Mass Production (sorta)

I've really been on a kick recently with making card sets and these are my attempt at "CLEAN & SIMPLE, MASS PRODUCING" !!! If you've been reading my blog for very long, you know that NEITHER are Qualities that I am very good at. I think it has to do with my SEVERE ADHD and my CREATIVE Brain not being able to stay on the same CHANNELS. My intention has been to make and send them to my Granny. She has always been so good about sending a card just to make someone's day. NOW if only I could just get them into the mail!!

So Take a look at some of the cards I created and you will see how I struggled to keep them CLEAN & SIMPLE

This was the first one that I created
Then Green
A few in between then this one with the fun ribbon
THEN..... I JUST PLAIN OLE GOT CARRIED AWAY
CHALLENGES I USED:
2 Sketches 4 You: Sketch #61
Inktegrity : Anything Goes #14

Teacher Appreciation Gift Sets

New Year, New School, New Teachers,
one thing remains the same
our
APPRECIATION
for
TEACHERS

At the end of the last school year, I made little gift sets just like these!! ABC Toys & Crafts along with Little Red Wagon, Stamp Something, The Pixie Cottage AND Shirley's 2 Girls are all having "BACK TO SCHOOL" Challenges and these were so much fun to put together that I decided they would be a great way to start of this school year.

Each set includes:

10 - note cards in red, blue, yellow, purple & orange

FRONT of Note Card ---->

BACK of Note Card ---->

20 - "This Book Belongs To The Library Of " stickers

1 - Personalized paper clip

CHALLENGES I USED:
ABC Toys & Crafts: Back to School
Stamp Something: Back to School & a DT Search
The Shabby Tea Room: A Little Bit of Metal along with a photo inspiration (I liked the shabby colors which I used in my packaging & I used a metal paper clip)
Little Red Wagon: Back to School
The Pixie Cottage: Back to School &/or their sketch (I chose just to use the theme)
Shirley's 2 Girls: Back to School w/a "Twist to use Letters or Numbers" (I used both on the belly band of my packaging )
.....................Supplies I used..................
Stamps: Crafty Secrets (book lovers ), Paper Trey Ink (teachers apple)
Ink: Momento black, Stampin Up (real red, close to cocoa)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (real red, elegant eggplant, yo yo yellow, pacific point, tangerine tango, whisper white)
Patterned Paper: Autumn Leaves (Hall Pass)
Tools: Marvy Uchida (large scalloped circle punch), Spellbinders (Nestabilities Labels 7 die)
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (small wax bags, 8 1/2" x 11" adhesive sticker sheets), K & Co (blank tags), metal paper clips, ribbon scraps

May Day Basket

Challenge #10 "BASKETS"

Creating little containers, gifts and altering items are some of my VERY favorite projects to create which is why I have been in "CREATIVE HEAVEN" this week. (I have a wooden Vintage box posted below this) Love challenges that really cause us to think "outside the box" and break out of a creative rut. Check out FUSSY & FANCY for complete details

** MOTHER'S DAY SALE **

20% off of Everything
(hurry sale ends Sunday, May 9)

This basket was created by using the large Spellbinders Scalloped Squares. I then dry embossed each square. Here is a closeup of the "Crafty Secrets, Bouquet of Joy " image that I colored with Copic Markers. I can't get enough of the new "Vintage Background" (GinaK by NinaB) stamps either. How beautiful is that lacey/eyelet stamp in white ink on always artichoke cardstock?
Closeup of the flowers & Ribbons that I attached at the base of each handle. The Handle is attached with a large brad so it moves back and forth.

Top view to show that I got a little carried away and decided that this would make a wonderful "Teacher's Appreciation" or "Mother's Day" gift so I completed the basket by creating
3"x 3" gift cards.

And Finally a peek at some of the little cards:

CHALLENGES I USED:
Fussy & Fancy: Baskets
Creative Card Crew: April showers bring May Flowers
The Pink Elephant: Mom
A Crafty Little Place: Sketch (ok I can still see their sketch- flowers, image & sentiment are the 3 squares and the vintage background across the bottom is where they have their strips, I just had to squish mine because of the small area)
Creative Craft Challenges: Bloomin Marvelous
Daisy Doodles: Anything but a Card
KL Stampin N Scrappin: Inside Out (I think creating the little cards for the inside of my basket qualifies???)
Cuttlebug Challenges: Mom
..............Supplies I used..................
Stamps: Gina K (Vintage backgrounds by NinaB), Crafty Secrets (bouquet of joy), Paper Trey Ink (Button Basics)
Ink: Momento (tuxedo black), Copic Markers, Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate, fresh snow)
Cardstock: Gina K (pure luxury 120lb white, sweet corn & fresh asparagus), Stampin Up (always artichoke), Paper Trey Ink (berry sorbet, spring moss, melon berry)
Patterned Papers: Bo Bunny, Stampin' Up, K&Co (bailey mat pad),
Tools: Spellbinders (large scalloped squares, large scalloped ovals), Provo Craft (Cuttlebug, cuttlebug textile embossing folder)
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (Ribbons, buttons), Prima (caboodle lavender, pink flowers)

Unique Baby Shower Gift for a little boy

I attended a baby shower a couple of weeks ago and this is a fun little set of onsies that I created as part of my gift. The top two photos show that I stamped both the front and backs of each onsie using Stazon Ink. The only thing that I did different to each shirt was where I stamped the sentiment "Need for Speed". Just to make sure that my image was there to stay, I heat set them using my embossing gun. The package contained 3 onsies that I rolled up and placed in a matching gift bag. Boxes & bags are my favorite things to create probably because the presentation of an ordinary gift becomes so much more exciting! Remember that if you are creating your own patterned paper, stamp your images BEFORE cutting the card stock...

Although I originally created this card to go with my gift, I ended up creating a more traditional "baby card" in baby blue. The large circle was cut using a large Nestabilities circle. I stamped my main image and embossed him in black. I stamped him a second time using gray ink to give him a shadow. This was the first time that I had ever used my brayer tool, however, this is a technique that I can't wait to do again. So simple, just roll the brayer across an ink pad then over your stamped image alternating colors. No need to mask the stamped image if you have heat embossed because the ink wipes right off. The grass was created by stamping the top portion of a large background stamp in different shades of green.
Thank you so much for visiting me today.

REMINDERS

"Twisted Thursday" sketch challenge - there is still time
to play. Complete details are below

September 3 - BLOG HOP and of course there will be
PRIZES
DISCOUNT CODE
worth 15 % off your entire order
at
ABC Toys & Crafts

-------> ABC15F <-------

This discount code is good until October 10

Just Shoot Me with BUTTONS!!!

Takin' Out The Stash
Tuesday

Yesterday's card had a Funtastic button that I purchased last week on a shopping expedition to show a friend the sewing district of Catania. Although we can find a minimum amount of fun embellishments here in Sicily, they certainly come with a HEFTY PRICE. First take a look at my entire crafty purchase:

My giddy excitement over finding such amazing ribbons, buttons, lifetime supplies of powder fine glitters in glorious colors came to a SCREACHING HALT as the store clerk declared my total to be (are you sitting down for this?) 80 euro!!!! That is $114 AMERICAN DOLLARS..... Of course now I don't even like them, I am disgusted that I didn't think to ask what price I was paying for each button. I mean it never dawned on me that ONE button could cost 3 euro. Aren't buttons supposed to be like $0.10 or somethng?? I feel so violated..

Moving on to actually using my STASH of BUTTONS (no I did not use any of the new ones). This is the stamp set that I chose last month for winning The Guest Star Stamper at Paper Trey Ink. (btw, this stamp set is what triggered my enthusiasm to find unique buttons in the first place). This was such a fun set of cards to create and I was able to whip them up in less than an hour. I saved a little time by using naked buttons rather than threading them. That is a pet peeve of mine but I wanted to keep the feel of the cards as clean as possible. The box took a bit longer because I have a habit of not doing the math when trying to create a box top that actually fits!! I used a Nestability Die to create the embossed impression on each card, as well as the lid. I believe these are Labels #1. If you look at the trees in the back ground, I used a leaf that comes in the stamp set as the tops of my trees. I also stamped an extra leaf on the flower card in lieu of adding another flower. The frilly border around my box top was created using a Martha Stewart edge punch that also embosses. Hurry over to ABC Toys & Crafts where you can purchase your Nestabilities, MS Punches, Copics and of course Stamps at

10% off until Aug 30
use the Blinkie on my side bar

Come back tomorrow so I can show you what else I purchased on my shopping trip along with a few snap shots .

Shirley's 2 Girls 222 Challenge

THINK COLOR!

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX!

What: S2G 222 Challenge (2nd 2uesday 2:00 pst)
Starts: NOW
Due Date: April 21st at 2:00 p.m. (pst)

"Mary, Mary, quite contrary…

how does your garden grow?

With silver bells and cockle shells

And pretty maids all in a row.

Use this Nursery Rhyme for a jumping off point...being young...carefree...open your mind and get creative!

The color palette is...Lavender, Orange, Lime, Black and White.

The due date is April 21st at 2:00pm…

After you have finished your piece...post it to your BLOG...& SCS...then link it to our"linkie"...(HERE) The WINNER will be chosen by S2G & the DT members... their project will also be posted in our Gallery, on the S2G Blog and recieve $22.00 in Attitude Gratitude.

GOOD LUCK!

Now that you have all the deets...Do you need some inspiration to get you going?

Here's my Project. I made a Boxed set of 3x3 note cards using the color palette and a cute new digi image by shirleys2girls. Isn't she just beautiful? I tried to capture a photo so that you can see that I used some green and purple SMOOCHES along with some Shimmerz and Rhinestones for earrings!!! Rather than the recipient try and smoosh the cards into envelopes, I punched a small hole into upper back, left, corner. I cut six strips of white, taffeta ribbon which I placed under the cards. This way the cards can be attached directly to a gift bag or tied into a ribbon on a boxed gift.....

MORE MORE MORE........

Check out what the rest of the Design Team has got up their sleeves to help motivate and inspire you.
Erin
Pat
Joy
Debbie
Shelley
Karolyn

Congratulations to ****** ME *******

Please excuse me while the dust settles from my little happy dance....... What's all the fuss you wanna know? I, Me, Moi have been selected to be April's Guest Designer for Susana's Custom Art and Card Designs. I will be the Guest Designer for the Karen Lockhart line!!!!!!!!!!!

I am posting this super late, well maybe it is considered early (12:45 am) because I have been trying to narrow down my order with SCACD. Besides receiving free Lockhart stamps, I also received a 10% discount that I quickly used for some amazing new products that I have been dying to own. Flower Soft, Smooches, Baubles, Diamond Glaze, Shimmerz and Laura Ashley DP are all the RAGE right now and they are all on there way to me.

Now don't get me wrong, I love my Shirley's 2 Girls Design Team and will not be leaving them. I am just adding to my Creative Resume'...............

So with all this excitement I should get to the CARDS..... Last week I mentioned Festa Della Donna, the celebration of women. During our annual "Girls Only, Night Out", we had a gift exchange. Doing what I do best, I created a boxed set of cards. To me they seem rather simple, however, so many times I give boxed sets and I hear later that the recipient can't bear to send them out!!!! O the shame ---- ok so I know exactly how the hourding thing works, therefore, I created these in the hopes that they would actually be utilized.

I used my new circle Nestabilities that were a gift from my good friend Karolyn (she is also on the S2G DT and SCACD DT). Thank you Karolyn ;o) The stamps are from PTI's Stationery Set. Can you see on the scalloped edge that I stamped a little matching scroll onto each scallop? Presentation is everything and keeping with the simple elegant look, I simply sandwiched the flap of the envelope into an embossing folder and ran it through the Cuttlebug. For packaging, I placed everything into a clear box, tied it with a wide ribbon and created a simple little tag.

The entire gift took me about an hour. Now let's hope that they get used to brighten someones day with a simple, elegant act of gratitude............................

Thank you so much for stopping by and allowing me to share my happy moment with you. Take a moment to check out Susana's Custom Art and Card Designs.... Tomorrow I have a WOW project to share with you (Hint: Easter)
.................Recipe................
Paper Trey Ink: Simply Stationery stamp set, clear box, Aqua Mist CS and ink, White envelopes
Stampin' Up!: Bravo Burgandy, Taken with Teal CS and ink, Scalloped edge punch, Kraft taffeta ribbon, Scallop Square Punch
Spellbinders: Circle Nestabilities
Making Memories: dragonfly brad
Marvy Uchida: Scallop Square Punch
Cuttlebug machine and Textile embossing folder
Burgandy Ribbon, DP from Costco and misc. stamp

Gifts for Teachers and a Tutorial

My new favorite stamp set was completely inspired by Nichole Heady and her design team over at PaperTrey Ink.  2008 Holiday Tags is a MUST HAVE..  When I saw Nichole's boxed set of gift tags complete with ribbon, I knew right then that would be what I created for all of Adam's teachers this Christmas.  Besides needing the stamp set, I would also need the hinged tins.. Unfortunately I ordered the wrong size!!!!  And I ordered two sets of the wrong size... I ordered the ones without the clear lid and they were much smaller.  Part of the fun of this gift is being able to see the little ensemble through the lid......

Within my linen closet I have a shelf where I store my "alterable" items.  Don't you love when you just so happen to have that perfect "something" on hand when you really need it??  So many products come in such amazing packaging these days and I knew that ONE DAY I would be glad that I didn't throw out the cute little boxes that prima flowers come in. (I think they are Prima?)  Nicole was nice enough to create a template for the larger hinged tins but it was still much too large for these little boxes.  Using the same concept, I created my own little two compartment insert....  I only had 7 of the flower boxes with the clear lids so I also created inserts for the smaller Altoids type tins that I had purchased.

For the flower box:

Cut card stock to: 5 1/4" x 2 1/2" 

Score at:  1 1/2", 2 1/8" & 2 3/4"

Fold along scores to create a tent adhering the two walls of the tent together.  Glue to the bottom of the box to secure it.

Smaller hinged tins:

Cut card stock to: 5 1/8" x 2 1/4"

Score at 1 1/4", 2" & 2 3/4"

(NOTE)  In order to make this more sturdy, I highly recommend a high quality card stock. Stampin' Up! whisper white will NOT cut it.  I used PaperTrey Ink.... Now that I have been using their card stock, especially the white for my card bases, I cannot bring myself to use the SU.  Comparatively speaking, SU is not a crisp pure white.  I'm a little embarrassed by my older cards that have the more flimsy card stock as their base.  I am not being paid to endorse any of these companies or their products.  I also plan on purchasing the new white card stock from Gina K Designs hers and the PTI are both 120lb paper, whereas SU is 80lb.  Since Santa is bringing me Copic Markers for Christmas, it is my understanding that the Gina K pure white Luxury Card Stock is the best for coloring on because it is less porous than PTI............ Hope this helps.

Back to this amazing little project.

 

 Each gift set contains: 

8 peel & stick labels, 9 scalloped circle tags to be used with any of the 4 different types of ribbons that are also included.

Presentation can make even the simplest gifts more appealing don't you think??  Don't you always go for the most beautifully wrapped gift at those office gift exchanges??

I started with a plain glassine bag and stamped snowflakes in a craft white ink to both sides.  I heat set it a few seconds to keep from smearing the images.  I used the large purple Marvy Uchida scallop circle punch to create the red tag that I folded in half to make the bag more sturdy and to keep it from ripping when I tied the ribbon.  The little gift tags turned out super cute and coordinate with the entire ensemble.

The card is  2 1/2 " x  2 1/2".  The front and back of each card has a piece of patterned paper with rounded corners.  I stamped the snowflake image, adhered it to a scalloped circle then mounted it using foam squares, added a little bling to the center, punched a hole and tied it to the ribbon using hemp.

I completed 7 of these gift sets, complete with packaging in one afternoon....... I am so happy with the way that they turned out and I truly hope that they are a gift that each one of them will actually use.  If any of Adam's teachers read this, I cannot thank you enough for the wonderful jobs that you are doing.  Thank you and Merry Christmas!!!!!!!!!!!!!

......................Recipe.....................

stamps: 2008 Holiday Tags (PTI)

paper: white card stock, white 8 1/2 x 11" peel and stick sheets (PTI), always artichoke, real red (SU)

ink: real red, basic black, white craft, always artichoke (SU)

tools: purple, blue scalloped circle punches (Marvy Uchida), regular hole punch, stylus, paper cutter 

ribbons: mellow moss satin (PTI), real red crossgrain, red & white stripe, white organza, holiday stripe, hemp (SU)

Mini Christmas Cards

I have been such a bad blogger that I don't even know where to begin. Unfortunately bad blogging isn't the only area I am falling short on lately. I really have not created ANYTHING. The only exception being this little set of cards and I'm not finished with the box I am putting together to package them in. The tutorial I was using was off on the measurements so the lid is way too big. That may not bother some but it will drive me crazy. Very frustrating. Rather than not continue to neglect my blog, I chose to share the cards anyway.............

The stamps I used is my brand new set from PaperTrey Ink called 2008 Holiday Tags. I absolutely love this set and it has been so much fun to work with. The 15th of each month PTI releases all of their new sets, ribbons, papers etc for the month. With that date looming ever closer, I realized I would never be able to justify ordering another new set if I didn't ink up one of the two sets I had purchased in October..................

If you haven't guessed by my silence as of late, I have been working full time since last week. Just so happens that is also when my hubby left for a few weeks. Soooooo between working all day and not having the extra help, I really haven't had much opportunity to get into my "Studio ;o) I am sure hoping that I am not overwhelmed with the feeling of a dirty house tomorrow, I NEED to unleash some creative energy, although I am not sure I have any at the moment.

Check back with me because I am determined I WILL COMPLETE SOME PROJECTS WORTHY OF SHARING (wish me luck). Thanks so much for checking in on me today

(ALL THAT BEING SAID, I have the COMPLETED project to SHARE. This computer has taken on a mind of it's own and try as I might, I could not get the original image to load. I think this was worth the wait)
......................Recipe.....................
stamps: 2008 Holiday tags, Believe (PaperTrey Ink)
cardstock: sage shadow, very vanilla, always artichoke, ruby red, night of navy (Stampin' Up!), Kraft (PaperTrey Ink)
patterned paper: Fruitcake (Basic Grey)
ribbon: ripe avocado(PaperTrey Ink),
ink: old olive, mellow moss, real ruby red, blue bayou, close to cocoa (Stampin' Up!), dark chocolate(perfect match PaperTrey Ink)
tools: Marvy Uchida punches (blue, pink, lavender scallop circles, blue scallop oval), scallop edge punch (Stampin' Up!)