Happy Birthday Cathy!

Hi to my Internet and real life friends!




From the title you can see that this extra post is in honor of my cousin Cathy's Birthday today. I thought I would showcase some of the cards I have received from her over time. First, a little background...



Growing up, Cathy was always my favorite cousin. We were the only two girl cousins in the family and I really looked up to her as a kid. She always played with me and bought me Barbie dolls; never did I feel like I was a nuisance to her. She always made me feel special. Cathy could draw and play the guitar...She was definitely cool in my eyes. Since I am an only child, I feel as close to her as I would a sister. I love you Cath!






While Cathy makes greeting cards too, her main passion is ATC's. For those that don't know, ATC stands for Artist Trading Card, and that is what they are...little 3 x 5 works of art. Her ATC's have a great vintage/collage like style and when she has a stock pile, she will attach one to the front of a card and use them up that way. Look: Cool idea, right?

And here is a card she made out of wallpaper. Stores will give away their old books for free and she has recycled it here...

and this is a close up of the bead work.

Well, thanks for visiting and I hope you enjoyed looking at someones paper crafts besides mine!

Birthday Bag

Good Morning!


I have many birthdays to celebrate in the next couple of months, so I have been working on things for those. This is a quick post showing a simple bag I gussied up to make it more festive looking for a birthday gift. There is a ribbon along the bottom, a layered flower on a pop dot in the center, with a simple homemade tag to complete it.
And the close up...

showing the rhinestone center.

Have a happy day and thanks for visiting!

Details-Stamps: Stampin Up, Paper: Office Max, DCWV, Ink: Stampin Up and rhinestone, ribbon, and flower from my supplies

My Stay-cation Post

Hello,




This is just a small recap of my week at home with my husband. I hesitate when I mention him, since this is mostly a blog for papercrafts...My mother-in-law said she can't stand watching Ina Garten (aka Barefoot Contessa on the Food Network) because she is always talking about Jeffery, her husband. I don't want to lose my friends and readers because people are sick of me mentioning him...I mean, what can I do? He was with me all week, right?!


We started out going to and Indians game which had some lovely fireworks afterwards...



We also did a lot of eating out (and eating of stuff in general), one of our favorite pastimes! I even threw caution to the wind and made real bacon, and scrambled eggs with the yolk for breakfast one day! Man were we livin' on the edge or what?





We got sushi at Sakura, GIGANTIC corned beef sandwiches here, (we actually split one and it was more than enough!) and had a lovely Asian Pesto Crusted Salmon here and did some window shopping here.

The Cleveland Museum of Art is slowly opening up as the renovations are being completed, so we went to see the newly opened sections. This place is amazing...a must see if you are ever near by. I would add some pictures of my favorite pieces, but I'm not sure if there are copyright laws in place for them...

The Thinker...

We went to see District 9, a sci-fi movie that is totally out of our comfort zone, but got great reviews. I would consider us movie lovers. So if it's a good movie, we'll go see it even if it isn't our style. This was set on earth and had decent character development, some social commentary I guess, a great look to it, and it sucked you in as you watched. For this genre, I consider it a victory if I don't feel like I wish I had those 2hrs. of my life back!

I have to say, I always look forward to the fall movie season...when there are more character driven movies with dialogue, rather than special effects.

And lastly, I took a picture of the center piece at Aladdin's, the middle eastern restaurant we ate lunch at one day. I took this picture because of the craftiness of the centerpiece. They are flowers made from recycled materials, linoleum I think. Kinda funky!

Well, thanks for indulging me this post and I will see you and your crafty-selves next week! Bye... and eat something fun today!

Happy Harvest

Hi...

This weeks CAS challenge on SCS was to pop something up on your card. I needed to make a couple more fall themed cards, so I thought this one would qualify. I don't think this one is over embellished, and the ribbon is threaded through a slit on the fold of the card. Scroll down and you can see... the pumpkins are popped up in the square window I punched out.

Thanks for "popping" by!

Details-Stamps: Stampin Up, Ink: Stazon, Marvy and Le Plume markers, ribbon and paper from my supplies

Two Cards for Friday

Hi All!



I'm having a great "Stay-cation" week, even though my house is looking worse by the minute. That's the only thing wrong with staying in town on a vacation...no maid. I'm not doing anything because "I'm on vacation!" But... we are still making breakfast, using towels, the bathroom and shower...on and on and on...Oh well, that's what next weeks for, right?



I found a couple of new challenges in Blog-Land so I thought I would show you two totally unrelated cards.



This one is for the challenge on Encourage Joy, with the challenge being torn paper. I actually made this earlier this year, so all I am doing is posting it for you to see.



The tree stamp is at least 15 years old, and this is probably the first time I've used it. I bought it back in the day when I first tried stamping, and I just didn't get what the big deal was. I even tried selling it, and no one else wanted it either. Well, I am now glad I didn't get rid of it...not sure these fine line stamps are my style, but I like the vintage look of it. I used clear embossing powder on it and the sentiment. That was purchased last year and I plan to use it to make more cards...I love the script next to the block lettering...and the layout of this stamp is so unique. Details-Stamps:Rubber Stampede, Paper Inspirations, Ink:Stampin Up, Paper:Stampin Up



This card I made for my cousin who just bought a new house. Practical Scrappers had a challenge to use simple shape punches, so I chose a square. The main card is a square (4 1/2"x 41/2"), as well as the house image being punched out with a 1 3/8" punch. My husband says the ribbon on the card makes it look "girlie" (the cousin I mentioned is a guy) and he's probably right...But the card needed something there! If I get a chance to make something else maybe...If not, a girlie card it will be!

Thanks for the drop by today...Have a great weekend! (It's finally football season...WOO HOO!)

Details:Stamps:MSE, Studio G, Ink:Memories, ribbon and paper from my stash.

Chocolate Chip Friends

Hey everyone!

I am going to apologize in advance for the sub par photographs! It was 10:00 pm before I finished these, and well, you know what that means when it comes to proper lighting...(Note to self: Work on that light box ya keep meaning to get!)

Anyway, I mentioned yesterday that my ladies Bible study was starting again (on a break for the summer) and I wanted to give everyone a welcome back treat. I made chocolate chunk cookies and packaged them up in a bag with a topper. If you scroll down you can see the sentiment in the next photo...

Isn't that cute?
The sentiment is from Inkadinkado and also came with this crazy little cartoon image. So, I also gave everyone a blank card that they could pass on to someone else...

Here's a slightly better view...

It was a simple layout I've used before, but I figure whoever receives it, hasn't seen it, so it will be new to them, right? lol!

Hope you are having a great week and I will see you on the Internet!

Details-Ink: Rubber Stampede, Stamps:Inkadinkado, Cuttlebug and Nesties, paper and ribbon from my stockpile.

Double Challenge Post

Hi Everyone!

My card today fulfills the requirements for two challenges... The Cinema Saturday Challenge was the movie School of Rock and the requirement was to use cork in the creation.
The second is the Mojo Monday challenge and this is the sketch to follow...

And finally, my card! I decided to use the cork in the traditional sense...as a cork board. The sentiment is adhered on and accented with a metal sticker, meant to imitate a tack. The corner is curled up to give the card a grunge look. The white back ground was sent through my "Bug" for texture and like I said, the layout is from this weeks Mojo Challenge.

I never know how much to write on this blog about personal stuff. Do people care that much about my life...or do they just want to see the cards??? Well, if you just want paper craft info that's it, you can stop reading and go to the next blog.

This week is a "Stay-cation" week at our house so I've been busy doing fun stuff. (Baseball game, Outlet mall, Farmers Market, bonfire w/toasted marshmellows, sushi for dinner....Well, stuff I consider fun... :D )I'm not sure how much time I will have to post things this week. I do start my ladies Bible study today, and I made something cute for everyone in the group. That I can show you tomorrow, but after that...well, I guess I'll just wing it! I'm trying to squeeze every last drop out of summer!

Once again, I appreciate everyone that stops by and your comments always make the day a little brighter...

Happy Crafting!

Card Details-Paper:Bazzil, Ink:Versafine Black Onyx, Stamps:Inkadinkado and Hero Arts, cork was recycled from a coaster!

Moxie Fab World Challenge

One more Christmas card for the Moxie Fab World challenge...I used the "Bug" to emboss the bottom portion of the card. The tree is embossed with rainbow embossing powder and a glitter brad ties into that image. Here's the close up!

As always, thanks for the visit!

Details-Ink: Stampin Up, Stamps: Stampin Up and Northwoods Rubber, paper, ribbon and brad from my supplies.

Holiday Style Stamping Challenge

Happy Sunday Everyone!

This is a card I made for the challenge over at the Moxie Fab Blog...The blog IS fab...go ahead and visit!


I like to get as much as I can out of a stamp set...While I think the Trendy Trees set works well for fall cards, I thought the bare trunks would make a wonderful winter themed card. The snow is made from torn strips of paper, highlighted with blue ink and stickles and the moon was masked off and sponged with yellow ink. Three little rhinestones are the only other embellishment on this, (for the most part) one layer card.



Here's hoping you enjoy your *Labor Day tomorrow!

*Labor Day is a national holiday in the U.S. It honors all working people and most people have the day off with government offices being closed. Most families use it as a day to picnic and enjoy the last of the summer! (Just and FYI if you are from somewhere else in the world and don't know about it.)

Details:Stamps and Ink-Stampin Up, Paper and rhinestones from my supplies

Upsy Daisy

Happy Weekend!

This is the sketch from the challenge over at Jessica Lynn Originals... I decided to use the Upsy Daisy set from Stampin Up and a simple black and white color scheme.

The background is embossed in the "Bug" using the Swiss dot folder, and the ribbons are my take on the background grid of the sketch. I decided to fancy up the corners to match the scalloped circle in the center.

That's it folks, nothing fancy or too funny... but thanks for visiting today!

Over the Mountain

It's Official...


This is the dumbest reason I have EVER made a card. It just goes to show you, a rubber stamping addict will come up with any reason to stamp!






A stack of books on a table..."it's time to celebrate!" What??






I made it for my husband, in honor of him finishing Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann. Never heard of it? Yeah, me either. It was written and published in German back in the 1920's, it is hundreds of pages long and VERY small type.(He read some new translation...He can't speak or read German.) He started it in February when we went on vacation and finished a few weeks ago. That's not to say he's a slow reader, he read other books in between this, but it took awhile. He is the only person I know who will reads literary stuff "just because"...Who reads Beowulf, The Iliad, Ulysses etc...with out having an English teacher who is threatening you with failure???





Apparently he does.



Just one more reason I think he's so great. Sigh.



(Sorry...hope I didn't make anyone puke.)

Supplies: Stamps, PTI, Stampin up, Ink: Stampin Up, Paper: Office Max

Happy Fall Y'All

Hi Y'All!


Wow... I must branch out and stop using the oval shaped Nesties on every other card! How sick are you of seeing them!?? LOL! It's really hard though; especially when they seem to work so well for many of my stamps. Oh well, here's the card.




I made this using one of those clear $1 sets I bought sometime last year...the sentiment came along with it too. The scarecrow was colored with pencils, I pierced along the edge of the card, added a scrap of ribbon and some buttons from my stash.

Here's the close-up. I actually like fall; around here the color of the leaves can be amazing. It's just that when fall comes, you know winter will be here soon, and that season lasts WAY too long for me!

Thanks for stoppin by...

Details: Paper: Pat Catan's, Ink: Timber Brown Stazon, Colored Pencils:Koh I Noor, Nesties, Ribbon and buttons from my collection

Hi!
Sorry to bore you, but this is a test for me to see if I can post from my mobile phone... Thanks ...See ya tomorrow!

Chip Clips

Happy Wednesday!



I have been hanging on to this empty Altoids tin for a long time, waiting for some sort of inspiration. I knew it had to be good, because they no longer make these tins with a flat lid. Total bummer if you ask me!





Well, since I am cheap, I mean thrifty, I never by Chip Clips. I always use binder clips or clothes pins. Well, guess what fit perfectly into this tin...?
Pretty neat! I couldn't leave them plain since I was making them for a gift, so I matched them to the outside of the box. I used patterned paper and Modge Podge on the tin and the clothes pins...

and then decorated the lid with ribbon. I added a shabby chic flower I made using a brad, small flower, and a scallop punch. I printed the words out from my computer. (See top photo.)

Hope you liked this slightly unconventional idea! Have a great day!

Details-Paper:DCWV, Accessories: Brad: JoAnn's, Small flower: Dollar Store, ribbon from my collection.

Edit:Entered into Artful Inkables challenge...