Spooky Skeleton

I'm back! Being back at school is really limiting my stamping time! When I finally get home from school my feet hurt, I'm tired, and I just want to veg on the couch or go to bed early. I'm sure that if you are a teacher, you can relate! I just haven't found much time or energy to stamp lately.

I finally found some time and energy to participate in a challenge on SCS. Today's challenge was a sketch challenge.

Here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: From the Crypt
Paper: Old Olive, Perfect Plum, Basic Black, White, Cast a Spell dp
Ink: Black, Old Olive, Perfect Plum
Accessories: Black embossing powder, Martha Stewart bat punch, Skeleton Scroll Cuttlebug embossing folder, dimensionals
Technique: sponging, embossing

That's all for today! I'm going to bed early again tonight. But I do feel like I got something accomplished today in my stamp room. That's a great feeling! Thanks so much for stopping by and looking! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Back to School!!!

I've been a REALLY bad blogger lately and I'm sooooo sorry! I just haven't had much time to stamp because I have been back in my classroom getting it ready to go for the school year. I actually start back to work this week (Tuesday) and then start with kids on Thursday. Where did the summer go???? So I'm hoping you'll forgive me for blogging so infrequently lately. I'm hoping to be able to get back on schedule with more "me" time soon.

Since it is "back to school" time, I decided to create small gifts for some of my co-workers. We have a whole bunch of new teachers in our building this year so I created little boxes of goodies and 3x3 notecards to welcome them to our school. I used one of the "My Timeless Templates" created by Lauren Meader and sold on the Papertreyink website. The one I used is called "Get a Handle on It" and is sooo easy to make!

Here's my creation.....

I made TEN of these!!! Aren't they adorable!?!?? I also decorated the top. Here's a shot that shows the top too...

I filled the boxes with a cello bag filled with M&M's and a little apple post-it note pad that I found in the Target Dollar Spot for a $1. It was a perfect fit!

Of course I had to create a little 3x3 notecard to give with the box so I could write a note of welcome to the new teachers. Here's the card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Making the Grade (Cornish Heritage Farms), "Welcome" sentiment from a retired SU set
Paper: Kraft, Riding Hood Red, Basic Black, White
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Black Momento, White Craft
Accessories: My Timeless Template, Copic Markers, star punches, Classic Square Nestabilities, velcro (to hold the lid down)

I think all the new teachers will love these. I know I would! I'm excited to give them away!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

I'm back!!!!

Sorry I haven't posted in sooooo long!!!! I was actually on vacation in the Dominican Republic for week, and then once we got back, both my hubby and I got sick!!! I had a horrible sinus infection and my poor hubby had a stomach bug. We're both feeling better now and I finally got into my stamp room to play!!!

My first card is a combination of several challenges all together. I combined this past week's sketch challenge on SCS, with the Limited Supplies Challenge (creating a summer activity themed card), and the colors from this week's Color Throwdown challenge.

Here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Lily at the Beach (Pink Cat Studio)
Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, White, Razzleberry Lemonade dp
Ink: Black Momento
Accessories: Copic Markers, Crystal Effects (on goggles), flower, button

Isn't she cute and summery!!!! I just love Lily... she's so much fun to color too!

Today's challenge on SCS was the inspiration challenge. I found my inspiration HERE. I used the owl and kept the colors "fall-ish" like they are on the craft owl in my inspiration piece. I also combined this challenge with the sketch challenge from Amy Rysavy's blog HERE.

Here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Pretty Birds (from Cornish Heritage Farms)
Paper: More Mustard, Chocolate Chip, White, Basic Gray dp
Ink: Black Momento
Accessories: Copic Markers, Classic Circle Nestabilities, corner rounder punch, wood buttons, jute twine, dimensionals

I haven't gotten this little owl out and played with him for ages! I just love to pair him with warm fall colors.

Finally, my last card uses this past week's Mojo Monday sketch combined with the Caardvark's theme... winter! When I think of winter (which I really don't want to do right now), I think of shoveling snow. There's always a lot of snow to shovel each year in the Cleveland area!!!

Here's my card...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Changito Snow Play
Paper: Tangerine Tango, Bashful Blue, White, Frosty Day dp
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: Tangerine Tango Ribbon, staple, 1 inch circle punch, stickles (on the snow), Copic Markers, dimensionals

If you are interested, here's some pics from our vacation!!!

We stayed at the Dreams resort in La Romana in the Dominican Republic. It was AWESOME! Beautiful beach! Great food! Just perfect!

But now we're back to reality and I'll be back at school in a week! Wow! Where did the summer go????

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!!!! :)

Yet Another Wedding Card

I've been making a lot of wedding cards lately! I know I'll get to use them sometime in the future, so it's a good thing to have a bunch handy. I can also use them for anniversary cards, if I need to!

This card works for a bunch of the "Dare to Get Dirty 09" challenges on SCS. First, I used the sketch challenge. I also incorporated the color challenge... black and white with a pop of red. Finally, I used my dies to create all the squares, circles, and even the heart!

Here's my card...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Heartfelt Hits 1 from Gina K Designs
Paper: White, Black, Real Red, dp from Papertreyink
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: Nestabilities in Classic Square, Classic Circle, and Heart, black organdy ribbon, Crystal effects (on heart), silver cord (on heart), dimensionals

The heart was punched with the smallest of the Heart Nestabilities and then coated with Crystal Effects. I then punched it and hung it as a charm from the ribbon.

Thanks so much for looking! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Riley Flying High!

I participated in today's sketch challenge on SCS. I haven't inked up this Riley stamp from my collection, so I decided to pull him out and use him. Once I had him cut out and colored, I realized that he was a little too big for the sketch, but I used him anyways.

Here's my card...


The dp is a little busy in the background, but I think the bright, cheery colors make the card fun! I popped up Riley's head, the wings and propeller on the plane, and the banner on dimensionals so I could use this card for the "Dare to Get Dirty 09" paper tole challenge too! It's hard to see in the picture, but I swear it has dimension!

RECIPE:
Stamps: Airplane Riley from Hanna Stamps, sentiment from Papertreyink Birthday Basics set
Paper: Ridinghood Red, Marigold Morning, Blue Bayou, White, dp from Cosmo Cricket
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, dimensionals, blue SU buttons

Thanks so much for looking!!! I have a TON of errands to run today and it is just POURING here! Blech!!! What happened to summer? I don't think it's really arrived yet in Ohio!

That's all for today! I gotta run! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Sweetie Bear

Today's a color challenge day on SCS! The colors for the challenge were Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery, and Apricot Appeal. I combined the color challenge with the "Sketch for You to Try" on Jen del Muro's blog, found HERE.

Here's my creation...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Sweet Treats (C.C. Designs)
Paper: Pixie Pink, Certainly Celery, Apricot Appeal, White, Apricot Appeal dp
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, Classic Square Nestabilities, white snaps, flower brad with attached ribbon, dimensionals

The colors just screamed rainbow sherbet to me, so I pulled out this cutie image from All That Scraps. I colored him with my copics... all but the ice cream, which I colored with my SU markers so they would match the colors of the paper. I bought the flower/ribbon brad at Hobby Lobby a few weeks ago and was pleasantly surprised that it was a perfect match with the Pixie Pink. I lined up the white snaps (I don't know what else to call them because they look like a brad, but have the backing of an eyelet) with my SU piercing template and then set them with my cropodile.

That's all for today! Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Mojo Monday--Baby Giraffe

Before I left for the weekend, I received a package of stamps from PaperWorks Co. They were just so darn cute, I wanted to use them right away! But I had to wait and pulled them out today. I used these adorable stamps with the Mojo Monday sketch.

Here's what I created...


RECIPE:
Stamps: Giraffe from PaperWorks Co., Sentiment from Gina K. Rectangle Greetings set
Paper: Barely Banana, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, White
Ink: Black Momento
Accessories: SU Markers, Classic Circle Nestabilities, Argyle Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU buttons, threading waters border punch, photo corner punch

Cute! I just love the giraffe's adorable face!!!

Thanks so much for looking! Have a wonderful day!!! :)

Christmas in July

Yesterday was technically Christmas in July, but I'm going to share with you little stockings I made my co-workers for Christmas this past year. They are so easy to make and you can get the template for FREE here.

I filled these up with cello bags filled with candy and gave them to my school secretary, principal, and co-teachers.


I used an assortment of holiday SU papers and Basic Gray Christmas paper (Wassail, I think). They tags were created with Papertreyink's 2008 Holiday Tag Collection. I cut them out with Classic Circle Nestabilities and tied them to the stockings with silver cord. The cello bags were tied close with coordinating ribbon, although I don't have a picture that shows that. I created the "stitching" with a white gel pen, although you could easily do real stitching with a sewing machine on the cardstock.

These went over really well and everyone LOVED them! And, like I said earlier, they are sooooo easy to make!!!

Merry Christmas in July! Thanks for stopping by and looking! Have a splendid day!!! :)

Lighthouse

I figured that since I'm spending my weekend on our boat on Lake Erie, I should share a nautical card or two with you. This card was created some time ago, with a now retired SU set. I created it for a sketch challenge on SCS with my father in law in mind. He is a retired merchant marine, so I tend to make nautical cards for him.

Here's my card...

The picture's not the best as it was taken prior to getting my photo editing program. Sorry about that!

RECIPE:
Stamps: Winds of Grace, Sanded BG
Paper: Night of Navy, Brocade Blue, Rose Red, White
Ink: Night of Navy
Accessories: 1/4 inch Night of Navy grosgrain ribbon, Classic Square and Classic Rectangle Nestabilities, brads, dimensionals
Technique: sponging

I guess you could classify this card as masculine since it really doesn't have any frilly bows or cutesy stamps on it.

That's all for today!!! Thanks for stopping by and looking! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Guy Cards

We all know just how hard it is to create cards that are masculine. I am a sucker for cutesy, girlie stamps so when I need to make a card for a guy it is pretty darn hard! Today's "Limited Supply Challenge" was to create a card with an image that would have a motor... cars, boats, trucks, trains, etc. To me, this falls under the category of masculine stamps and I simply don't have a whole lot of those. The "Dare to Get Dirty" challenge also had a requirement to create a masculine card, so off I went to my stamp studio to create something manly.

Here's what I came up with....


This card was for the "Dare to Get Dirty" challenge. There were several requirements for it... 1. You could only use 1 piece of designer paper, 2. You had to use 2 stamps, 3. You had to use 3 colors, not counting the white/cream image panel, and 4. It had to be masculine. I also threw some of the other challenges in there too... using something clear (acetate stars) and my punches (key tag and stars). The acetate stars are REALLY hard to see, but there are two located by the sentiment. I punched them out of acetate sheets with my large and small SU star punches. There is a small star in the bottom right corner and a large star under the upper left corner of the sentiment panel (it's attached with that eyelet on the sentiment panel).

RECIPE:
Stamps: Classic Pickup (retired SU)
Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, Real Red, White, Urban Oasis dp
Ink: Black Momento
Accessories: Copic Markers, key tag punch, large and small star punches, hexagon eyelets, acetate, dimensionals

Next, I used the same stamp set to create a card for the "Limited Supplies" challenge. It's not quite as exciting as the first card, but I still like it and it is a "manly" card after all.



This card is not as loud as the other card and makes me think of Bella's pickup in Twilight. It's really quite basic and did not take me all that long to create (which is quite rare because I usually spend at least 1-2 hours on a single card).

RECIPE:
Stamps: Classic Pickups, It's Your Birthday (all retired SU)
Paper: Kraft, Always Artichoke, Basic Black, White, Urban Oasis dp
Ink: Black Momento
Accessories: Prismacolor colored pencils, gamsol, hexagon eyelets, dimensionals

That's all for today. I'm heading up to Put-In-Bay on our boat for the weekend (it's Christmas in July up there and it's a great weekend for craziness with our friends!), so I'm going to try to create some scheduled postings for you. Thanks for stopping by and have a terrific day!!! :)

Square Cards

There are 2 cards today, so be sure you scroll down to see them both! :)

I never make square cards! But yet I found myself making them today for two sketch challenges and I like how they turned out! I participated in this week's Mojo Monday sketch challenge and combined it with today's "Ways to Use it" challenge on SCS. The SCS challenge was to use a charm on your card. I knew I had a couple of charms stashed away somewhere because I used to make jewerly. So after some digging, I did find a few heart charms to use. I also incorporated the Caardvark's theme and made it a bridal card.

Here's the Mojo Monday sketch...
And here's the card I created...

RECIPE:
Stamps: Heartfelt Hits 1 (Gina K), sentiment from Simple Little Things (PTI)
Paper: River Rock, Chocolate Chip, White, retired SU dp (Brocade Backgrounds, I think)
Ink: Momento Black, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: heart charm, Classic Circle Nestabilities, Chocolate Chip satin ribbon, word window punch, modern label punch, scalloped corner punch, Spica clear glitter pen (on dress), markers, dimensionals

I am totally addicted to my new scalloped corner punch, if you can't tell! I think I've used it on every card I've made since I bought it!

The other card I created if for the "Dare to Get Dirty" event that is taking place on SCS over the next few days. I used the colors from this week's Color Throwdown and the sketch from the Dare to Get Dirty challenge.

Here's my card...


I used my SU pastels to color the butterfly and sealed it with hairspray. The ribbon was retired a few years ago from SU but I still have a large stash of it from a ribbon share.

RECIPE:
Stamps: Stipple Butterfly
Paper: Perfect Plum, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, White, retired SU dp (Enchante)
Ink: Momento Black
Accessories: SU pastels, hairspray, Classic Circle Nestabilities, lavender organdy ribbon, brads, scalloped corner punch, swiss dots cuttlebug embossing folder, dimensionals

That's all for today! Thanks so much for stopping by and looking! Have a terrific day!!! :)

Baby Firsts

It took me a while to get motivated to stamp today. Instead I was just lazy around the house. But I guess we all need one of those days once in a while. Right? I did finally get around to stamping though.

Here's my card for today's sketch challenge on SCS and the caardvarks challenge...



Cute! This stamp set is an older set that I bought and set aside for when I have kids. I think these babies will look super cute on a scrapbook page!

RECIPE:
Stamps: Baby Firsts (retired SU)
Paper: White, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Delightful Dots dp
Ink: Momento black
Accessories: scalloped corner punch, scallop square punch, classic square nestabilities, 5/8 inch so saffron grosgrain ribbon, blue buttons, white twine, dimensionals and glue dots

That's all for today! Thanks for stopping by and looking! Have a wonderful day!!! :)