A {Thank you for your kindness} Card...

 Hello & Happy Friday!!!  I'm happy to report that I survived the first "week" of school.  I'm starting to feel better about the whole thing and getting used to the idea of the kids being gone all day.  I actually miss them, which is something I don't get to feel very much in the summer when I'm with them 24/7.

This is a fun little card I threw together today, right after I ran on the treadmill (nice how I slipped that in there! I haven't been on the treadmill in months, but it feels so good to have that first workout out of the way).  Anyway, where was I? Oh, I made this card and I sewed again.  My little trick is working great and I can hopefully record a little video of that over the weekend.  

This card has lots of dimension and is a little bottom-heavy.  But I like how it turned out.  A happy little card.  

I thought I would share a couple pics of my kiddos on their first day of school.

I can't believe I have a 1st grader and a 3rd grader.  Time flies!

Well, I hope you all have a great weekend!  Thanks for stopping by!!!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Iconic Images (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft, Vintage Cream (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away (CSS)

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Flower Punch (Paper Shapers), Circle Punch (SU), Button, Floss, Sewing Machine & Thread, Glue Dots

Read more...

Clear & Simple Stamps: Group Project

Hello!  Today is our group project day at Clear & Simple Stamps!!!  This time we are using the new SOTM: House Notes II on things around the house (for instance coasters, message board, mini notepad for phone messages, magnets, guest towels, etc).  

We received some coasters as a wedding favor, and it was really sweet.  But, I took them apart and put a new picture in it.  I used the chair image from House Notes II and paper pieced it with some fun patterned paper for the chair cushions.     

Here are all four of them.  Click on the photo to see it larger.  


I hope you'll stop by the Clear & Simple Stamps Blog to see all the design team creations.  You are sure to be inspired by those talented ladies!

Have a great day!

{Relax Coasters}

Stamps: House Notes II (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Dish All the Dirt Brown, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Glass Coasters, Scissors, Floss

Copic Marker: W5 

Read more...

Clear & Simple Stamps: August 2011 Release

Can you believe it's August all ready?  School will be starting in  just a few weeks for my kiddos.  Since it's the first of the month, you know what that means, a brand new set from Clear & Simple Stamps!!!  This set is called House Notes II (it coordinates with House Notes) and is my current obsession.  I am addicted to paper piecing that couch.  

This is the first card I made with House Notes II.  I chose patterned paper for the couch that actually looks like a design you would find on a couch.  I think that's my favorite part.  Before I paper pieced the couch, I stamped the image on kraft and outlined it with a gray copic marker.  It's hard to see but it really makes the image pop off the page.  With the sentiment "your couch awaits," I think this would be a great retirement card.

For the text strip on the side, I took one of the sentiment stamps and stamped it repeatedly moving it around a bit.  

Make sure you check out the Clear & Simple Stamps Blog to see all the Design Team creations.  They never disappoint.

Thanks so much for dropping by!  Have a fantastic day!!!

{Your Couch Awaits}

Stamps: House Notes II (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Perfect Little Black Dress, Kraft Like A RockStar (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dimensionals, Corner Rounder Punch, Stamping Sponge, 

Copic Markers: W3 (Warm Gray) 

Read more...

A {Get Glammed Up} Card...

 

Happy Friday!  I have fun little number to share with you today.  This card was created using the new stamp set of the month (Beauty Secrets II) by Clear & Simple Stamps.  I've really started to like coloring with my copic markers.  I don't have many trios yet, but I'm having a good time with the ones I do have.  

The kraft card base uses two Labels 9 (Spellbinders) die cuts, they are adhered together at the top.  I used the a smaller Labels 9 die for the patterned paper.  I stamped the cosmetics image on A Blanc Check card stock using A Perfect Little Black Dress ink.  I colored the image with copics making sure to outline the image as well.  I cut it out with scissors and adhered it to a pink oval die cut using foam dimensionals.   

I really like the sentiment placement.  There really wasn't anywhere else to put it, but I like that it's over the image but not really covering up anything important.  

Hope you all have a great weekend.  We have a busy one coming up.  The end of July and the beginning of August is filled with birthdays.  My daughter's was earlier this week and mine is tomorrow.  Throw in a brand new nephew and things are getting interesting.  It's going to be fun though.  Have a great day!   

{Get Glammed Up}

Stamps: Beauty Secrets II (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, A Blanc Check, Paint the Town Pink (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away, Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dimensionals,  Oval & Labels 9 Nesties (Spellbinders), Pink Rhinestone, Brown Marker, Stamping Sponge

Copic Markers: B93, B95, B99, W3, 0 Colorless Blender, 100 Black

Read more...

A {Get Well Soon} Card...

Hey there!  I thought I would give this week's CPS Sketch a try although you know how much I despise diagonal lines.  Making the diagonal  panel in the background was pretty easy since I used a double sided piece of patterned paper.  I simply cut a 4" x 4" square, cut it in half diagonally and then flip one of the halves over.  I matted it on a piece of 4.25" square piece of card stock.

I created the flower by punching three scalloped circles out of patterned paper, stacking them on top of each other and then using scissors to cut a straight line toward the center to create petals.   I puffed up the flower a little to give it some dimension.

Tomorrow is going to be a busy day.  I'm packing up all my scrapping supplies to take to the Papertrey Ink Stamp-A-Faire.  I can't wait to spend the day with my sister-in-law, friend, Nichole Heady, and some of the PTI Design Team.  It's going to be a fun day.  I know I'll have loads to share with you next week.

Have a great day!

{Get Well Soon}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Simply Blue-tiful, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Stamping Sponge, Foam Dimensionals, Edge Distresser, Buttons, Glue Dots, Scalloped Circle Punch (SU)

Read more...

Clear & Simple Stamps: Group Project

Welcome to another group challenge from Clear & Simple Stamps!  In the spirit of this month's newest stamp set Beauty Secrets II, our group challenge was to do a card make-over.  In this post you'll see how the stamped images look before and after they are "dressed up".  


Here's the before and after of my images.

You can see that I stamped the images using Perfect Little Dress ink on A Blanc Check card stock.  Pretty boring, huh?

I then stamped the same images again, but this time on patterned paper.  

I did a little coloring with a fine-tip black sharpie just to add a little detail.

I used a copic marker to outline the images so that they would pop off the page a bit.

The I adhered the patterned paper images to the images on the white card stock.  I drew in some wavy lines coming out of the hair dryer, just thought that would fun.

I finished the card off with a sentiment on Kraft Like a Rockstar card stock and some brads along the side.

I hope you enjoyed today's group project.  You won't want to miss the other delightful creations from the design team.  Check out the Clear & Simple Stamps Blog so you don't miss a project.

{Have a Lovely Day}

Stamps: Beauty Secrets II (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, A Blanc Check (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Green With Envy (CSS)

Accessories: Black Fine Tip Marker (Sharpie), Corner Rounder Punch, Stamping Sponge, Black Brads (Making Memories), Foam Dimensionals

Copic Markers: W1

Read more...

A Lovey {Anniversary Card}...

 

Hello!  As I mentioned yesterday, today is my 9th Wedding Anniversary.  This card was made this morning especially for my husband.  The sentiment says "A hundred hearts would be too few to carry all my love for you" -Author Unknown.  The hardest part about making this card was finding the perfect sentiment.  I think my husband has received so many cards with the "I Love You So Much" sentiment from PTI's Signature Greetings that I didn't want to use that one again.


Do you ever see a card someone else has made and can't get it out of your head until you make one like it?  Well, this morning as I was drinking my coffee and perusing my blogs (my usual morning routine) I came across this card from Laurie.  It was just perfect in every way.  Sometimes when I CASE a card I will look at the original card while I'm making my version.  But this time I didn't and I think that helped me make a card that wasn't too similar to Laurie's.  

I added some brads and floss instead of ribbon and pearls and I love using cork on masculine cards.  The cork layer covers the front of the card, even under the strips.  I didn't want the strips to be uneven.  

Well, I'm off to the store to buy some ingredients for dessert tonight.  I'm making a Strawberry Bundt Cake that uses real strawberries.  I can't wait to see how it turns out.

Have a great day everyone!

{Happy Anniversary}

Stamps: Love Note (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Your Style Blue Me Away, Kraft Like a Rockstar (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away (CSS)

Accessories: Top Note Die (SU), Designer Mix Brads (CSS), Brown Floss (DMC), Cork, Foam Dimensionals

Read more...

A Simple {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hey guys!  Just a simple card for you today.  Sometimes those are the best kind.  This card would be really easy to duplicate but it took me quite a while to put it together.   I was having one of those mojo-less days where nothing seemed to look right.  It all started to finally come together when I added a pop of yellow.  I even did the "triangle" thing where it's more pleasing to the eye to have your pop of color make a triangle (rhinestones, button, butterfly).  Hopefully you think this is pleasing to your eyes.

The butterfly has an antennae, but you can only see one in the photo but that's just because of the angle.  Believe me, this is an anatomically correct butterfly, lol :)

Have a great day!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Communique Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: SS White (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS)

Accessories: Butterfly Punch (Martha Stewart), Red Floss (DMC), Button, Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Yellow Rhinestones, Stamping Sponge

Read more...

A Baby {Congrats} Card...

Hi-ya friends!  I'm so happy it's Friday, I'm sure you are too.  I have a quick and easy baby card for you today. I think this one looks a little more boy-ish than girl-ish, but you can be the judge.


I was wanting to play with my copics today and was looking through my stamps to see what I had that could be colored in.  Well, I don't think I've ever used this little lion stamp so that was perfect.  I used three shades of yellow to color him in.  

This card is pretty self explanatory so no need for any long-winded explanation from me.  As always, if you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments.  I love comments!

Have a great weekend!

{Congrats}

Stamps: Precious Baby Boy (Hero Arts), A Guy Thing (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Creamsicle Cardigan, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Orange Floss, Corner Rounder Punch, Foam Dimensionals, Copic Trio of Markers (Y32, Y35, Y38)

Read more...

A {Love Birds} Card...

Hi there!  I simply cannot get enough of the Tweet Notes stamp set.  It's just too cute and perfect for any occasion.  This card is pretty clean and simple, but I did do some paper piecing.  I used some paper from the Gertie collection from My Mind's Eye, so I know all my papers would coordinate.  The birds and the leaves are paper pieced. I stamped the branch on right first and then turned my branch around and stamped it again on the left side.    

The birds are popped up on foam dimensionals for added interest.  The sentiment is an outline and it was colored in with an aqua painter and some Paint the Town Pink ink.

Thank you so much for dropping by today.  Hope your day is great!

{Love Birds}

Stamps: Tweet Notes (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Paint the Town Pink, Dish All the Dirt Brown, Green With Envy (CSS)

Accessories: Top Note Die (SU), Aqua Painter, Foam Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge

Read more...

A {Welcome, Baby} Card...

Hey all!  Just a really quick post from me today.  We are headed out the door to the Kentucky Horse Park.  It's our first time and I'm hoping it's going to be a lot of fun.  


I made this card yesterday.  I've been making a lot of baby boy cards lately since our family is expecting four baby boys to be born in the next few months.  Anyway, I thought it would be nice to make a baby girl card for a change.  I'll just keep it in my stash until needed.  

Thanks so much for the visit today!  Have a great day!

{Welcome, Baby}

Stamps: Whale Wishes (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: I'm a Princess Pink (CSS), Vintage Cream, Lemon Tart (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Paint the Town Pink, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Whale Wishes Die (PTI), Oval Nestabilities Die (Spellbinders), Stamping Sponge, Pink Floss (DMC), Foam Dimensionals

Read more...

A {Birthday Greetings} Card Re-Do...

Hey guys!  I have one more card re-do to show you.  This is another one from 2008.  Click here to see the original post (including a trip down memory lane when my daughter graduated from preschool).  I think the end result is better than the original card, but I'm not in love with it. I don't know, I think it might be too far from my style.  

Original Card 2008

Updated Card 2011

I pretty much just changed the paper, the flower is the same style but punched from paper.  I decided to not round the edges of the sentiment panel and instead I distressed all the edges.  I added a yellow pearl in the corner.  

I think this card is just a lit bit too busy for my liking.  I think this would be a great card for a girly girl.  

That being said, I have to tell you that it's not very often I use a paper pad until nothing is left but little scraps.  Well, that's what happened with the pad of paper I used for this card.  It's from the Gertie (Stella Rose) collection from My Mind's Eye.  I think I only have one full sheet left.  I love that MME's papers are double sided.  If you don't like one side, most likely you'll love the other side.

Have a great weekend!!!

{Birthday Greetings}

Stamps: Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Simply Blue-tiful, Paint the Town Pink (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Pearl, Yellow Ribbon, Flower Punch (Paper Shapers), Circle Punch (SU), Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Edge Distresser, Foam Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge

Read more...

A {Congrats} Card Re-Do...

Hello again!  I have another card re-do for you.  I'm telling you, these cards are fun and quick to do.  Once I decided on a card to re-do, the hard part was over.  Well, actually the hardest part was searching for the original blog post where I posted the card I'm re-doing.  I guess I didn't believe in labeling my posts back then.   Click here to see the original post in it's entirety with supply list.

Original Card from 2008

Updated Version 2011

And here's my updated version.  It was made using much better quality card stock and some updated patterned paper.  I decided to round the corners and add a little silver bling, but still keeping the card pretty masculine looking.  Also, the edges are sponged just a little bit.  It drives me nuts to see white edges.  I hope you can tell my skill level with the camera is much improved.  I'm not sure if I even knew how to edit photos back then.

Have a great day!

{Congrats, You Did It!}

Stamps: Signature Greetings (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Brown Leather Satchel (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Espresso Your Style, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Navy Sheer Ribbon (Offray), Silver Pearls (Micheals)

Read more...

Clear & Simple Stamps: June 2011 Release

It's the first day of June and we all know what that means, a new stamp set is being released from Clear & Simple Stamps!!!  Let the fun begin!!!  This month's set is called Tweet Notes and it is super cute.  Take a look and see for yourself:

I'm so in love with this set.  Birds and branches are so trendy right now and I love how versatile they are to use on all sorts of cards.  Birds are totally gender neutral, don't you think?  Take a look at one of the cards I created for this release:

I sketched this card out first and it didn't include the tag with the bird on it.  I think that's the best part.  I love the creative process and how something goes from your mind, to being sketched out roughly on paper and then to something so tangible as a finished product.  It's so interesting to me to see how your ideas evolve over the course of time and seeing how something that looks great in your head doesn't translate to paper.  I love this little hobby of mine.

I started with Green With Envy as my card base and applied the floral paper first and then the a strip of distressed Glamazon Green on top of that.  Then I added a thicker strip of striped paper to cover the seam.  I stamped "TWEET" across the top in Perfect Little Black Dress ink adding the flowers in between in Simply Blue-tiful ink.  

The satin ribbon is A Clean Slate and is actually threaded through the top of the tag and then tied in a knot.  Before adhering the tag to the card I created a little scene.  The leaves of the branches were paper pieced using Green With Envy and the bird is paper pieced with patterned paper.  The little hearts were stamped with Paint the Town Pink, there are actually three hearts but one is covered up by the ribbon.  

Thanks for sharing in the fun today!  Be sure to check out the Clear & Simple Stamps Blog for all the design team creations.  


I also have a card featured on the Clear & Simple Stamps App for the iphone today.  For more info on how to get the app, click HERE.  It's a super cute one too, you won't want to miss it!

Have a great day!

{Tweet Tweet}

Stamps: Tweet Notes (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Green With Envy, Glamazon Green (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Paint the Town Pink, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: A Clean Slate Satin Ribbon (CSS), Corner Rounder Punch, Edge Distresser, Foam Dimensionals, Hole  Punch 

Read more...