altered)

1 Shape

3 jewels

Alphabet stickers

Nothing More.

Here's mine.

Day 56 - See thru Saturday

Make an acrylic card. (clear) I don't have acrylic cards, I had planned on using a photo overlay at first. Then I found this binder divider/pocket thingy that I rescued from my darling daughter's trash can. She throws everything away. I am a packrat. She gets it from her dad. Anyhow, it isn't exactly clear, but mostly clear, so I thought it would work. And I really like how it turned out.

Anyway, it's late. I am tired. I think I'll go to bed now. Don't want to be awake for the next challenge to post. (I was the other night. Boy did I pay for it the next day!)

Thanks for looking.

Blog Candy Give away and new Challenge up at Opus Gluei - and Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog

2009-04-25T16:20:00.000-04:00

Opus Gluei give away and new challenge.

PLUS new challenge at:

Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog.

You really have to check out the new challenge at the OG. (my nickname for it) AND check out Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog.

May is just around the corner and the challenge is to make something flowery to give to someone on May 1st.

I made these little posey holders to hang on a few of our neighbors doors.

I used my Silhouette cutting machine to design and cut the sides and the flower medallions. Inked the edges, glued everything together, tied ribbon, stamped "Happy May Day" on the medallions, tied the medallions onto the posey holder, cut the silk pansy spray to fit and Viola.

My plan is to sneak them on their doors in the morning.

I won't be telling them that they are from me.

OG is also having a wonderful give away. So far there have been a few sneak peaks. Here and here. Another sneak is going up tomorrow with the big reveal on Monday.

Scrappy Frog is giving prizes too. Go check them out here.

365 Cards - Day 54 - Recycle Something

2009-04-24T00:25:00.000-04:00

365 Cards challenged us to use something out of the ordinary on our cards. Something that might be tossed out with the trash. I saved a folder from work that was headed to the trash bin and used a manilla envelope that I received in the mail. I stamped with $1 stamps from Michael's. The date journal strip is my own creation. Ribbon is American Crafts. I am not sure I like this card, and I will probably fuss with it a bit more. But I tried. The pockets will hold a bookmard (already there), some pictures, money and maybe a note.

This design is lifted from Amy. You should visit her. She makes some pretty cool things.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 53 - Fruit

2009-04-22T20:50:00.000-04:00

Use fruit today for the 365 Cards Challenge.

At first I was in a panic. I don't have fruit paper. I don't have fruit stamps. I can't draw.

BUT, I do have a Quickutz citrus slice die.

I figure this could be used as encouragement for someone having a tough go of it.

Thanks for looking.

Blog candy teaser

2009-04-22T17:25:00.000-04:00

OPUS GLUEI blog candy teaser #1 of 3.

The Order of the Opus Gluei is going to reveal a BIG giveaway.
They are shamelessly bribing folks to play with them.

Go check it out.

365 Cards - Day 52 - Tuesday's Trio

2009-04-21T22:22:00.000-04:00

Brad - Blossom - Circle

Today @ 365 Cards, we were challenged to use these 3 elements on a card.

I filed the cards I have made so far, and I now have plenty of Birthday cards for a while. I did need some more general cards. So, I made this:

Thanks for looking.

Blog Candy @ Bev's Blog

2009-04-21T10:53:00.000-04:00

Blog candy so sweet, you'll gain a few pounds just looking at it.

Go here. To enter in the drawing to be held on April 23rd, which is Bev's Blog-iversary.

You could win this:

Even if you don't win this wonderful stash of goodies, you'll win simply by oogling all of her wonderful creations.

Go over there. And Good Luck.

365 Cards - Day 51 - Photo Inspiration

2009-04-20T23:07:00.000-04:00

Today at 365 Cards the inspiration came to us in this picture:

My muse is sadistic. I made the decision earlier today to take today off. I thought I would make my card tomorrow. Tonight was a bit busy, getting back to school after spring break, I had to mail some books, the girls needed new binders, etc. So in order to help take stress off of me, I was going to take the night off. BUT, it happened again, I passed by my craft space on the way to tuck the little darlings into bed, and BAM, that little muse smacked me in the forehead. ;->

So, here is the card.

I used a square card that I bought at Michaels (8 w/envelopes for $1.00), A Heidi Swapp flower, Sizzix die cut frame out of Bazzil Bling, and Forest Friends flower/brad thingie. Just lightly inked the embossing on the card with light blue, red and black ink. Stuck everything on and here you go.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 50 - Sketchy Sunday

2009-04-19T10:34:00.000-04:00

I can't believe I have made so many cards. And I even like most of them. LOL.

Today's 365 Card challenge is to use this sketch:

So I did. Here's what I made.

I really love the card challenges. They are small do-able projects that REALLY give me a sense of accomplishment for the day. Plus I get to play with paper and glue and do-dads.

This card was made with some old stash (background paper), new supplies (oval and plaid striped paper - which are actually cards that I got in the $ section at Michael's), store bought lace (via a kit) and a homemade embellie (Owl medallion).

I really like the way this turned out.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 49 - Accordian Card

2009-04-18T23:42:00.000-04:00

Today at 365 Cards we were to make an accordian card.

It doesn't look nearly as good in the picture as is does in person. I haven't added the sentiment because I don't know if it is going to be a Mother's Day card or a B-day card for my Mom.

She loves bling, so this was made with her in mind.

Thanks for looking.

P.s. I didn't use any scraps on this card. I cut four perfectly large 12x12 inch pieces of paper. Good news is that now I have scraps for future cards. :-)

365 Cards - Day 48 - Score Lines

2009-04-17T20:29:00.000-04:00

This week has really made me work outside my comfort zone. Who knew that a little score line would make me so jittery. I have pondered these little lines today and have come up with a greater appreciation for the Designers at 365 Cards. I am happy that I have been pushed to try things that I didn't think I would like.

Today we were to create a design using score lines. Being the chicken that I am, I decided to take an existing design and ruin that instead of coming up with my own catastrophe.

I wasn't too successful with the score lines, but I think I covered it up enough to distract you from being too critical. Thanks for looking. (Kind of like a train wreck isn't it?)

Mojo Monday - 82 - Sketch

2009-04-17T12:37:00.000-04:00

This week's Mojo Monday challenge was to use this sketch:

And here's my card.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 47 - Pop-Up Card

2009-04-16T23:15:00.000-04:00

Today's 365 Card Challenge was to make a pop-up card. I really thought I would put this off until tomorrow. I have been busy making 8x8 Disney layouts for Make A Wish and just didn't want to switch gears. So, I turned the light off and walked away.

Well, it happened again. I was walking by to shut the house down for the night (you know turn off all the lights, tuck the girls in, peek out the front window) when I thought about making a little table top decoration in the form of a pop-up card. Just a little inspiration to make us smile.

Here is my little inspiration. Very basic. Very simple. Very cheering.

Pardon the mess around the mouse. I won't clean up until I am done making pages. Or until the family gets hungry. Geesh. I have to feed them EVERY DAY. My scrap table is full of the normal mess and DH was out of town so I took over the kitchen table. And let the kids eat in the family room. Cuz I'm cool like that.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 46 - Matchbook Card

2009-04-15T11:40:00.000-04:00

Today's 365 Card Challenge is to make a Matchbook Card. I haven't been drawn to the Matchbook Scrapbooks, so I wasn't thrilled to see this one today. But, I made one because I am trying to stick with this challenge. I need cards. I like the variety on 365 Cards. I LOVE the cards that are entered. One of the things that I admire about this group is that they leave the "ingredients" wide open. You don't have to use a specific product. Which means that we, the viewers, get to see a WIDE variety of styles. And being exposed to a variety of anything makes one think that one could do those other things. Anyway, I am blabbering.

But, what I am trying to say is that I really like 365 Cards.

Thank you ladies.

And today's challenge is one of those times that pushed me to make something I didn't think I would like. But I did end up liking this and I think I will make more of them.

So on to the eye candy. Here is my entry:

And here is the inside. Nothing fancy. But I like the colors.

I put this together in about 30 minutes. I love it.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 45 - Tri-Fold Card AND Scrappy Frog's Challenge

2009-04-14T20:04:00.000-04:00

Inspiration for the colors came from the Slice. Scrappy Frog's Challenge blog is challenging us to use the Slice as inspiration. I immediately saw the green buttons. Loved the light blue and of course couldn't leave out the black power cord.

The 365 Cards challenge today is to create a tri-fold card. I really had fun with this one.

It's a pretty basic design, but I got to play with buttons, brads and bling.

Oh yeah, and a little bit of lace. Green lace. I love green.

And here is the inside.

Paper is October Afternoon, image is clipart (Windows), Bazzill cardstock, font is Another Typewriter, various buttons, brads and gems, unknown lace

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 44 - Money Holder

2009-04-13T17:20:00.000-04:00

Today's 365 Card challenge is to create a money holder card.

I used the highest denomination bill in my wallet.

Can't compete with all you rich folks out there. LOL.

365 Cards - Day 43 - Gift Card Holder - Scor-it Week Kick-Off

2009-04-12T21:41:00.000-04:00

Todays card is a gift holder. AND 365 Cards is kicking off Scor-it week.

"Each day one of the DT members will present her take on the daily challenge, along with a tutorial on her blog. Scor-it Week runs from today, until Saturday, April 18th at 11:59 PM EST. You have until then to link up your cards from any of the challenges for the week. Each challenge you complete earns you one entry in the random drawing for a Scor-it Mini!" - quote from 365 Cards.

Here's my gift card holder. I used this stamp recently and she was still out, so here she is again. This time I put Diamond Glaze on her for an epoxy look. A bit of extra sparkle for her.

And here is the inside. I simply cut a 12x12 inch piece of kraft cardstock to 5 1/2 x 10 1/2. Folded the card at the 4 1/4 mark and the 8 1/2 mark. Used a circle punch for the slot and put adhesive down the very side edges of the two inch area.

Thanks for looking. I am really enjoying this challenge. I am getting a bunch of cards made. Something I have wanted to do for a while, but always got stumped for different ideas. Thank you 365 Design Team.

365 Cards - Day 42/41/40 - Caught up now

2009-04-11T19:51:00.000-04:00

The 365 Cards challenge for today, Day 42, was to stamp your own background. I made these two because I really liked the background stamp I used.

Day 41 - Get Well card. I'm hoping this won't make the recipient more sick.

Day 40 - Sun, Surf, Sand inspiration.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards - Day 39 - Wacky Color Wednesday

2009-04-08T22:34:00.000-04:00

The 365 Cards Challenge today is to use Orange, Purple and Green on your card. Only.

I cheated a bit and used brown ink. teeheehee

I almost didn't make a card. I am tired. I figured I could make it tomorrow. Late. But still get it done. I will be staying home again with my sick daughter. She has a fever, cough and stuffy head. And won't stop sneezing long enough for me to get a "God Bless You" in. Poor thing.

As I will be staying home, I will check out all of the other creations tomorrow. I'll have all day.

365 Cards - Day 38 - That's It, I Quilt

2009-04-07T20:14:00.000-04:00

Next week is Skor-it Week at 365 Cards. Starting Sunday, instead of a sketch, they will kick off the week with a scoring challenge, and each day the rest of the DT will bring you their take on a challenge, along with a tutorial on their blogs. They'll also be blogging about the very popular Scor-it Board and Scor-it Mini. Don't worry, though, you don't need anything other than a simple scoring tool (a bone folder or stylus will do)to participate.

365 Cards challenge today is to use this pattern:

I decided to use flowers for the quilt squares. And a larger card base this time. I really love flowers. And after making the boy cards yesterday, I was ready to get back to girlie. (I have 3 girls - no boys). The flowers are Prima Calypso Tin Island Pastel. They really aren't pastel to me. But bright and cheery.

Thanks for looking.

Give Kids the World - warning - Wordy post ( well, wordy for me)

2009-04-06T23:14:00.000-04:00

Last year I took Stacy Julian's Library of Memories class through Big Picture Scrapbooking. (I am an addict there). As you all can guess about me by now, change is bad. Or at least it isn't embraced full on. So here we are a year later and I am taking the class again, because she lets students take the class for a couple of years.

It involves a system that she has developed over the last ump-teen years. And she is still tweaking. Anyway, part of the system is to get your scrapbook albums in some sort of order. Not chronological mind you. So, I took the plunge and bought all new albums to get going with the system.

I bought new 3 ring binder albums, to make for easier page movements within and between albums. This left me with about 2 dozen post bound albums. I didn't want to take them to the local thrift store. I tried Craig's List. No takers.

So I have been talking with Wendy. She is in charge of information on getting together 1100 layouts and 110 12x12 albums to distribute to the children who are guests at Give Kids the World Village. It is a hotel designed for children with life threatening illnesses to go to major amusement parks in the Orlando Florida area. The whole experience is provided at no cost to their families. I agreed to send her my albums. She, and a group in Florida, try to get scrapbooks to put in each room at least twice a year.

Once I agreed to send my albums, I remembered that I had a TON of Disney related scrapbook swap items that were just sitting in my scraproom. I hadn't used them yet. So I decided to enlist my three daughters and we sat down one weekend and scrapped enough pages to put into 12 of the albums. 10 layouts are put into each album.

I was home with a sick kid today, so I stuffed layouts into albums. It didn't take very long.

Wendy has been so patient with all of my questions. She is located in the UK. So she answers questions regarding this wonderful effort. If you are interested in helping out, let me know and I will put you in contact with her.

Now to get these boxed up and in the mail...

365 Cards and Mojo Monday

2009-04-06T21:52:00.000-04:00

I think it is becoming obvious to any of you who have been coming by for a peek, that my style tends toward the simpler designs. Weird. Who would have thunk it. Not me. But here goes...

Mojo Monday is starting a new month of challenges. Here's the first challenge for April.

Mojo Monday 81 - sketch:

And here's my take on it. My first impression of the sketch was that it should open from the center. So mine does. I need some boy cards, so I left off the ribbon this go 'round.

365 Cards challenge for today was to alter a chipboard shape. I had just made the card above and had an idea. But, believe it or not, I don't have a 1" circle chipboard shape. So I made one using four cardstock circles. Just glued them together. Now I have two boy cards.

Side shot is just to show the "chipboard" circle a little more clearly.

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards and Caardvarks

2009-04-05T11:31:00.000-04:00

Double challenge fit. This card fits into two challenges. 365 Cards and Caardvarks.

The Caardvarks challenge is to incorporate Fantasy into your creation. This card fits the bill. I see knights in armor and a damsel in distress.

Todays challenge on 365 Cards is based on a sketch. I am discovering that for now, I do way better with a sketch. And I do better when I am TOLD which sketch to use. Otherwise I get overwhelmed with all of the choices. I have wanted to make cards, to get a stash going. The 365 Cards challenge is just the kick I needed. And the direction too.

This sketch kinda made me go "Yikes". It looks very complicated. Or, at least it did to me. So I went to my stash drawer of smaller papers. I actually used a collection to choose my papers. I picked a photo mat pad from Die Cuts with a View. The Once Upon a Time Mat Stack. I figured that whatever papers I picked from this stack would match. And I threw in a strip of ribbon, some bling and a stamped image from Inkadinkado. I used one of the new SEI chalk block. I really like these little blocks. They are really smooth and stamp nicely. (Note: I am not a pro. Take my opinion for just that. My opinion!)

Thanks for looking.

365 Cards and Card Patterns Challenge Entry

2009-04-04T18:22:00.000-04:00

Todays challenge on 365 Cards was an inspiration challenge. Make a card using this picture as inspiration.

I used the sketch from CardPatterns - Sketch #9.

Here's my card. I really like the pink and green combo. I pulled the outdoorsy feel out of the room and threw it onto my card. Just love this collection of Forest Friends.

Thanks for lookingl

365 Cards - Day 34 - That's Eggs-ellent!

2009-04-03T22:50:00.000-04:00

Today's challenge on 365 Cards was to use an egg shape or an oval on your card as the dominating shape. I picked the egg shape. I have a new Quickutz Silhouette and am eager to use it whenever possible. Usually I forget I have it, because, well, it's new.

But this time I remembered. AND I remembered that I have these awesome egg shapes.

I cut out the card with the egg shaped opening. Then I cut out two eggs. One was the mirror image of the other one. Then I put wet adhesive all over the back side of one egg, placed a string down the middle and then placed the other egg on top. I attached the strings to the inside of the card, and hid it with a strip of coordinating paper.

I can't take a good photo at night to save my life, but I tried anyway. Had to get this post up. Right???

I know that something/s are missing from the card, but I can't put a finger on what I want to add. Hmmmm. Maybe if I sleep on it.

365 - White Space - Day 33 - My Day 2

2009-04-02T20:24:00.000-04:00

White Space - The challenge today is to only use 1/3 of the top or bottom of the card.

Mine is Blue Space. This must be my "Blue Period." I made a card for Mojo Monday, on Tuesday. Then yesterday I made a card for 365 Cards. I just used what I had out already. It worked into the theme. So today, I used what I still had out. I usually don't work with blue. But this week it is working for me, so I am going with it.

Please excuse my lack of photography skills. I can't seem to get a clear shot. Grrrrr.

365 Cards

2009-04-01T21:00:00.000-04:00

365 Cards is posting a card making challenge everyday. YUP. EVERYDAY.

I have made my second card for 365. Not for the second day in a row.

I would like to make a card everyday. And I will TRY. But, no, repeat, NO promises.

Anyway, the challenge today is to use water. Not the liquid. Well, I guess you could use it in your technique, but the challenge is to use water as inspiration. Here is my take:

I used water as inspiration. I used different shades of blue. And found this cute little whale button in my stash. (loosely read, found in the mass of "stuff" on my scrap table).

I am just now considering getting into stamping and coloring. Because I don't have enough on my plate right now. LMAO. But, seriously. I love the cards I am seeing on everyone else's blogs. I want to make pretty cards too. I wanna play.

Thanks for looking.

Mojo Monday

2009-03-31T22:53:00.000-04:00

Just a day late. Always a dollar short.

Here's my take on the Mojo Monday sketch. Didn't stretch it. At all.

Used scraps. Wonderful feeling. Just a little ink and ribbon. A bit of bling. Even the butterfly was a leftover scrap.

Card Challenges

2009-03-19T16:53:00.000-04:00

PTW ()Paper Take Weekly) Has a weekly challenge.

This week it is to include something edible on a greeting card.

AND 365 Cards daily challenge is covered by this as well.

Make a birthday card without words.

(edited: Funny how this would also fit 365Cards challenge for March 20.)

Here's what I came up with:

Opus Gluei, here we come...

2009-03-17T07:50:00.000-04:00

We NEED another creative blog challenge. Don't we.

Rosemary and I will be challenging YOU!

Every week we will be posting a new challenge.
Oh, I am sure that the ideas have been out there,
but they will be presented to you in a new, stress free environment.

Our attitude is so not formal. You can show up in your jammies, if you like.

There are no limitations. We really hope that you have fun.

As for posting your entries, just link to your project in the comments section.

ALL entries are qualified. Even a doodle on the phone pad. So JOIN us for some crafty fun.

Starting this Saturday, March 21 on ORDER OF THE OPUS GLUEI.

Shadow Boxes

2009-01-05T12:46:00.000-05:00

I haven't been a slug. (completely, anyway) I made some things. Before Christmas I made some really cool shadow boxes for my mom and sister. I couldn't show them then, but here they are. I really like the way they turned out. I let them "fight" over who got which one. I couldn't decide if one was better suited for my sister than the other one.

They are simply shadow boxes that I disassembled. I covered the back with UHU glue and Making Memories papers. Then added a piece of ribbon to split the backgroud. Added some dimensional stickers to create a bit of a scene. The words JOY and PEACE are Autumn Leaf rub-ons applied to the outside of the glass. To finish them off, I put some little ornaments as shakers inside the frame.

Christmas Daily Album

2008-12-04T11:21:00.000-05:00

I have seen numerous Albums created/being created for December. With a page for each days activities/events. I really LOVE Christmas and initially thought I would make one of these little albums. But I am having a hard time with making a page for everyday. My life, like most of yours, is pretty routine Monday thru Friday. But what is a girl to do. I have already made the album. What will I do with an album that has christmas pages numbered 1 - 25????

I decided (mere minutes ago) that my album will be a listing of 25 Christmas Essentials. I can't see having one of the daily albums every year. I'll post pics when I get some of the pages done.
I hope to start tonight.

December Album ready

2008-11-09T19:40:00.000-05:00

The gauntlet was thrown at me. Okay, okay, it was thrown down. Rosemary threw down the scrap gauntlet Saturday morning. Here are the results of my weekend. I won't add any embellishments or stamp anything until I start putting the pages together. I think the album looks a bit awkward with the bigger rings, but I anticipate needing them bigger.

Okay now Rosemary, show me yours...