Snappy Birthday

I got my Crab & Company set out again and went to town. The little stamps are so cute and so is the crab. I love the saying "Snappy Birthday" so I went with a little birthday card using red, orange, and white. I colored everything with Stampin' Up markers and had such a relaxing time coloring! The crab is in Real Red and the gift, hat, and cake are in Real Red, Yoyo Yellow, and Only Orange. I stickled the dots on the small items with red and then also stickled the saying. I put some eyelets around the matted saying. I used my Cuttlebug as the background and put red and orange stickles in the little holes. I found some awesome organza dotted red ribbon and tied a little ribbon the side. I added a few red dots for color on the matted crab on the right side. I also put the little starfish along the side with the saying. I overlapped the crab on the ribbon and think it looks cute!

Perfectly Purple

I made a card last night using a Dolly Mama stamp I found at Michael's. The saying on her purse says: "It's official. I've become my mother." I used two shades of purple when I colored with my Stampin' Up markers. It's an extremely simple card. I punched three snaps in the corner. I stamped the circles from All in a Row, a Stampin' Up set, onto the bottom and added a thin white rick rack in the center. I added purple dots all around the card and a few dots on the stamped image. That's all folks!



Close up of the Dolly Mama in all of her purple glory


It was a very simple card to make.

Neglect of the Blog...

I have neglected my blog for the past few days because of sewing all the time for a big order that I have to get out tomorrow morning. I have one more thing to do tonight and I will feel so relieved. I am thrilled that my business is going well and I want to expand to other kinds of purses and accessories! My goal this week will be to get at least three cards done and to get ready to scrapbook something...I don't even know what yet :).

Thanks to everyone who keeps checking and I promise to post some work this week!

Bright and Cheery Birthday

I wasn't sure where I was going when I started this card. I ended up getting out my "Blooming with Happiness" Stampin' Up set again and used the cake and candles this time. On the card, I layered a piece of Pocket of Posies paper and added orange stickles to all of the flower centers. I ran a strip of pink velvet ribbon down the left side with three mini orange buttons. I stamped the cake and candles in Lovely Lilac by Stampin' Up then colored in the flowers and candles with Stampin' Up markers. I stickled the flower centers and candles with magenta and orange peel. I layered the stamped image with orange and pink then doodled around the outside. I stamped "Happy Birthday" in the right corner and embossed it with clear embossing powder. It just looks so bright and cheery :).

Just Chicken In

I have had the "Best of Cluck" Stampin' Up set for probably two months and it had never seen ink. Last night, I decided to get it out and make a card since I love the set so much. I used the "Just chicken in" stamp that I colored with Stampin' Up markers. The card base is a piece of Die Cuts with a View olive green cardstock. I layered a piece of Wild Asparagus paper on top that is distressed with brick red distressing ink by Tim Holtz and the corners have Making Memories snaps. I doodled a little around the stamp along with the brick red distressing. The stamp was layered with the olive green cardstock. There is also a piece of orange cardstock with three red primas with green Making Memories brads. Last but not least, I used red felt rick rack bought on the 99 cent rack at Joann Fabric's.

I will definitely be using this set again soon!

Love Bling

I made a "love" card with a little bling!

I love the Bazzill scalloped cardstock and must say that it makes great cards. I cut one down to size and started to create. I knew I wanted to make a love card so I turned on my wonderful Cricut machine and cut a heart from the Doodlecharms cartridge. I used a Stemma rub-on for the word "love" and then added rhinestones for some bling. I actually bought them at Walmart in a little package that was to be used for phone bling. I had some white trim from Hancock Fabrics that I added along the heart. At first, I was bound and determined to have it lay flat but that wasn't working! I actually like it better as it is. Then, I put diamond stickles in each scallop of the card. The last step was to find some lovely Prima flowers. I used green, white, and pink to coordinate with the card and added a Creating Keepsakes rhinestone brad to the center. As I was working, I did not like the card and couldn't figure out how it would ever come together. Now, I am quite pleased.

Scrap room organization

Today I was on an organization kick for some reason. I decided that I was going to use the blue containers that I bought on clearance at Michael's. I have tons of stickers and rub-ons that were in a plastic bag where I could see them. I decided to use the largest box and put it next to my serger so when I use the machine I can move the box easily. However, my cat, Storm, had a different idea for the box.





Then, I decided to clean out the rest of the drawer where I got the stickers. Again, Storm had another idea. These pictures are so true of her character.

Random thoughts

I haven't made cards the past couple of days because I am so busy working on purses. I have seven that I am currently working on and they basically take all day. I'm not sure what I will do once school starts and classes start again.

Caardvarks announced their winners for the 10K challenge...I wasn't one of them but the winners did amazing jobs. I still love my cards and am pleased with myself for just participating.

I was in Michael's this past Monday and found the new set of Studio G stamps. They are absolutely adorable and I'll post a picture of them. So, although I haven't made a new card or scrapbook page, I will share some yummy new finds so I don't post without a picture.

Scrap Area

As most of you know, I spent the majority of June in Costa Rica for a study abroad trip. It was incredible but so good to be home again. While I was gone, I missed my first year wedding annivesary as well as my husband's birthday. Needless to say, I felt pretty rotten but when I got home, we were able to celebrate both events. Anyway, my point is, while I was gone, my husband reorganized our office/craft room/game room/anything goes room (we live in a two bedroom apartment). He bought a really cool shelf and then put our card table and his dining room table in the corner of the room. I reorganized my stuff when I got back and made the most of the space. It's so cool now! I have space to do my sewing and serging for my purse business, I have a great space for my Cricut, and all of my scrapping stuff. I'm gonna put up some pictures of my scrap space....although it's nothing to sneeze at.

The new shelf


Sewing machine table and a shelf with stamps and ribbon


Card table with Cricut and where I scrap


Some cards for Caardvark's Challenge

Caardvarks Club Scrap Attack! Challenge

Wow! It's the day 10 challenge of the Caardvarks card challenge. I have had such a blast. I didn't do all ten days as my husband and I were on a mini-vacation last weekend to visit my family. The challenge for today was to scraplift a design done by Jen who made a cool Valentine card.

Here's a link to her card:
http://www.clubscrap.com/pgdrv2.cfm?c=gallery/view_proj&IDNum=2521&KID=212&PgNum=2&browseby=1

I used the Valentine theme and stayed pretty true to the design of the card. I used the Blush line of papers by Basic Grey. The hearts are Making Memories chipboard that I painted with acrylic paint then used pink and Christmas red stickles to spice them up. The "Love" stamp is by Technique Tuesday. The felt rick rack was a 99 cent purchase from Joann Fabrics and the rhinestone brad is by Making Memories. I used my grommet kit and put a pink rhinestone in the center of it for the flower that is behind it. I hope everyone likes it....I'm not sure if I do.

Caardvarks Nine Time Challenge

Today's challenge was a true challenge for me! I was afraid that it would have to do with a clock or time and I found this morning for this to be true. I looked through everything that I had and the only thing that had a clock of any sort was a Technique Tuesday stamp but it wasn't quite what I wanted so I decided to use my Cricut machine and make my own clock. I used Wild Asparagus patterned paper along with Bazzill cardstock. I had a stamp that said "Cherish yesterday, dream tomorrow, live today." that I picked up from Michael's. I used little Prima flowers from a grab bag with Heidi Swapp and Making Memories brads. I used a transparent butterfly by, I think, Bohemia. I embossed the phrase with Opaque white and then added some blue rick rack and some beige lacy ribbon on the right. I bought the rick rack in Costa Rica where it is just cents per meter and the lacy ribbon is from Hancock Fabrics. I used George and Stamped with my Cricut. I cut out a circle then cut it into fourths and put the numbers from Stamped on the clock.

Caardvarks Eight is Enough Challenge

Today's challenge was so fun! We had to use two patterned papers, two circles, two stamps, and two ribbons. I had such fun looking through all of my loot trying to decide what to do. I ended up using the Blooming with Happiness Stampin' Up set that I have not yet used. The flower umbrella was perfect for the circle and then I used the phrase stamp that says "may your day bloom with happiness." I used turquoise and purple stickles on the flowers that I colored in with Stampin' Up markers. I used blue twill tape and some chocolate brown ribbon along with My Mind's Eye papers and Bazzill scalloped cardstock. I put the umbrella onto a circle cut with my Cricut that is placed on another Cricut cut circle. I love the color combos.

Here's the evidence!

Caardvarks Lucky Seven Challenge

Well, it's a day late but I will still post my day seven card. First, I had a hard time coming up with a "Good Luck" card as this is not something I do often. Second of all, the computer was on the fritz and needless to say I wasn't able to post my day seven picture yesterday. I am still going to post it because I finished it and I liked it :).

I used Kaleidoscope paper, Making Memories snaps, twill tape, Die Cuts with a View green and white cardstock, and American Crafts rub-ons for the words "Good Luck!". I think it's a more simple card but I love the colors.

Caardvarks Six Shooter Challenge

I am finding myself too excited to go to bed because I want to know the next day's challenge at Caardvarks. I am completely hooked!

Today, we had to made a six by six card. I don't normally make this size, as I have to cut my paper to this size rather than using what I already have bought in card packs. I made a "Smile" card because there are a lot of people in my life (and probably anyone else's life) that needs a smile :).

Caardvarks Day Five Challenge

I just finished my entry for day five of the Caardvarks challenge. I was not able to participate for days two to four because I was visiting with my family in Ohio. We had a really great weekend!

I was excited to see that the day five challenge included embellishments since there are so many possibilities. I decided to make a "Friends" card using a stamp that I picked up once at a Michael's sale.

My five elements were:
1. "Friends" stamp
2. Grommet
3. Acrylic butterfly
4. Faux rhinestones
5. Twill tape

I used all My Mind's Eye paper for this project. This is, above all, my favorite brand of paper that I have found so far. I used the Stampin' Up brand to ink the stamp because the color is so good. I hope you enjoy the card as much as I enjoyed making it!

Caardvarks Uno Challenge

First of all, it's good to be back in the States and be able to play with my new scrapping area that my husband put together for me!

Onto the contest entry...
Okay, I have never entered a contest but I have a great time scrapbooking and cardmaking. I came across the Caardvarks blog that someone linked as a favorite. I needed to make a card for my cousin who is pregnant with her first baby anyway so I figured I would try my hand at entering my first contest just for the fun of it. The card that I made uses the Crib notes! stamp from the Very Punny set by Stampin' Up. I separated the stamp by putting the saying in a silver bookplate that was bought at JoAnn Fabrics. The brads are Making Memories and I believe that the ghost letters are also. The organza ribbon that is under the saying was bought at Michael's for my wedding a year ago. I used the Color Box brand stamp pad for the stamping and then used a white marker for the dots. I crumpled up the paper and distressed the edges with the Heidi Swapp edge distresser. I used My Mind's Eye paper which I absolutely love along with some Die Cuts With a View orange cardstock.

Enjoy!