Apples to Oranges

CAS 154

2012-01-23T07:00:00.003-05:00

This is for the Clean and Simple challenge for this week over on SCS. The challenge is to use the colors celery green, pink and white. Not my everyday colors but I like how "girly" this card came out!

Recipe:
Cardstock: PTI white, kraft; SU pretty in pink, certainly celery

Ink: versa fine black onyx

Stamps: PTI birthdays by the numbers

Accessories: gingham ribbon, cricut plantain schoolbook (flower), PTI Text embossing plate, Sizzix embossing folder, PTI block alpha dies

Versafine Black Onyx Ink

Pink 1/4 " gingham ribbon

PTI birthdays by the numbers

PTI block alpha dies

InLinkz.com

Thanks for stopping by!

NY Giants going to the Superbowl!

2012-01-22T23:04:00.001-05:00

Go Giants! Superbowl here we come!

Just had to add that in....;)

...more for HP Weekend

2012-01-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

Go Hermoine! Chug that Butter Beer! Too bad it is non-alchohlic! But we are looking forward to trying some this weekend. But in the meantime, I may just make some as a treat to get us excited on Friday night! Here is the recipe I found on Pinterest via ThePastryAffair.com

Butterbeer
Adapted from Huffington Post

Yields 4 servings

1 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
3/4 cup heavy cream, divided
Four 12-ounce bottles cream soda, chilled

In a small saucepan, combine brown sugar with 2 tablespoons water. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook until the mixture reaches 240 degrees F (115 degrees C) on a candy thermometer, stirring occasionally. If you don't have a candy thermometer, bring to a gentle boil and turn off the heat after about a minute of cooking.

Turn off the heat and add the butter, salt, vinegar, and 1/4 cup heavy cream. Stir until smooth. Cool mixture to room temperature before using.

In a medium bowl, beat together the remaining cream (1/2 cup) with 2 tablespoons of the brown sugar syrup.

In each glass, mix together 1/4 cup brown sugar syrup with 1/4 cup cream soda. Pour in the rest of the cream soda until it is nearly to the brim of the glass. Top with whipped cream.

Serve immediately!

Harry Potter Weekend!

2012-01-10T07:00:00.001-05:00

FINALLY! We got our yearly passes to Universal Studios for Christmas and the kids have been dying to go to see Harry Potter World! They got Harry Potter robes for Christmas from Auntie Laurie and Uncle Brian (Griffyndor of course!) and wands also! We have seen almost ALL the movies (still have to watch Deathly Hallows part 2) and love all the video games and lego sets they got for Christmas. And to make it even better, our cousins from North Carolina are coming to stay at our house and come to the park with us!

So I had to come up with some fun stuff and foods for the HP weekend! They are coming in Friday night so I wanted to make a fun dinner for the kids....How about Hufflepuff Pizza Puffs!

Pepperoni Pizza Puffs adapted from Everyday with Rachael Ray and Cassie Craves

via lickthebowlgood.blogspot.com

3/4 cup flour
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
pinch of salt
3/4 cup whole milk
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 cup cubed pepperoni
1/2 cup pizza sauce

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease a 24-cup mini-muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, Italian seasoning, salt and red pepper flakes (if using) ; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella, Parmesan and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.

2. Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through. Serve the puffs with the pizza sauce for dipping.

I'll be back tomorrow with some more snacks straight from the wizarding world!

CAS152 & CAS-ual Friday Challenges!

2012-01-08T22:28:00.003-05:00

This is for the Clean and Simple challenge this week...ways to use DIE CUTS!

And finally, I am playing in the CAS-ual Friday challenge ...I have been dying to play and I am looking forward to playing more often!

Oh how I adore my Cricut expression. I can't wait until hubby finishes my new craft room so it can sit out on a desk, plugged in all the time, ready for whenever! For now, when I do take it out, I cut out anything and everything, use up scraps and plan future cards and scrapbook pages. I have no idea when I cut this out (The SMILE part is the die cut- i cut it out in black CS and thin chipboard) but I have a little cigar box that I keep all the things I cut in. Then I can just look through it and viola! This is the happiest card I have made in a while! Yikes, you can't be sad looking at this baby! LOL

supplies used:

stamps- PTI bitty background blocks

paper- SU scraps, PTI stampers select white

Cereal Box chipboard

Cricut Expresion - Going Places cartridge

ink- Ranger distress inks

Thanks for looking and have a great week!

CAS151

2012-01-02T07:00:00.002-05:00

This is for the Clean and Simple challenge this week...the first of the new year! Happy new year to you all!

This week's challenge is a theme challenge....BEVERAGES! And of course I have made 2 cards this week for my 2 favorite beverages....ok ok so if you know me you know I prefer martinis but I couldn't find those stamps today! So margaritas are a close second. Actually I will take anything with a pretty umbrella in it! LOL

.... AND coffee, well, coffee I cannot live without!

Thanks for looking and Have a happy and healthy new year!

Happy new year!

2012-01-01T12:14:00.003-05:00

Happy new year! May 2012 bring you all happiness and health!

I am so happy to be back to blogging! I have been out of practice with my stamping, moving to a new house in a new state kinda messed me up! All my things are not in a working order for me but soon, my hubby will build me a new craft room in one of the bays of our garage! I'll be sure to take pics of the transformation!

As far as my blog, there will be more than just stamping here...I have been a baking fool lately as well as the crafty things I do to decorate my new house...so this blog will be chock full of all different kinds of crafty ideas!

So for today I will share my Grandma's recipe for Lentil soup. This is an Italian tradition I remember from being a kid....lentils are said to bring you money and luck in the new year. We always had to have lentil soup on new years day...and some years it actually worked! ;)

So here it is:

3-4 tablespoons olive oil

3 celery stalks diced

2 carrots diced

5 cloves garlic minced

1 medium onion diced

1 lb. lentils (rinse and pick out bad ones)

3/4 cup whole or chopped canned tomatoes (I use San marzano tomatoes)

3 vegetable or chicken bullion cubes ( or use chicken or vegetable stock)

1-2 small white potatoes

Salt and pepper to taste

Sauté the onions, celery, carrots, and garlic in the olive oil. Add some salt and pepper. Cook until softened slightly. Add 8 cups of water or stock. Bring to a boil. Add the lentils and tomatoes. Bring back up to a boil. Add the potatoes and boullions (unless you used stock), slat and pepper to taste. Lower the heat to simmer and cook for 1 hour.

Next time I will share some photos as well, but I made this soup yesterday and forgot!

Enjoy and good luck and fortune for 2012!

getting there....

2011-09-03T21:43:00.004-04:00

As I am working on the changes to my blog I figured I would at least show you one thing I have been up to....

Decorating a house that is 3 Times bigger than your old one is a pretty big task. Especially when your 6 year old's room has bare navy blue (he wanted New York Yankee Blue) walls! Besides the Yankees, he LOVES Angry birds and Super Mario Bros. but there is a shortage of design elements in each of those small categories! Artwork was practically non existent! So I made my own Angry Birds artwork on 12X12 canvases I picked up @ Big Lots for $6 each! Some acrylic paint and an evening staring at the game screens and viola!

Here is an upclose shot...

I love how they came out and more importantly so does my son! Here is how it looks in the whole room...

I'll be back soon but in the meantime...can anyone recommend a good and inexpensive blog designer? I am computer illiterate apparently.....;)

Changes are coming...

2011-08-30T22:05:00.002-04:00

I know I have been a very bad bad blogger......

But in the time I've been gone my family and I have moved...a bunch of states away!

Check out the changes I'll be making to my blog in the next few weeks...hope to see y'all soon! ;)

Make it Monday #5

2011-03-09T07:50:00.002-05:00

This week on Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday challenge we were to use some distressing. I LOVE distressing and do it many different ways. Here, I used inked edges and my scissor to distress the edges on the card base and the pink panel.

recipe: stamps- PTI Signature Greetings, Beautiful Blooms II;
Artful Inkables Fictionally Yours

paper- PTI dark chocolate, SU designer paper

ink- PTI vintage cream

accessories- PTI buttons, flower die, lace trim, felt, stapler

Thanks for stopping by!

another challenge....*re-post

2011-02-05T16:21:00.000-05:00

***This is a re-post from last June....My favorite PTI project from last year!

Also, tonight the new summer CAS design team will be announced on Splitcoast Stampers. I am in the 10 finalists so I am keeping my fingers crossed! I needed an encouragement card for a friend and decided to make another entry for the water challenge....her it is!

PS can you tell how much I {heart} Papertrey Ink's Woodgrain BG? I even used it as water!

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS102

2011-01-20T08:52:00.002-05:00

Ok it's kinda a pain to keep up with 2 blogs so excuse the long lapse between posts!

These are the samples I made for this week's Clean and Simple challenge...a sketch from cindybstampin...

Thanks for stopping by, I hope it won't be a month again until my next post! LOL

PS Virtual Stamping Night on SCS....the MINI is this weekend January 21st!

Holiday Sparkle...

2010-12-17T21:15:00.004-05:00

I needed a quick holiday card for my fashionista friend and Girl Scout Leader so I took some inspiration from the SCS sketch challenge and Teapot tuesday challenge this week.

Here's what I came up with...

recipe:

stamps- Gina K retro boutique, papertrey ink holiday sparkle

paper- white, black, real red, unk scraps for paper piecing

ink- memento black

accessories- rhinestones, cuttlebug embossing

And just to put you in the holiday spirit...

Santa's little Helper has posed (and smiled)

for her Holiday portrait:

Daisy says, "Merry Christmas Everyone!"

CAS97 Birgit's sketch

2010-12-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hi and Happy Monday! It's time for the Clean and Simple challenge on Splitcoaststampers! Today's challenge is a sketch one...inspired by a card from one of our newest DT members- Birgit! I just love Birgit's style, it's very unique! Here is my card for the challenge:

recipe:

stamps- Papertrey Ink Signature series dress form

paper- SU DP, going grey, PTI white, Bazzill blue

ink- black

accessories- PTI die, sheer ribbon, CTMH bitty sparkles

Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday cards... some more!

2010-12-12T18:21:00.003-05:00

I've been a badddd blogger again! But to make up for it here are a few of my holiday cards that are going out in the mail this week!

* I was really into the navy blue thing...LOL

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back tomorrow with the CAS challenge from Splitcoaststampers! Have a good night!

more faux letterpress!

2010-10-04T10:34:00.002-04:00

when you try a new technique sometimes you really TRY it! I think I treid almost every embossing folder I have to see what works best for the faux letterpress technique. Here's what I got!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink fillable frames #8

paper- real red, white

ink- tempting turquoise, black, fresh snow

accessories- cuttlebug embossing folder, rhinestones

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Stocking Prints, Peaceful Poinsettia

paper- kraft, pure poppy, white, wild wasabi

ink- black, fresh snow, wild wasabi

accessories- PTI embossing plate and die, cuttlebug embossing folder, felt, rhinestones

recipe: stamps- Papetrey Ink embellishments, giga guide lines

paper- old SU purple unk?, vintage cream

ink- purple acrylic paint, black, fresh snow

accessories- MS fine glitter, cuttlebug embossing folder

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink heart print sentiments

paper- kraft, melon mambo, white, SU DP

ink- melon mambo, black

accessories- PTI dies, cuttlebug embossing folder, divine twine, button

Thanks for stopping by!

faux letterpress for FTL110

2010-10-04T10:30:00.003-04:00

Hope you enjoyed World Card Making Day yesterday! Here are some cards I made this weekend....

The Clean and Simple challenge this week was to use the faux letterpress technique. Here is one of the cards I made for that...it is also for the clean and simple blog sketch this week...FTL110

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Birthday Bash Sentiments

paper- hawaiian shores, white

ink- hawaiian shores, black

accesssories- sizzix balloon die, cuttlebug embossing folder, divine twine

*one more post for today...more faux letterpress....

Holiday cards....a start

2010-09-25T10:25:00.003-04:00

I'm trying to decide on a holiday card to send out this year....I have int he past only used the picture ones but I think I will just include a photo of the kids inside the card....Here is my first contestant!

This is also for the sketch challenge at clean and simple blog...the Free 4 All challenge at SCS to use scallops and the Ways to use it challenge at SCS to get started on holiday cards!

recipe: Stamps- Leigh Hannah Holidays, Papertrey ink Holiday Greetings

paper- wild wasabi, real red, white

ink- wild wasabi, black

accessories- ribbon, rhinestones, PTI scallop border die

Back to School at LAST!

2010-09-13T12:36:00.003-04:00

Ok finally my kiddies are back in school! That gives me more time to blog and keep up on challenges! I made these cards for my kids' teachers to let them know from the get go they are appreciated! I did a kinda faux letterpress here...just inked the top of the PTI embossing plate and then embossed...looks cool huh?

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Fruitful, Unity sentiment from KOTM

paper- kraft, black, white

ink- real red, black, fresh snow

accessories- ribbon, PTI embossing plate

Thanks for stopping by!

CAS82 Sketch by ME!

2010-09-05T22:22:00.003-04:00

This week's Clean and Simple challenge on SCS is a sketch by ME! How exciting! Jen chose this card for everyone to use:

Trick or Treat with One Sheet!

I did this the other day for the Ways to use it challenge...we had to use only one sheet of cardstock!

Here are some I made for today's challenge (it's weird to follow your own card!)

For this one I used the baby Wipe technique...you squirt some re-inkers on a folded baby wipe and basically make a new inkpad. I made a rainbow one! Then I stamped some smaller butterflies in grey and then stamped the script over it in black. Too cool!

The butterfly is stamped on acetate so you can see through it.

Rainbow of Butterflies

For this one I made a mask out of a post it note (a big one) with a square nestability die. Then I sponged in with blue, stamped over the mask with the black flourish and drew in the outline by hand. Quickie felt flower, button and balers twine and viola!

Pretty Window

Getting even simpler....I didn't even make the squares with this...just implied them with the stamps. I kinda like this color combo (crumb cake, real red, baja blue and more mustard)....interesting......

Happy Hello

Thanks for stopping by! You can see more details in my SCS gallery (I didn't feel like typing them twice today!)

It's Delicious!

2010-08-31T19:19:00.002-04:00

This week's clean and simple challenge was to be inspired by a word...DELICIOUS!

One thing that is delicious to me is summer fruits! I have had lemons and limes in my kitchen all summer and have added them to everything, even just water! Here is my delicious lemon-lime treat:

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Fruitful, Fiskars Celebrations

paper- wild wasabi, white

ink- black, certainly celery, wild wasabi, barely banana, crushed curry

accessories- ribbon, rhinestones

And another delicious thing to me is Martini's! I love experimenting with new recipes...one of my new summer favs is a Basil Martini (and I have a ton of it growing in my yard this year)...
recipe: stamps- Rubber Romance (sentiment)

paper- black, wild wasabi, white

ink- black

accessories- ribbon, stapler, martini stickers

Thanks for stopping by!

Color Challenge CAS81

2010-08-23T08:22:00.003-04:00

These are for the Clean and Simple challenge at SCS today...a color challenge, Kraft, Turquoise and White.

First I used some scraps and added some stamping to them. The bakers twine is my new favorite thing!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Botanicals, Asian fusion

paper- kraft, white, hawaiian shores

ink- hawaiian shores, crumb cake, black

accessories- bakers twine, button

This one was a happy accident...I meant to only

put the crystal effects on the shell

but it got all over the circle so

I just spread it around!

The whole card has a shiny look now.

recipe: stamps- SU Beautiful Beach

paper- kraft, white

ink- tempting turquoise, crumb cake, black

accessories- crystal effects, white gel pen

This last one reminds me of the beach here on Long Island...

long tall grasses on the shore.

recipe: stamps- TAC crackle BG, Unity KOTM,
PTI mega mixed messages

paper- kraft, white, hawaiian shores

ink- hawaiian shores, crumb cake

distressing

Thanks for stopping by today!

more dirty challenges...

2010-07-26T12:06:00.002-04:00

more cards I made for the Dare to Get Dirty challenges this week.....

some Dirty challenges!

2010-07-20T21:53:00.006-04:00

This week on SCS the Dirty Dozen is posting a whole lotta challenges! I played in a bunch today and am looking forward to the rest of the week! Here is what I did today:

See my SCS gallery for the info on each card HERE

CAS76 A Fun Sketch

2010-07-18T23:30:00.000-04:00

These are for the Clean and Simple challenge this week CAS76...a fabulous sketch from our very own ravengirl, Toni! You can see the sketch here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1693114?&cat=500&ppuser=156271

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames #4

paper- PTI white, black, SU gable green

ink- black

accessories- ribbon, stapler, butterfly die, circle punch, crimper, black marker

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Damask Designs

paper- SU soft sky, PTI rustic white

ink- versamark

accessories- clear EP, PTI felt & button, hemp, wide ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today!

CAS75

2010-07-11T22:15:00.002-04:00

This is for the Clean and Simple challenge here on SCS today...use dry embossing!

So easy since I tend to do it a lot! One of my favorite embossing plates is PTI's woodgrain. I love to use it on core-dinations paper and sand it up. I am in need of a bunch of manly cards...all the guys in my family have summer bdays! This one is for my cool cousin with a harley! TFL!

One more...a simple Thank you with my new PTI set and die....love when they match!

I'm a TWIHARD!

2010-07-06T16:18:00.006-04:00

I just got these awesome stamps today from Skipping Stones Designs....OMG I {heart} them! Here are 2 cards I made (with my new favorite thing- rolled roses!)...

The first is a sketch from Skipping Stones SSD031...

*PS I made the BG paper myself! I downloaded the screenplays from Twilight and New Moon (don't know if they are real but it worked for me!) and played with my new version of photoshop and viola! FUN!

OK one more...I gotta show love to Edward too....

This sketch is from Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge #81...

a CAS sketch

2010-07-06T08:50:00.004-04:00

I had a few minutes early this morning before the kids woke up today (which I will pay for later when I am falling asleep at the pool) so I made a challenge card...actually 2 challenges. This is for the SCS color challenge today (rich razzleberry, so saffron, baja breeze CC278) and the stampTV sketch challenge (stvsketchms6). I was drawn to this sketch because it was CAS but in the end it was quite a challenge for me!

PS of course after I took the picture and typed in the whole post, I realized I used cream for the card base and white for the image panel. Normally, I just don't like to mix white and cream but oh well....

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Teatime additions, polka dot basics,
heartfelt sentiments

ink- so saffron, rich razzleberry

paper- rich razzleberry, so saffron, white, vintage cream

accessories- border punch, ribbon

More CAS...

2010-06-14T08:18:00.004-04:00

This is for the Etsy Inspired Challenge #92 and a new challenge I found called Clean And Simple...they have great sketches! This is for FTL 94

The etsy inspired challenge site is called My Zoetrope and I was inspired by this adorable strawberry print...

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Monday

2010-06-13T22:06:00.003-04:00

This week's Clean and Simple challenge is Things that Fly! Well, I had to stray from the obvious (at first anyway)...I avoided all butterflies for this!

My first is a little obtuse...but the skull has wings so technically it flies, right?

recipe: stamps- Inkadinkadoo, Papertrey ink always argyle

paper- PTI scarlett jewel, kraft, white

ink- fresh snow, black, versamark

Next up is another A-typical...a heart can have wings too I guess...LOL This is a one-layer...I love coloring with copics on kraft paper!

recipe: stamps- Technique Tuesday, Papertrey ink Heart Prints Sentiments

paper- kraft

ink- fresh snow, black

accessories- copic markers, rhinestones

And, lastly some hot air balloons! These always make me think of my vacation home in Lake George in the Adirondack mountains of NY. SO much fun! The balloons are popped up on dimensionals and sponged around to make them pop.

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits

paper- unk DP, PTI white, dark chocolate

ink- PTI spring rain, dark chocolate

accessories- circle punches

Thanks for stopping by today! Have a Great Week!

Tea for a few RESQ49

2010-06-12T11:45:00.004-04:00

This week on RESQ challenge we had a fabulous Guest Crew Member! This is Lisa's challenge:

To remind us of our "Top Three," somewhere on your card place three of something: three brads in a row, three hearts, or three words...

The top 3 is ways to have a happy marriage (and she should know she has been married 20 years and has 11 kids!)...

Here is my card...I used 3 flat back pearls for my 3...This card is also for the inspiration challenge on SCS this week...a site called Roses and Teacups. I chose these tea towels as my inspiration...

recipe: stamps- Gina K. My Cuppa, papertrey ink Round and Round (sentiment)

paper- PTI rustic white, assorted scraps of DP

ink- black

accessories- pearls, black sharpie

Thanks for stopping in today! Have a Great Weekend!

buttons!

2010-06-11T14:52:00.003-04:00

This is for the CAS-tastic challenge this week to use buttons! Easy enough when you have these stamp sets...this one is PTI's everyday button bits...I just love these birds!

This also is for some challenges on SCS...the color challenge CC274 (cameo coral, tempting turquoise, ruby red) and the sketch challenge SC284.

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits, Polka dot Basics,
Background Basics Retro

paper- kraft, cameo coral, tempting turquoise, ruby red, white

ink- tempting turquoise, cameo coral, black

accessories- ribbon, buttons

Thanks for stopping by!

etsy inspired!

2010-06-07T19:07:00.002-04:00

Today I have a new challenge that makes me happy...the Etsy Inspired challenge! This week's etsy store is called How Beadyful! OMG how cute is that? I chose these super cute covered buttons ...

mostly because I knew I had a scrap of checked blue fabric laying around from a baby shower favor I made...

here is my card! I used spray adhesive to attach the fabric square to the paper. The flower was die cut out of bashful blue and vellum. How funny that I came up with that blue flower gem for the center too!?

This was a super fun challenge, I plan to come back and play on wednesdays...Thanks for stopping by!

Pretending to be Normal...CAS70

2010-06-06T23:30:00.001-04:00

Well, I didn't make it onto the CAS Design Team...

I was invited to be the Co-Coordinator! How exciting!

So for my first week as a team member ...here is the challenge:

CAS70 - Quotes, Verses, & Sayings

The challenge is to use a greeting as the main focus of your CAS card.

And here is my sample:

Basically, I was re-inking some of my stamp pads and made a mess...hence my BG paper. Then I started doodling on it...then I "accidentally" left my coffee cup ring on it...then just for fun I added my thumbprint. LOL Can you guess what my hands look like?

I thought this sentiment was apropos for what this paper looked like...and that's pretty much me!

The Clean and Simple challenges are every Monday on the Splitcoast Stampers website...Hope to see you there! Thanks for stopping by!

Card Recipe:

stamps- River City Rubber Works,

Papertrey Ink Mini Scrapbook Series:Tabs

paper- white, black, kraft

ink- a whole lotta

accessories- PTI tab die, black marker

A Finalist!

2010-06-03T07:20:00.002-04:00

Well, I made it tot he finals in the Clean and SImple Design Team search! Hooray! This is the final entry I made...we were challenged to be inspired by water. The shaving cream technique always makes a great watery looking BG...so there ya go!

Cross your fingers for me! Thanks for stopping by!

been away for a while....

2010-05-29T08:08:00.003-04:00

...I know, but May is soooo busy for me! And we are having my DD's birthdya party today so this just a quick post...

Here are some new Summer themed cards I have done recently for the CAS design team search...

recipe: stamps- PTI Day at the Beach

paper- hawaiian shores, rustic cream

ink- black, hawaiian shores

accessories- twine

recipe: stamps- PTI Aloha

paper- rustic cream, creamy caramel. old olive

ink- black, creamy caramel, copic markers

accessories- twine, ribbon

*This is a wiper card- check here for directions

recipe: stamps- PTI fillable frames #4

paper- hawaiian shores, kraft, black, PTI Beautiful Blooms II DP

ink- black, hawaiian shores

accessories- twine

recipe: stamps- PTI Aloha

paper-kraft, rustic cream

ink- vintage cream, memento black, copic markers

accessories- twine, cork

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Memorial Day weekend, God Bless!

VSN Mini!

2010-04-25T15:28:00.004-04:00

There was a Virtual Stamping Night Mini this weekend and since I won' be around for the main event I made sure I played this one! Here is the information on the VSN for those who are wondering "what the heck is she talking about?"

The first challenge was a 4 in 1 : make a joy fold card, use the color red, use a "diva" image and use some bling:

MAY10VSNMINIAA
recipe: stamps- TAC, PTI fancy flourishes, star prints

paper- PTI white, pure poppy, Gold paper from Kate's Paperie

ink- memento black, copic markers

accessories- rhinestone stars

The next was make a mono chromatic baby card. How ironic that a friend of mine just had a baby girl this weekend!
MAY10VSNMINIA
recipe: stamps- PTI bitty baby blessings

paper- PTI sweet blush, white, bitty dots, Imaginisce

ink- memento black

accessories- border punch, heart punch

Next we had to make a card with a "wet" look...I changed my mind so many times as I was making this one...You can't tell from the picture but the inside circle is a piece of acetate..I was thinking of doing the hair gel technique but I just couldn't get it together! But as far as the "wet" look I think the crystal effects works good!
MAY10VSNMINIB
recipe: stamps- Impression Obsession Sushi Bowl, PTI birthday basics,
polka dot basics

paper- SU pacific point, PTI Kraft, white, unk green scraps

ink- memento black, bashful blue

accessories- acetate, cork, crystal effects, circle cutter

The next one I posted before but just to keep it all in order here it is again...The challenge was to use at least one flower, cut it out and pop it up.

MAY10VSNMINIC

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Garden of Life, Background Basics Tin Types
paper- PTI white, dark chocolate, new leaf
ink- versamark, SU crushed curry, PTI new leaf
accessories- glitter clear EP, brown felt, brown satin ribbon, corner chomper

On to the baby shower challenge! I am wishful thinking here...hoping to make these invites for real for my sister soon!It is such an easy design, would be great to make a bunch of..

MAY10VSNMINID
recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings

paper- white, certainly celery

ink- certainly celery

accessories- none (wording printed on computer)

And finally the Bridal shower card! This challenge was to make a bridal shower card and to use the folded picture frame technique. You can find the directions here. Another one without a sentiment because I ran out of time! The dress took up a lot of time because I stamped it on white and then layered an off white vellum on top. It looks better IRL...

MAY10VSNMINIE
recipe: Stamps- Gina K Retro boutique, PTI fancy flourishes

paper- chocolate chip, very vanilla, making memories PP

ink- memento black and timber brown

accessories- vellum, satin ribbon, cuttlebug embossing folder

RESQ42 April Showers!

2010-04-25T15:19:00.003-04:00

Time for another RESQ challenge! This week my dear friend Pat stepped in and challenged us with an awesome inspiration...some pretty cute umbrellas. You can see the challenge here to play along...

I was inspired by the BIG sunflower umbrella...I just LOVE sunflowers! I also made this card for the Virtual Stamp Night Mini challenge to use at least one flower, cut it out and pop it up. SInce we only have 45 minutes for VSN challenges I ran out of time before I could add a sentiment! LOL

here is a close up of the BG (which was embossed with glittery EP) and the "popping" flowers!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Garden of Life, Background Basics Tin Types

paper- PTI white, dark chocolate, new leaf

ink- versamark, SU crushed curry, PTI new leaf

accessories- glitter clear EP, brown felt, brown satin ribbon, corner chomper

Thanks for stopping by! I'll be back later with more from the VSN mini...

A rainbow single layer

2010-04-21T10:43:00.005-04:00

Kristina Werner issued a challenge to make a single layer card this week on her blog...I always have trouble at first doing these but then it seems to come together! I love making my "rainbow" cards as I call them...just repeating the same image in ROYGBIV colors! This is a background stamp from PTI...and then I added the rhinestones (yes by hand, non self adhesive either!)

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink background basics Botanicals,
Fiskars birthday sentiments

paper- PTI white

ink- SU real red, regal rose, pumpkin pie, crushed curry, old olive,

ballet blue, orchid opulence, black

accessories- black flat backed rhinestones

Ok so when I made that card I made the BG twice (cause I didn't like the dark purple you see here) so I used the one layer part for the sketch challenge this week on SCS...Here it is! For this I added the acetate square panel (so the BG shows through) and the ribbon. I actually think it works!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink background basics Botanicals, fancy flourishes,
Fiskars birthday sentiments
paper- PTI white
ink- SU real red, regal rose, pumpkin pie, crushed curry, old olive,
ballet blue, orchid opulence, black stazon
accessories- ribbon, acetate

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Pastels!

2010-04-18T07:18:00.003-04:00

This is for the RESQ-challenge this week hosted by our resident celebrity Lee! The challenge was to use an image(s) that makes you happy and to use pastels....well, I don't know which makes me happier...this dress or the plaid BG I made!

recipe: stamps- Gina K Retro Boutique and Papertrey ink Asian Fusion

ink- barely banana, pretty in pink, melon mambo, black

paper- rustic cream, white, melon mambo, pretty in pink

accessories- nesties, rhinestone

Thanks for stopping by today!

celebrate!

2010-04-12T22:19:00.002-04:00

This is for the Compose a Card challenge this week...I don't think I made it in time but I love how it turned out!

*PS Notice my very Becky Ohelers photography! LOL

I also made this bookmark card for the Technique challenge this week....

I know I usually leave the recipe of what I used in the card but I put my back out and I can't sit on the computer for too long...I'll come back later and add it all, promise! TFL!

my stick family

2010-04-12T08:11:00.000-04:00

My Stick Family from WiddlyTinks.com

Happy Hydrangeas

2010-04-02T18:52:00.001-04:00

This week's challenge on RESQ-Challenge is a sketch...and I got new stuff to play with! You can find the sketch and challenge details here: RESQ-Challenge 39

recipe: stamps- Kitchen Sink Stamps Hydrangea, Papertrey Ink Asian Fusion, Distressed Stripes

paper- rustic cream, black, ballet blue, old olive

ink- brilliant blue, bashful blue, almost amethyst, certainly celery, old olive, black

accessories- ribbon, fiskars border punch, circle nestabilities, rhinestone

compose a card #7

2010-04-01T16:44:00.004-04:00

This is for the Compose a Card challenge this week...I love the colors and I love the layout!

Here is my entry! I broke out this old sizzix die of the sunflower mostly because I was looking for something else and there it was!

recipe: stamps- papertrey ink polka dot basics II, mega mixed messages

ink- white craft, black, so saffron, certainly celery

paper- spring rain, vintage cream, so saffron

accessories- white EP, sizzix die, black felt, ribbon, hemp, button, SU border punch

Thanks for stopping by!

Fun Stuff RESQ38

2010-03-26T17:23:00.004-04:00

Today we have a new hostess on RESQ-Challenge #38...Taylor Usry (stagcva from SCS)! Her challenge was to use eggs (while she cooks her own little egg a few more weeks!)...

I made this little weaved basket and cut out some eggs for it form patterned paper. The one problem I had was that I didn't have a stamp the said HAPPY EASTER! Go figure!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Scattered Showers

paper- close to cocoa, kraft, rustic cream, assorted patterned paper scraps

ink- black, close to cocoa

accessories- gold brad

This next one is for the Free For All Challenge on SCS today...we were to be inspired by the Great White Way and our favorite broadway shows....Since I took my DD to see Bye Bye Birdie in January I have been hearing her singing "BYE BYE BIIIIIRRRDDDIIEEE" all the time! I was inspired by the color blocked squares on the stage for the scene when all the teenagers are on the phone spreading the gossip!

SO FUN!

recipe: stamps- NONE

paper- assorted scraps, black, white

accessories- black chopboard letters, fikars bird punch, versamark, white EP, ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today!

Some punches and Two-Lips!

2010-03-19T16:27:00.004-04:00

This is for Jean's challenge today on RESQ-Challenge! What a gorgeous color combo! This card is totally a case...I have been dying to do this and finally went out and got myself an oval punch! Here is the card I cased: A Happy Hello And HERE is the RESQ-Challenge for this week... Come on a join us for some spring fun!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Blooming Button Bits, SU rough wheel, HA italian script

paper- certainly celery, regal rose, apricot appeal, white

ink- certainly celery, regal rose, tempting turquoise, black

accessories- small oval punch, rhinestone

*I hand cut the leaves and stems myself...

Here are a few more cards I made recently using punches...something I don't use often enough!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Piece of Cake

paper- DCWV kitchen, silver, PTI rustic cream, SU real red, apricot appeal, white, choc chip, pretty in pink, creamy caramel

ink- black, choc chip

accessories- ribbon, paper piercer, circle and scallop circle punches

This one used a nestabilites die and a circle punch (I made the grass myself and made a cloud template before I sponged the sky

recipe: stamps- Papertrey ink mixed messages, blooming button bits (leaf)

paper- certainly celery, white, PTI raspberry fizz

ink- black, bashful blue, certainly celery

accessories- nestabilities die, circle punch, button, twine, cuttlebug embossing folder, tag punch

Thanks for stopping by today!

Happy Birthday to.....

2010-03-07T21:13:00.003-05:00

ME!

Yup, it was my birthday today. We had beautiful weather too! Me and the kids went to the park, got ice cream and then came home to a yummy dinner! It was a fun day!

SO when everyone goes to bed that's when I hit the craft closet!

This is for the Compose a Card challenge at Becky Oehler's blog Hemidemisemiquaver Design...she provides a sketch, cutting measurements and requirements...I have been meaning to get to this challegne all week!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Vintage Frames, Polka Dot Basics, Piece of Cake

paper- enchanted evening, soft stone

ink- versamark, black

accessories- white EP, button, twine, satin ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today!

WORDS!

2010-03-04T21:00:00.003-05:00

Good Morning!

This is a busy month for me...so many birthdays (including my own on Sunday!) but I still hope to get a lot posted here!

Today is challenge day over at RESQ-Challenge! Today's challenge is to use font in a prominent way on your project. I made my BG paper at www.wordle.net! It's so much fun, all you do is enter a bunch of words, pick a color scheme, font and volia! So much fun! Hope you can join us and play along!

recipe: BG paper- my own creation @wordle.net

acrylic stamps- Papertrey Ink Friends till the end

cardstock- SU almost amethyst, apricot appeal, white

ink- Memento London Fog, SU almost amethyst

accessories- ribbon

Have a GREAT WEEKEND!

Polka Dots and Cupcakes

2010-02-24T22:29:00.004-05:00

Another Compose a Card challenge from Becky Oehlers....I just love her style!

Here is my version...

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Cupcake Collection, Polka Dot basics

paper- PTI aqua mist, white, bitty dot basics, SU- creamy caramel

ink- pure poppy, black

accessories- button, circle punch

I actually love how this came out and plan on trying it again in different colors....Thanks for stopping by today!

halfway through...

2010-02-17T22:13:00.004-05:00

...the vacation week and only 16 inches of snow total! Yikes!

I finally got to play over at Becky Ohelers' Create a Card challenge (Isn't it funny I have an Aunt and Uncle named Oheler too!?)

The colors used were inspired by the play "Wicked" and the song "I'm not that girl." I still can't believe I live in NYC and haven't seen that show yet!
yes those are Mardi Gras beads at the bottom...keep scrolling down and you'll see why...

close up of button...
recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Damask Designs, Anniversary set, Tiny Treats valentine (heart)

paper- black, ripe avocado, white

ink- versamark, black

accessories- clear EP, satin ribbon, button

babies and snakeskin?

2010-02-12T09:52:00.005-05:00

I hope that title got your attention!

Actually I have 2 cards to post today...

This one is for another, yes another, Papertrey ink challenge! To go along with one of the new sets to be released called Asian Fusion, Nichole challenged everyone to use origami! I had a great time looking but this simple children's origami boat was the best I could do! I think it makes a cute baby card though!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings, Polka Dot Basics II

cardstock- PTI Ocean Tides, Kraft, White, Bitty Dots

ink- Fresh Snow, Palette Noir, Ocean Tides

accessories- none!

This next one is using a tutorial I made up over on Resq-Challenge for today...it's super easy and makes a real looking faux snakeskin! Check it out HERE...

recipe: stamps- SU Bronc Buster, PTI Men of Life

paper- Dusty Durango, Creamy Caramel, White

Ink- Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry, Creamy Caramel, close to cocoa

accessories- large eyelets, ribbon, stapler

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

well....

2010-02-09T22:48:00.003-05:00

...if they're gonna keep on having contests, I'm gonna keep on trying to win! OMG I am so excited for all the awesome things PTI is doing this year! I really have to start budgeting my money!

This one was a color challenge...you can see the details here on Nichole's blog...

The colors were Pure Poppy, Aqua Mist, Kraft and Sweet Blush

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Boards and Beams, Background basics text style

paper- aqua mist, kraft, pure poppy, sweet blush, white

ink- black, aqua mist

accessories- pure poppy twill ribbon, heart punch

Thanks for stopping in today!

I'll be home playing all day tomorrow! Can you say Hooray for a Snow day???

more PTI...

2010-02-08T20:49:00.003-05:00

You know I loves me some Papertrey ink...and a chance to win $100 worth free? I'm on it...

This was a kinda color by numbers challenge...you can get the details on Nichole's blog here.

I chose the colors corresponding to the first letter of my online name and these were the colors I got...the sketch was provided also. I am not crazy about the colors but I think they make an elegant wedding card...

Thanks for stopping in again!

I'll post the recipe later...I gotta go watch Heroes and AI!

Another contest!

2010-02-07T14:15:00.004-05:00

Another contest... this one is for PTI and Card Positioning Systems. A fabulous sketch to follow here...

Here is my take on it...I haven't used my Quilt set for a while and I needed a baby card...I love the way it looks like a baby blankie! The back panels were run through a crimper a few dozen times and spritzed with water. Then you carefully peel apart the layers of the paper. It makes it looks all soft and worn!

PS I know the yellow panel looks crooked..it's not. IRL it looks straight as an arrow, I took a zillion pics and it keeps looking off! ARGH!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Quilter's Sampler, Quilter's Sampler Additions

paper- certainly celery, pretty in pink, bashful blue, apricot appeal, white, kraft

ink- versafine black

accessories- charm , ribbon

Thanks so much for stopping in today!

GO SAINTS!

PTI Anniversary~

2010-02-05T12:41:00.006-05:00

Happy 3rd Anniversary Papertrey Ink!

No surprise that PTI is probably my most favorite stamp company...You see thier products used on my blog ALL THE TIME!

For this month's release, Nichole is having a super Party! She has posted challenges all week and I finally got a chance to do one! I also combined it with this week's SCS Sketch challenge since it was a great one if you like layers!

PTI's challenge was to use the emboss resist technique. Nichole even posted a video tutorial for it! You can see it on her blog HERE.

recipe: stamps papertrey ink warm happiness, mega mixed messages, background basics retro

paper- dusty durango, crushed curry, chocolate chip, white, basic black

ink- versamark, black, creamy caramel, dusty durango, crushed curry

accessories- cuttlebug embossing folder, large eylets, hemp, clear EP, circle punch

Here is a close up of the emboss resist part...

And now to enter the contest.....crossing my fingers for a big win! Thanks for stopping by!

Oh Baby!

2010-02-04T10:49:00.003-05:00

Oh Baby...it's been a long time since I blogged!

Here is a little baby ensemble I came up with....first the card...

I just love the glitter on the edges!

And here is the "baby cake!" I thought these might make a great favor for a baby shower...it's 2 washcloths rolled up to make a "cake." Then I crimped a piece of aqua mist cardstock to wrap around them and tied them with some Ocean Tides ribbon. It kind looks like one of those pastries you get in a good bakery called a "Charlotte Russe." It's like ladyfingers around the outside and bavarian creme inside. Yum!

Here's the 2 together...I like the aqua color, it can be for a boy or girl!
recipe: stamps- PTI Bitty Baby Blessings, Favor it Baby

paper- PTI Aqua Mist, White, Bitty Dots

Ink- Versafine Black

accessories- ocean tides ribbon, buttons, crimper, washcloths, safety pin, scallop and circle punches, glitter

Thanks for stopping by!

Inspiration from Etsy

2010-01-10T14:19:00.003-05:00

This is for the Inspiration Challenge this week. Stef asked us to be inspired by a fabulous Etsy site called Groovy Inclinations.
I chose this cool calendar cover for mine:

This was pretty involved (for me anyway!)....I painted directly on the mask with white acrylic paint then picked it up and laid it on top of the black paper. Then I sprayed the top with lime glimmer mist and the bottom with cherry blossom. Ok, I lied it wasn't that involved but if you saw the mess I made you would think so! Fun site, thanks Stef!

Here is a close up of the glimmery goodness!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Giga Guide Lines

Paper- black, white

Ink- Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist- Lime Twist, Cherry Blossom, black

accessories- Maya Road Mask

on a roll....

2010-01-06T16:19:00.004-05:00

Hooray! More challenges!

This first one is for The Teapot Tuesday Challenge hosted Mothermark! Yeah she is back! Today's challenge was to find a new man for Miss Kitty! Well, Edward is certainly hunky enough for Miss Kitty but if she can't handle him, I'll be sure to take him off her paws! LOL

recipe: stamps- Artful Inkables, Twilight set from Barnes & Noble

paper- black, white, Michaels PP

ink- palette noir, copic markers

accessories, ribbon, felt

This next car is for the Wednesday sketch challenge. Today's host was CraftyCaro...what a cool layered sketch!

recipe: stamps- Unity Stamps KOTM

paper- real red, white, SU DP, scrap of handmade paper

ink- palette noir, copic markers

accessories- ribbon

Thanks for stopping by today!

Color Challenge

2010-01-05T10:44:00.001-05:00

This is for the color challenge this week...Bermuda Bay, Handsome Hunter and Certainly Celery. A weird combo but it really did turn out nice together! The touch of pink was very welcome too! TFL!

Keywords: CC252. Papertrey Ink

Stamps: Papertrey Ink everyday button bits, text style BG

Paper: bermuda bay, handsome hunter, certainly celery, vintage cream

Ink: black, certainly celery, handsome hunter, bermuda bay

Accessories: buttons, twine, velvet ribbon

RESQ28 Transplant Team!

2010-01-04T07:00:00.001-05:00

I'm so happy to be back into ResqChallenge again!

This week the Transplan team was up! We were to find something on another project and transplant it to the current one! I pulled out some ATC's I had recieved in a swap a while ago that were bound for the circular file!

They were just too pretty to get rid of! So I transplanted some things from each and Viola!

Here is a new card!

recipe: stamps- Hero Arts Italian Script BG, PTI Floral Fusion (sentiment), SU Sanded BG

paper- crushed curry, black, white

ink- crushed curry, black, PTI fresh snow

accessories- taken from old ATC's plus twine, safety pin

Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to check out ResqChallenge every Monday for a new challenge!

Getting on the Bandwagon....

2010-01-02T11:52:00.002-05:00

AGAIN!

Happy New Year! 2010 can you believe it!

Following along with Ali Edwards idea I have chosen the word COMMIT for 2010. Many times I have an idea or a mission and just don't follow through. I have submitted things to magazines for publication once or twice and then get discouraged when I don't hear anything. Or an idea bangs around my head and I just don't get the COMMITMENT to follow it thorough. Well, that is my mission this year. If I want something I will COMMIT entirely to it.

So, I wanted to get back into playing my challenges on SCS....an easy place for me to start is always the Inspiration Challenge. Stef always uses such a great site...

Today's inspiration site was an etsy store called Design Spirit Studio.

I chose this clock as my inspiration:

And here is my card....

recipe: stamps- Artful Inkables Olive You

paper- Making Memories (dots), real red, black, apricot appeal, unk green scrap

ink- PTI fresh Snow, black versafine

accessories- ribbon, watercolor pencils

Thanks for stopping by!

One Layer Madness RESQ27

2009-12-15T12:11:00.003-05:00

So this week Michelle has challenged us to make some one layer holiday cards....well, here are some one layer card sets I made to sell at a craft fair (they sold out quick!). I have to make some holiday ones as well since I ran out of my regular holiday cards already!

Both of these sets were made with papertrey Ink stamps...I find that their multiple stamps for one image are perfect for one layer cards....

Thanks so much for stopping by!

RESQ22 Circulation!

2009-11-11T09:20:00.002-05:00

This week it was my turn to host the challenge on RES-Q-Blog....I gave a sketch and you had to use red and blue (or shades of them) in honor of our circulatory system (well, and maybe for Veteran's Day too! ). Here is my card for RESQ22:

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Fruitful, mega guide lines

paper- night of navy, vintage cream, SU DSP

ink- real red, green galore, choc. chip, black

accessories: eyelet, ribbon

so hilarious!

2009-11-09T14:00:00.002-05:00

So hilarious I just had to share.....

working on it

2009-11-05T20:00:00.001-05:00

Just to let you know, my blog and RESQ blog are being fixed. I know you can't see the Background or the nav bars....hopefully it will be fixed soon! Thanks!

hi everyone!

2009-11-03T18:06:00.004-05:00

I have been so swamped lately and the holidays are still a month away! On my list of projects I have been working on are: wedding invites (my first!), a 4th birthday party, Baby Shower Thank You's, and many many card sets that I will be selling at my son's school fair. Not to mention the bunch of orders I have for 18" doll beds! Whew! But I had to take a minute to participate in the Resq-challenges!

This is for Pat's challenge, RESQ20, we were to use buttons! I LOVE buttons and have a bunch of jars filled up. I especially love to use them with PTI's Everyday Button bits....

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits, winter swirls

paper- PTI enchanted evening, black, SU DSP, a page from an old dictionary

ink- memento black, copics

accessories- ribbon, buttons, hemp

This is for Lee's challenge this week as our Respiratory Therapist! Bringing in a breath of fresh air to make monochromatic Holiday Cards! I wanted to use an untraditional color so crushed curry it is!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Stocking Prints, Vintage Labels

paper- crushed curry, white

ink- crushed curry, black

accessories- Nestabilites, rhinestones, ribbon

Thanks for stopping by! I better get back to work!

Clean and Simple....

2009-10-19T19:27:00.002-04:00

Sometimes you just gotta go simple...either you want to reproduce several of one card, you have limited supplies, or like me, you juts get lazy and need some quick gratification! Actually, I pulled my back out this morning (blow drying my hair, uh nice) so I just knew I wouldn't be able to spend much time on anything today.

This card I made last week using the thumping technique. Super easy and looks like watercoloring.

recipe: stamps- Unity KOTM

paper- confetti white, bermuda bay, watercolor paper

ink- chocolate chip, bermuda bay, apricot appeal

accessories- ribbon, stapler, paper piercer, marker

This one is for the Clean and Simple challenge on SCS today...make a sympathy card. This is useful because it's not really fun to make sympathy cards first of all and second, unfortunately, you always need them when you are not prepared to make one. SO I made a bunch of this simple one to have on hand just in case.

recipe: stamps- SU With Sympathy, Unity KOTM

paper- kraft, night of navy

ink- night of navy, craft white

accessories- ribbon, nestabilities

Thanks for stopping by!

Crackle Paint Tutorial

2009-10-12T09:59:00.002-04:00

I have been making alot of frames lately and thought

I would give you the how-to on crackle paint!

I made this Spooky Halloween Frame (that I found in the Clearance section at Michael's for $2!) using acrylic Paint and Crackle Paint.

Here are the supplies you will need:

1. 2 different colors of Acrylic Paint (one light and one dark)

2. Crackle Paint (I used Plaid Brand)

3. Foam brushes

4. Wood Frame

5. Assorted stamps (I used Boo To You and Spooky Sweets II from PaperTrey ink)

6. Assorted Embellishments

Directions:

1. Paint your frame with the color you want to see through the crackle (I used bright Yellow to show through black). Usually this is your darker color

2. Let it dry (or if you are impatient like me use your hairdrier!)

3. Paint over with an even coat of the crackle paint. This will be clear but will leave a shine on top of the color. Make sure you evenly cover it and try not to reapply or paint back and forth.

* see the shine? 4. Let it dry...try to let this coat dry a little longer....In the meantime, stamp out some embellishments to add on your frame. I stamped and cut out a bunch of things not knowing what I may want. 5. Be brave! Paint right over your nice shiny color with your top coat. Again, go for even strokes in one direction. DO NOT keep painting back and forth, you will lose the crackle effect. You will start to see crackles as it dries.

** after 5 minutes of drying.... ***see the crackles! :) 6. Embellish your frame as you like!

The felt leaves were self adhesive... I cut a circle for the moon and stamped the witch on it. Then, I cut a circle the same size out of clear acetate and inked the edges with white craft ink. I attached it behind the frame with a stapler. The other embellishments I added with craft glue dots.

Aren't my little Pirates adorable?? Thanks for stopping by!

Shout Out To SheetLoad!

2009-10-09T08:19:00.002-04:00

Wow! If you ever want to make a bunch of cards in one shot.....this is the way!

This month's sponsor is DRS Designs (ya know how I {heart} them!)...I'll be back with some cards I made for the sheetload later this week!

Check it out!

Lately....

2009-10-06T13:32:00.003-04:00

I have been making a lot of 5 1/2 X 5 1/2 cards....maybe I should get some envelopes for them? LOL If anyone knows a cheap on line place to get them, leave me a comment!

This is a two-fer challenge...Firstly, it is for this week's challenge on Res-Q-Challenge...Jean has set up an awesome mind teaser with our Flight medics....She has some blog candy to give away with it for someone who answers it correctly! Just guess where the medics are headed to ( I happen to think they are headed towards Bar Harbour, MI but don't quote me on that! ) and she will chose a name randomly to win! (PSSST...She has cool stuff...) The cute little owl on my card is from jean herself, she cut it out and pieced it all together for me!

For this challenge we were to use Fall colors and something from nature plus and uplifting sentiment!

Secondly the technique lovers challenge this week on SCS was to make Faux Suede...it's really easy and looks so cool! Just run a piece of cardstock through a crimper a few times in different directions then peel the layers apart and viola!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink First Fruits

paper- Basic Grey, Dark Chocolate, vintage cream, really rust

ink- dark chocolate

accessories- tree branch, Die cut Owl, sheer gold ribbon

This card is for the color challenge today...mellow moss, white and kraft...I just can't resist anything with kraft in it! This was an easy card but I like how it came out!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Boards and Beams

paper- mellow loss, kraft, vintage cream

ink- fresh snow

accessories- ribbon, nestabilities, white EP, paper piercer

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to check out the challenge and blog candy on Res-Q-Challenge!

More WCMD

2009-10-04T22:07:00.003-04:00

In addition to the things I made for SCS and Res-Q-Challenge for World Card Making Day, I also did all 4 challenges over at Papertrey ink! I told you it was raining yesterday!

For the first challenge, Nichole took us away to Japan! I was inspired by the Japanese flag which is all white with a red circle in the center. Along with that, the flowers from the Floral Fusion set gave a really nice Asian flair to this simple card.

recipe: stamps Papertrey ink Floral Fusion, TAC crackle BG

paper- PTI White, pure poppy

ink- pure poppy, berry sorbet, black, chai

accessories- paper piercer

The next challenge took us to Mexico! Nichole hinted about Mexican tiles and I just couldn't get it out of my head! After I showed this card to my hubby he said it made him think of our local Mexican Restaurant, Pancho's Border Cafe...I guess I got it right!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Guide Lines II, Star Prints, Background Basics Text (yellow panel), Friends till the End (blue panel), Little Lady (small orange flower)

paper- crushed curry, dusty durango, white, ballet blue

ink- ballet blue, dusty durango, crushed curry, black

accessories- edge distresser

Next we were off to India and were challenged to use rhinestones on our card. I was going for a Sari kinda thing, but in the end I disliked the card so much I kept adding stuff. I hate when that happens!

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Guide Lines, Fancy Flourishes, Cupcake Collection

paper- only orange, melon mambo, white, gold

ink- only orange, melon mambo, black

accessories- rhinestones (alot!), sheer ribbon, gold cording

And our last stop on this World Card Making Day was Australia! We were challenged to use a white gel pen to make a dotted outline and/or use masking. I kinda did both...I made a dotted outline around the frame of the cupcakes and yes, the cupcakes are all masked! Took a while but I got what I wanted! There are also stickles on the sprinkles but the picture is not showing it clearly....

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Cupcake Collection

paper- melon mambo, dark chocolate, white

ink- close to cocoa, pretty in pink, melon mambo, black

accessories- stickles, white gel pen

SO that is FINALLY it for what I did on World Card Making Day!

Whew!

Hope you all had a great day too!

Immunzation Time!

2009-10-03T19:18:00.002-04:00

Well, I guess I am ready for my immunizations now....LOL I GAVE people needles for years but I am always a big baby when the needles are in ME! At least this was virtually painless....

Michelle challenged us to use piercing on our card...It took me a while to go all the way around but I like the look! I also combined this challenge with 2 others (yea me!) on SCS...

The Saturday Inspiration challenge and the World Card making Day color challenge. For the inspiration I chose this cute tote and the colors were exactly the same as the Flag of Yemen.

recipe: stamps- Rubbernecker BG, Papertrey ink Garden of Life

ink- black

paper- real red, white

accessories- black embossing powder, tag punch, ribbon, gold cording

Thanks so much for playing along at Res-Q-Challenge ...hope you had an inspirational World Card Making Day!

What chart?

2009-10-03T14:01:00.002-04:00

Hi again! I just went for my Vision Test over at the Health Fair on Res-Q-Challenge! Pat has challenged us to make a card with a Large Letter as dominant...just like on the eye charts! Did you know that the chart is called a Snellen Chart? Me either! Tuck that little gem away for the next episode of Jeopardy!

recipe: stamps- CK Foam Stamps, Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics

paper- Ocean Tides, Black

ink- White acrylic paint, black

accessories- grungeboard letter, acrylic paint, ribbon

See you back in a few hours!

World card Making Day Challenge #1

2009-10-03T12:58:00.005-04:00

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW???

This is for the first WCMD challenge over on Res-Q Blog from my good friend Jean.

We are having a health fair and first up is a vision check! She has challenged us to

make a really LOUD card that screams "LOOK AT

ME!"

I used a new technique I saw on SCS called Acrylic Smash...

you can see the instructions HERE.

recipe: stamps- Hero Arts Italian Script, Papertrey Ink Birthday Basics

paper- new leaf, night of navy, white, acetate

ink- stazon black, acrylic paints

accessories- cuttlebug embossing folder, Martha Stewart Butterfly punch, pearls, ribbon

Thanks for looking see you back here in a few hours for the next challenge!

Happy WCMD!

2009-10-03T08:19:00.000-04:00

HAPPY

WORLD

CARD

MAKING

DAY!

It's a grey, rainy day here in New York....what a perfect day to stay in my PJ's and stamp all day! My DD is more than willing to join me as the boys go out to play football later (ugh)...

Go check out RES-Q-Challenge and Splitcoaststampers today for some exciting WCMD challenges...that's where I'll be all day! See you there

2009-09-29T19:03:00.002-04:00

This is for the newest challenge over at Res-Q-Challenge...go retro and splatter some paint! I used the rolling marble technique, it's sooo fun!

recipe: stamps SU Classic Pick Ups

paper- kraft, old olive, white

ink- old olive, more mustard, pumpkin pie, black, copics markers

Thanks for stopping by!

PS...There will be a special day of Challenges over at Res-Q-Challenge for World Card Making Day, THIS SATURDAY, October 3rd! Check it out!

Res-Q-Challenge #16

2009-09-21T09:30:00.004-04:00

Today on the Res-Q-Challenge, Jean, today's Diagnostician has come up with a super fun puzzle to figure out! Once you figure out the crossword puzzle, you will get the clues on how to make your card!

Here is mine:

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Warn happiness, Papertrey

paper- K&Co, brilliant blue, white, chocolate chip

ink- ballet blue, chocolate chip

accessories- ribbon, spiral clip, dew drops, paper crimper, corner rounder

Hope you stop over and try out this fun challenge! There is also a new tip posted in the First Aid section! Have a great day!

Owlino Inspired

2009-09-20T21:08:00.000-04:00

Saturday's inspiration challenge is another of my favs on SCS!

This week we had the LAMA e-store to be inspired by! I chose this super cute tote bag and here is what I came up with:

recipe: stamp- Unity Mixup of Cuteness

paper- very vanilla, tempting turquoise, crushed curry, melon mambo, unk scrap of purple

ink- Memento Black Tuxedo

accessories- scor pal (for diamond scored BG), eyelets, corner rounder

PS I have no idea why there is a weird little glare over his right eye...I took about 20 pics and it was always there! IRL there is nothing there! WEEIIRRRDDD!

SCS Sketch Challenge meets Color Throwdown!

2009-09-17T16:22:00.003-04:00

I just love the sketch challenge...it gives you such a great starting point when making a project! This is for the sketch challenge this week on SCS...

recipe: Stamps- Flourishes-Fight Like a Girl

paper- pretty in pink, kraft, white, melon mambo

ink- melon mambo, fresh snow

accessories- ribbon, stickles

This one is for the sketch challenge also, I just did it on an 8 X 4 size card. I also used grass I had cut out on the Cricut a while ago. Sometimes when I break out the big Cricut I feel the need to cut a bunch of stuff and keep it in a ziplock bag...just so I have some things sitting around!

This one also counts for the Color Throwdown Challenge (green galore, bermuda bay and barely banana)...an interesting combo, dontcha think?

recipe: stamps- Papertrey Ink Polka Dot Basics II, Everyday Button Bits

paper- kraft, bermuda bay, barely banana, green galore, white

ink- black, bermuda bay, bashful blue

accessories- buttons, hemp, Cricut grass

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope you like the new look!

(PS Thanks Elizabeth!)

New Look!

2009-09-17T12:36:00.002-04:00

Thanks for checking out my new blog! I had an upgrade!

Two things new here are the link that will eventually connect to my for sale items. I haven't decided to go with Etsy or eWillow yet but I will decide soon!

The other button will connect to my flickr account where you can see samples of my cards and also my invitation and baby announcement samples. There is also an email button to email me with any questions, comments or requests you may have!

I'll be back later with some more challenges I did this week!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

RES-Q-Challenge is BACK!

2009-09-13T20:42:00.003-04:00

I am so excited to get the Res-Q-Challenge back and running!

You can check out the latest challenge and a Great CONTEST here!

This is my card for the sketch challenge today! I have lots of little kid birthday coming up so I figured I'd start now!

recipe: Stamps- DRS Designs To the Moon Spaceship H1001, Happy Birthday B250, Papertrey Ink Let Freedom Ring

paper- night of navy, white

ink- fresh snow, prismacolor pencils

accessories- ribbon, ric rac scissors

DRS Challenge #27

2009-08-24T07:18:00.004-04:00

This is for the DRS sketch challenge this week. It's their last challenge for a while and since it is the end of my term as a Guest Designer I just had to play along! I have both my Dad's and Father in Law's birthdays in October so I figured I would get started on at least one. My Dad loves Vegas and plays poker once a week so this card is perfect for him! The sketch is a nice simple one too.

recipe: stamps- DRS Designs 5 cards D157, Four Suits Stacked F1134

paper- real red, basic black, PTI white

ink- versafine black

Thanks for stopping by!

check it out...

2009-08-22T08:07:00.002-04:00

I seem to be finding so many blog candy giveaways lately!

Here is a great one I just found...such a BEAUTIFUL blog!

http://priscillastyles.blogspot.com/

Blogging woes...

2009-08-21T15:51:00.003-04:00

I have been going crazy trying to figure out how to re-design my blog and the Res-Q-Blog. I did a search for blog designers and had finally made up my mind to give up trying to do it myself and get a pro.

Well, look at this awesome contest I found today!

Blogs by Sneaky Momma

Pizza Box DRS Style

2009-08-17T23:00:00.000-04:00

I have had such a great time this summer as a Guest Designer for DRS Designs! Everyone is so sweet and helpful and I have lots of new ideas and stamps to use! SO, for my last "hurrah" so to speak, I have a little project.

This past weekend on SCS it was Virtual Stamping Night. We have a bunch of challenges that center around a theme which this time was "Paper Chef." One of the challenges was to make a mini pizza box. SO many ideas came to me as far as what to put inside the pizza box! Here are the instructions on SCS for the box itself:

PIZZA BOX

For this one, I made a simple set of six 3X3 cards. My Aunt lives on the beach and loves all things nautical. She also hates to wrap presents and hates to buy cards...she usually puts gifts in a pretty bag and folds a piece of paper in half to write as a card! ACK! SO, I figured I would leave these little notecards blank so she could use them for any occasion, and for either male of female.

The box is about 4X4 squared. The panel on the front is distressed and covered with a piece of mesh that I wrinkled up to give the appearance of a fishing net. Some hemp, a prima flower that I distressed and some buttons gave it a beachy look.

recipe: stamps: DRS Designs Conch Shell F1107

paper: Papertrey Ink Ocean Tides, Rustic Cream, White

ink: Ocean Tides, Vintage White, Chai distressing ink, Memento Timber Brown, Copic markers

Accessories: mesh, buttons, hemp, ribbon, prima flower, Glimmer Mist Sugar Cookie

Close up of front panel:

I carried on the beach theme on the 3X3 cards by using the conch shell alone. It makes a simple and elegant little card. There are 3 white and 3 in the Ocean Tides color. Inside the box I tied the cards up with some ocean tides ribbon and some hemp and laid them on top of some crinkled up filler paper.

I think it makes a cute and easy little gift! Another idea would be to make it in a holiday theme and include a bunch of one layer holiday gift tags! I gotta get started on THAT idea!

Thank you again Cathy and everyone at DRS, I had a wonderful time being part of your team and hope to work with you all again someday!

VSN!

2009-08-17T16:25:00.006-04:00

Whew! This weekend was Virtual Stamping Night on SCS. It's actually 2 days, Friday night and All day Saturday but it's still called VSN. Over the 2 days you can accumulate quite a nice pile of cards! Here are all mine. Sorry they don't have details with them like I normally do...it would have taken me forever! If you are interested in the details of one of these cards you can locate each card in my gallery on SCS HERE.

I will tell you about the first two, however. These are from my 6 year old daughter's challenge. She was the very first Kid's Challenge Hostess on VSN. She was so excited and even made a video introducing her challenge. You can see the challenge and her video HERE. Her challenge was to create a placemat using food for stamps.

Here are her samples:

The next 4 cards were samples from my challenge HERE:

This one is a mini pizza box! I am going to put gift tags inside for the holidays!
This one is a surprise pop up card!

This one has actual poppy seeds in the center!

This one has a cut out window in the center...

Back to challenges!

2009-08-12T07:54:00.002-04:00

I'm so happy to be back doing challenges again! Three weeks of being away from my craft closet was scary!

This card is for the Virtual Trip to Europe I am taking with my SCS friends...this time it was to Scotland and we were to be inspired by all of their beautiful castles. As I am cleaning out my stamps and selling some of them (wah!) I have been trying to use them all in one last hurrah....this set is from H & M stamps...one of my favorite sandcastles.

recipe: stamps- H&M stamps Fun in the Sun, PTI In Bloom

paper- white, kraft, tangerine tango

ink- copics, memento timber brown, black

accessories- hemp, CB folder

This is for the Clean and Simple challenge Monday to use bling...I just love these fancy Martini's and a little stickles makes it look yummy!

recipe: stamps- Rubber Romance, PTI Piece of Cake

paper- white, only orange, making memories

ink- palette noir, copics

accessories- photo corner punch, rhinestones, stickles

Home at last!

2009-08-08T08:39:00.002-04:00

Well I am home from my very LONG vacation....we had a great road trip down to Florida and and even better time visiting at my In-Laws house.

The CHA show was FABULOUS! I got to meet so many people from SCS but my favorite were the girls at Papertrey Ink. They were so sweet and genuinely nice people. I wish I would have remembered to get a picture with them!

One of the best things I picked up at the show was this new tool, the I-Top....OMG it is SO cool.....check it out...

SO now that I have enabled you a bit, I am going to try to catch up on some challenges! Thanks for stopping by!

Time for the Pool!

2009-08-04T07:18:00.000-04:00

One thing we can always count on in the summer is visiting my BFF's Mom's Pool. Her Mom (whom the kids call "GooGa") has a beautiful pool on a canal so it's fun to swim in the pool and watch as boats drift lazily by. Her son is my son's BFF...they call each other "best buds" and love to hang out together. When I saw this stamp from DRS Designs, I immediately thought of Chris and Paulie, tying towels around their neck playing superheroes at the pool. SO cute!

I think these simple days are the ones we tend to remember the most in life....so go and enjoy some of the simple joys of the summer! Thanks for stopping by!

recipe: stamps- DRS Designs F1096 Beach Boy, D1072 Fun in the Sun

paper- unk PP, night of navy, really rust, white

ink- palette noir, watercolor pencils, aqua pen

accessories- CB embossing folders, EK Success Star Punch, stapler, ribbon

Hugs,

Denise M.

Handmade by Me!

Picnic Time!

2009-07-29T07:18:00.001-04:00

Hope everyone is enjoying the summer!

Right now I am in Orlando with my kids and In-Laws soaking up the hot Florida Sun! My Mother In Law is also a stamper so we are having a blast trying new stuff and getting ready for a Stamp A Stack. She told all her usual attendees that there will be a "Guest Star Stamper" here for the class tonight......was I surprised to find out it was ME! We will be making 8 cards and a 3-D project tonight with 10 attendees!

In the meantime, here is another card I made with some new and some old stamps from DRS Designs....

I actually colored this one in on the road as we drove down from NY. I had a bunch of things already stamped and I just sat happily and colored along with my kids in the car!

I used the plaid stamp and some white craft ink for the background...

recipe: stamps- DRS Designs- K1104 Picnic Basket, P641 Large Original Plaid

paper- kraft, old olive, white

ink- white craft, palette noir, copic markers

accessories- ribbon

Thanks for stopping in!

I'll show you what we made in our little class tomorrow....

DRS Designs DT Blog Challenge #26

2009-07-27T10:15:00.001-04:00

Today is Challenge #26 over at the DRS Designs Blog!

Today's challenge is to use Faux Stitching on your card! I LOVE faux stitching... especially because I am awful at REAL stitching!

I used the beautiful BIG daisy bloom as the focal point and did 2 types of faux stitching. On the mitered edges I just used a brown marker and made small X's along the edges. Around the daisy I used a paper piercer and a template guide to pierce the holes and then I connected the dots with a brown marker.

recipe: stamps- DRS Designs M1023 Bloomin' Huge Flower

paper- Basic Grey, Pink Pirouette, white, chocolate chip

ink- Memento Timber Brown, watercolor pencils, aqua pen

accessories- paper piercer, chocolate chip marker, ribbon

Two Peas in a Pod...

2009-07-25T07:18:00.000-04:00

Hi everyone!

Hope you are having a fabulous summer! I am on vacation, driving from NY to Florida with my kids and In-Laws, stopping here and there and having some fun! When I get home, we will already be well into August! Where did the summer go?

One thing I have to get ready for is a few special events I have coming up. One is my cousin's wedding. They are a modern, untraditional, fun couple so I wanted to make them a whimsical wedding card. We all tease them they they are so alike they are "two peas in a pod!" How ironic that this would be in my wonderful package of brand new releases from DRS Designs??? I thought this would make a cute wedding card for them!

recipe: stamps- DRS Two Peas

paper- wild wasabi, Making Memories PP, white

ink- pallette noir, copic markers

accessories- ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing folder

Thanks for stopping by...

be sure to check out all the new releases at DRS Designs!

Take a Swim!

2009-07-23T07:18:00.002-04:00

Hi again! Just another sample for you using some new releases from DRS Designs...

For this one I tried out a new technique I have never done...it's Crayon Resist. Here are the fabulous SCS instructions but all it is really is stamping with Stazon on glossy paper. Then you color in the areas you want to remain white with a regular old white crayon you steal from your kids crayon box. Then you sponge or brayer with ink over the top. When you wipe over the crayoned areas the ink will disappear and viola!

I used this super cute seahorse to make a background, along with the little starfish. Makes super cute BG paper!

recipe: stamps DRS Designs- D1099 4 in 1 Beach Background, E1050 Dusty the Seahorse,

D1103 Hooked On You

paper- glossy white, tempting turquoise, so saffron

ink- stazon black, tempting turquoise, so saffron

accessories- white crayon, hemp, safety pin

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunny Days Ahead!

2009-07-21T10:15:00.002-04:00

Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunny Summer so far!

Right now I am starting a fun road trip with my in-laws and my 2 kids driving from NY to Florida! We left NY today and making a few stops on the way down to spend a week in Orlando with Nana and Pop! I even get to go to the CHA show in Orlando! What could be better!

SO, this card today is what I'm hoping to see for a few weeks...

bright sunshiny weather!

Here is a sneak peak at two of the new releases available right now from DRS Designs ...4 in 1 Beach Background and You are My Sunshine. I used two of the four cute tiny images on this stamp. Perfect to use together as a background or separately like I did.

You may have noticed on one of my last posts I used the spotlighting technique as well.

You can see directions for this technique by the awesome Beate Johns HERE on SCS. I used the spotlighting technique again here and a very simple background stamped with versamark and clear embossing powder.

recipe: stamps- DRS *4 in 1 Beach Background, *You are my Sunshine

paper- only orange, white, summer sun

ink- palette noir, versamark, copic markers

accessories- circle punches, paper piercer, chalks, clear EP

*new releases available now at DRS Designs

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week!

DRS Designs DT Blog Challenge #25

2009-07-13T10:15:00.000-04:00

Welcome! Today is DRS's 25th Challenge on the DT Blog! It's so exciting that I get to be a apart of this fabulous milestone!

Today's challenge is to make a Genie Bag! You can find the tutorial HERE on SCS.

Come and play along with us! Go to the DRS Designs Blog, use the keyword DRSC25 and post it in the comments section so we can check it out!.

Here is my Genie Bag...

recipe: White Lunch Bag

stamps- Drink Line Up G173 (I know I have used it like a hundred times already but I LOVE it!)

paper- wild wasabi, SU DSP, white

ink- memento black, copic markers

accessories- ribbon, circle punch, corner rounder

I used a white lunch bag for mine...and plan to fill it with some ingredients for Weight Watchers Margaritas to give to a dear friend who is having a hard time following the plan.

Here is the Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 (12 ounce) can diet Sprite or 7-Up
3 tablespoons lime juice
Crystal Light sugar free low calorie lemonade mix (indiv package you would use in a bottle of water)
1 jigger of tequila
15 ice cubes

Blend in a blender, rim a margarita glass with some salt and VIOLA! The ENTIRE blender-full is only ONE POINT...yes you heard me right...the whole blender is only one point! Enjoy!

Whew, it's Hot outside!

2009-07-07T09:49:00.004-04:00

OK, so summer is officially here cause it is HOT!

One of my all time favorite drinks (we're talkin' non-alcoholic here for a change!) is called an Arnold Palmer. It's a mix of half Iced Tea and half Lemonade. Yum! Add a paper umbrella and a straw and you may actually feel like you're on vacation!

This card was for the Featured Stamper Challenge and the Clean and Simple Challenge this week on SCS.

recipe: stamps- DRS Designs Drink Line Up G173, Papertrey Ink Mixed Messages

paper- wild wasabi, black, Bo Bunny Patterned Paper

Ink- Palette Noir, Copic Markers

Accessories- colored hemp, circle punch

This card is for the Technique Lovers Challenge this week...to make a stand up card. this was so fun and easy I know I'll be making them more often!

recipe: stamps- Rubber Romance: Denise has a Birthday (that's really the name!)

Birthday Diva

Paper- Pink Pirouette, PTI white, unk PP

ink- Platte Noir, copic markers

accessories- ribbon, rhinestone

Hope you're having a great week! Thanks for stopping by!