This OLD MAN...........

This "OLD MAN"
he played six, he played knick knack with some stix
with a Knick Knack paddy wack
give the dog a bone
this OLD MAN came rolling ("stumbling") home

Does anyone else remember that or did I just show my age?

MOXIE FAB is hosting a "Stamping with Markers Challenge" and I am hoping to WIN the new "E" set of Copics. Want to play along? You have until March 16

This old man from "You Know You're Old When" by Gina K Designs is one of the funnest stamp sets to color with my Copic Markers. I have so much fun shading, highlighting and making their wrinkles look as realistic as possible.

I wish I had taken a photo of the fun beer assortment that I put together for this gift; they had some fun labels. I'm not a beer drinker but my recipient loves Beer so I hope this is the perfect gift

CHALLENGES I AM ENTERING
Moxie Fab World: Stamping with Markers Challenge
One Stitch at a Time: Anything but Square
Paper Sundaes: Masculine Colors (does not have to be masculine)

....................Supplies I used....................
Stamps: Gina K (you know your old when, beautiful backgrounds by Nina Brackett)
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (scarlett jewel, kraft), Gina K (dark brown, olive, cream,), Stampin Up (close to cocoa)
Tools: Paper Trey Ink (limitless layers 1 3/4" collection)

Moxie Fab Pretty Pastels Color Challenge

MOXIE FABULICIOUSNESS PROJECT #5

2nd Post of the day

I would love it if you scrolled down to see the first project that I created
for the Moxie Fab Metallic Color challenge

If you have visited me this past week then you know I have been having a lot of fun participating in the Moxie Fab World's Celebration of Card Makers Week. There are a total of different Color Combo Challenges and this Sweet little Valentine Goodie bag was created for the

PRETTY PASTELS Challenge

Blossom, Lupine, Baby Pink Light and Intense Pink

You have until Tomorrow, Monday, January 30 at midnight (EST) if you would like to join in

COMPLETE DETAILS
------> HERE <------

Close up of the Patterned Paper I created with several different hearts from the Paper Trey Ink " Heart Prints " Stamp Set. LOOK CLOSELY to see the Hot Pink larger scalloped border around the top of my bag. I actually stamped a smaller heart throughout my bag but I'm afraid they might be impossible to see on the monitor? The sweet little tag was created by using a combination of stamps also from PTI

CHALLENGES I USED:
Moxie Fab World: Pretty Pastels Color Challenge
The Shabby Tea Room: Get Creative (the idea is to create your own everything you can using basic supplies without having to rely on patterned paper etc)
Charisma Cardz: Valentines
Meljens: Hearts

..................Supplies I used..................
Stamps: Paper Trey Ink (heart prints, heart songs, mixed messages)
Ink: Paper Trey Ink (raspberry fizz, blush blossom), Stampin Up (lovely lilac)
Cardstock: Paper Trey Ink (sweet blush), Stampin Up (pretty in pink)
Tools: Paper Trey Ink (Favor It Box #2 die)
Misc: Stampin Up (pink ribbon)

Halloween Treat Box #2

I am still having so much fun creating these little Treat Boxes that I found over on Georgia MacDonalds Blog -------> HERE

The main image here was cut from a vintage postcard (sorry don't know the manufacturer which was not marked anywhere on the sheet). The scalloped oval behind my main image was a scrap that I had lying around my table. I used two stamps from the Crafty Secrets "Halloween Fun" stamp set. Cute Card Thursday's Challenge this week is to "Make Your Own Embellishment" so I created the star embellishment by simple punching a star shape, applying glue and glitter (EASY but the hardest part is WAITING for it to DRY!!!)

My daughter is going to love that I recycled the rope handle from part of the gift wrapping she had used on my Birthday Gifts.

CHALLENGES I USED:
Meljens: Halloweeny
Cute Card Thursday: Make Your Own Embellishment (created my Star & my tag)
Ohh La La: Nothing Floral
Glitterbabe: Anything goes but it has to SPARKLE
The Crazy Challenge: Recycle (I recycled the rope handle)
Stamp Something: Something to Celebrate (Halloween)
Paper Sundaes: Something from your STASH (ribbon, large eyelets, on sides, glitter, postcard & handle)

.......................Supplies I used.......................
Stamps: Crafty Secrets (Halloween Fun), Paper Trey Ink
Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye
Ink: Momento (tuxedo black)
Tools: Marvy Uchida (small circle punch, scalloped oval punch, small circle scalloped punch), 1/8" hole punch, 1/4" hole punch,
Misc: Stampin Up (large eyelets), Gingham Ribbon from Stash, rope from stash, glitter from Italy,

Spooky lil Treat Box

This week the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team theme was " HALLOWEEN "
(there is a blinkie on my side bar titled ABC Design Blog where you can see what everyone else designed)

Is that "TREAT BOX" to die for or WHAT.... WANT TO MAKE ONE?? WANT A FREE TEMPLATE?? Visit Georgia MacDonald to grab yours (be sure and tell her I said THANK YOU because I've now made several)

I'm all about VERSATILITY when it comes to my stamp sets and I want to get as much bang for my buck as I possibly can. I chose to get inky with the "EEK A MONSTER" Stamp set from My Cute Stamps. Take a look at how I could dress that one eyed monster and

BOOM......... It's a Birthday Card for a GIRL

Here is a close up of the same monster dressed in blue / green...... See how easily he transforms into a BOY?? or better yet, UNISEX..........
CHALLENGES I USED:
Little Red Wagon: Stars
Sew Many Challenges: Embossing (I used heat embossing for the monsters and sentiment)
Paper Sundaes: Min of 3 embellishments (ribbons, eye, button, chipboard star, handmade rosette)
Pals Paper Arts: Halloween
Totally Gorjuss: Flowers (I created my own Rosette out of paper)
Our Creative Corner: Fun with Folds (I used a fold technique for the Rosette but there was lots of folding done to create my treat box as well)

STAY TUNED to my blog where I will show you how this same monster TRANSFORMS into a GET WELL MONSTER!!!!

There is still PLENTY of TIME to think about what you will create for Halloween this year
HOWEVER
TIME is RUNNING OUT

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)

I actually used my Italian Antique "Goodies"!!!

Remember my post a few weeks ago where I shared photos of the
"Treasures"
that I found at the
Sicilian Antique market?

OK I'll be "honest", this project started out as a Teacher's Appreciation gift and then it transformed into my NEW FAVORITE Project. How could I ever give such yumminess away. I mean take a look at my Sicilian Treasures actually being utilized. AND this isn't even a "Dust Collector"!! I found the PERFECT use for it!! I am using it to hold my hand painted papers from Florence and Vinci (yes as in Leonardo di Vinci or his birthplace). NOW IF I COULD JUST STOP HOARDING THAT PAPER!!

My entire project was inspired by this Vintage Image which was a "FREEBIE"

I created the rose from some more of that old pillow case that just seems to multiply!! I dyed it by mixing coffee & pink food coloring.

How cool is that old watch face?

I painted the chipboard, distressed it, applied glue and glitter only to discover that I HATED the glitter that I had used, SOOOO while I was painting another frame, I re-applied paint directly over my glitter and PERFECTO!
This is the back side of the box. The key is another of my Sicilian Treasures and the ticket is from the base theater here in Sicily.
The little scroll on the upper left hand side is a one Lire bill from 1944. I've lived in Sicily long enough to actually remember and "miss" the Lire.
The box was just a plain wooden box (a RAK from Stephanie Muzzulin) that I covered using patterned paper. After covering all sides, I sanded the edges, sponged some brown ink. While lightly painting the inside, I blotted my brush around the edges to soften the brown.
CHALLENGES I USED:
Vintage Image Crafts: 1st Challenge ever & Free images
Crafts & Me Challenge #3: Sparkle (got lots of that on my frame)
The Crazy Challenge: Bling Bling (Well I am rather fond of my Italian bling bling watch face & the sparkle on my frame)
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge: As you like it (I like Vintage & Distressing)
The Shabby Tea Room: Get Your Bling On (Blinged out that frame)
Creative Card Crew: April Showers bring May FLOWERS (I made my own)

A Cup of Holiday Cheer to ring in the New Year

My son absolutely adores Hot Cocoa so I came up with this little project to make sure he has a "Special Drink" on New Year's Eve. We will be hopping between a few different parties and I wanted to make sure that he has a "special cup of cheer" to ring in the new year.
If you look closely, you will see that I used some of the tiniest stamps to create the frame, as well as, stamp up the sides of my box. The little sentiments and snowflake are from the "Snow Bunnies" stamp set by Crafty Secrets. The cup of Cocoa is another My Cute Stamps set called " Sweet Chocolate ".

25% off ALL Stamps until 12/31/09

Challenges:
Our Creative Corner: food or drink
Crafty Creations: No Rules

Here are a few of the products that I used for my project:(click on any to shop at ABC Toys & Crafts)

BOO-tiful Pumkin head gift Set & lots of STASH

Today is

Takin' Out the Stash Tuesday
and an
ENABLER ALERT

Totally messed up on the Main image for my project and used a Digi that isn't part of the S2G 25% off promotion, however, the kitty inchie that I used IS ON SALE!!! Click on the Blinkie above to see the Halloween images. If ya gotta have it NOW, then DIGI (click HERE) is what you are looking for. When I purchased the Pumpkin Flavored Shampoo & Conditioner for my daughter, I knew exactly how I would package them. I mean how perfect is that Kitty with the pumpkin on his head. I will probably write some silly statement about no matter how big for her britches she gets, she will ALWAYS be my LIL' PUMPIN HEAD ;o)

Check out all the STASH that I pulled out. Box was created with a heavy weight piece of cardstock or maybe even cardboard that had originally been used to ship something to me. I liked the color of it but I have been HOARDING it. I broke out a neglected embossing folder. Used a couple large eyelets to attach my handle and some WILD ribbon (no really the name is Wild and is available HERE).
Want to WIN a FREE set of Shirley's 2 Girls stamps???? Come play TWISTED THURSDAY sketch challenge. You have until midnight tomorrow (Wed) to enter a project for this week....
HERE are COMPLETE DETAILS
...........Supplies I used............
Digi Image: Shirley's 2 Girls (Hallo-scream)
Stamps: Shirley's 2 Girls (Spookies 1)
Inks: Stampin Up (rust, close to cocoa), Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black)
Tools: Marvy Uchida (scalloped circle punches-purple, pink, blue - Yellow plain circle), Provo Craft (Cuttlebug, Pumpkin Harvest embossing folder), Spellbinders (Nestabilitie tags
Misc: Shirley's 2 Girls (wild ribbon) Stampin Up (striped ribbon, large eyelets)

"VERVALICIOUS" Hostess Gift Set

Verve Stamps is one of the MOST generous Stamp producers on the market. I mean seriously who has not heard of MOJO Monday's or Viva La Verve or the numerous other opportunities Verve gives to WIN some of theirs stamps for FREE?? I just finished my second entry into the "Happiness for Hostess" Project....... I had so much fun with the Wine set that I created last week, that I used the same concept to create this Frappaccino set for the sole purpose of getting to play with my new stamp set "Delightful & Delicious"....... Let me know what you think...

...........Supplies I used...........
Stamps: Verve (delightful & delicious)
Patterned Paper: My Favorite Things
Cardstock: Canson Papercraft (heritage colors assortment)
Ribbon: My Favorite Things (chocolate satin), Making Memories (bella kids trims pink gingham)
Ink: Paper Trey Ink (dark chocolate, fresh snow), Copic Markers, Stampin Up (close to cocoa)
Tools & Dies: Spellbinders (rectangle scallop dies), Marvy Uchida (yellow scallop & regular circle punches), Stampin Up (scallop circle punch, Sizzix top note label die, scallop border punch), Provo Craft (cuttlebug)
Misc: foam squares

Takin out the Stash Tuesday

Takin' out the Stash Tuesday
is all about
using those items that we tend to
HOARD
or
just COLLECT but never actually USE

Believe it or not, every single item that is in this fun little gift was part of "My Stash". Yes the bath salts, the little bottle that the bath salts are in, the body scrubber and even the candle. I have a shelf where I keep my alterable items or items that could be used to fill the little boxes that I am so in love with creating. This stamp set by My Favorite Things (Girls Day In) was the reason that I started keeping the fun little toiletries from various hotels I have stayed in. Generally I don't usually need them, however, I have always been fascinated with keeping them. David is the one who is constantly traveling, even flying first class (they give out the coolest cosmetic bags filled with wonderful treasures) so he gets a kick out of bringing me these fun little things.

The cocktail/birthday party I attended Saturday night requested that I not bring a gift, I couldn't resist. Surely they meant store bought gifts right? HMMM maybe not because the hostess certainly plucked this out of my hands before I could even enter the residence and give it to the birthday girl. Guess I'll never get accused of NOT being a Rebel (if I followed all the rules all of the time, life would be so boring)....

So what else was I hoarding in my Stash of Goodies??? Patterned paper, Buttons, rhinestone brads, prima flowers, felt flowers, ribbon, and stickers. I used Copic Markers to color her legs, stool, chest, hands, and glass of vino. Her bathrobe was paper pieced and so was the chair, however the chair pieces I ran through the Cuttlebug using the Textile embossing folder to give it a more realistic appearance. I created the wallpaper by using two very small stamps from Paper Trey Ink and then went back and added teeny dots. I stamped and cut out the gift tag. After stamping the empty bottle, I added dots to look like bath salts then used a lighter marker to shade and blend. I also colored the bottle lide to look like cork. The bottle of bath salts has two stickers on it. One is on the top of the lid and says "bath salts", the one around the front says "Take time for you". The little leaf sprig was just lying about my craft table so I added that and decided it added a nice little flair. The sides of my box were created using the curly label Sizzix die. The handle is just a strip of brown cardstock that I added some self adhesive Martha Stewart ribbon to then attached using layered flowers which are held in place with yellow rhinestone brads.

So glad that you stopped by today and so far this week my posts seem to be about the gift of Friendship. REMINDERS:

1. S2G fa-BOO-licious Blog Hop will be Thursday
2. You have until midnight tomorrow to submit your projects for last week's Twisted Thursday sketch challenge. Maybe you will be the lucky WINNER
3. Save 15 % off your entire order at ABC Toys & Crafts using this code ABC15F
   

...............Supplies I used..................
Stamps: My Favorite Things (girls day in), Paper Trey Ink
Paper, Stampin Up
Misc: Buttons & ribbon (Paper Trey Ink), Prima Flowers, Making Memories Rhinestones, (available at ABC Toys & Crafts), Martha Stewart (adhesive ribbon), felt flowers, label die cut (Stampin Up)

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 .