I C U - Get Well

I * C * U
haahaa
Get It?

The acronym ICU stands for Intensive Care Unit but I have also used it as a Play on Words for EYE SEE YOU since my funny little monster was affixed with a googley eye !!!
My father in law just underwent open heart surgery and will be spending a few days in the Hospital's Intensive Care Unit ( ICU ) so so I created this clever card in hopes of bringing a smile to his face.

This monster is the same one that I used on the post directly below this one. Here is a peek at the inside of my project where I have featured this stamp sets "Crankier Monster".
His fever must be really high to be flowing all those flames!!! The thermometer is from the Crafty Secrets "Feel Better" Sticker Sheet.

EEK A MONSTER Stamp Set is 20% OFF with FREE SHIPPING

CHALLENGES I USED:
Simon Says Stamp & Show: Show your GRUNGE
Paper Sundaes: Fall or Halloween Colors (I used fall)
Sew Many Challenges: Embossing (I heat embossed my monsters)
Inktegrity: Anything Goes
Pile It On: Red, Yellow, Green, Brown (Red obvious, Yellow/Gold stitching, Green tag & label, Brown ICU letters & sponging)
Prairie Fairy Designs: Embossing
Stampin' Royalty: Stitching
Fussy & Fancy: Holiday colors in a non-holiday project (Christmas or fall colors for get-well)
4 Crafty Chicks: Embossing

............Supplies I used...............
Stamps: My Cute Stamps (Eek a Monster), Close To My Heart (sentiments)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (black)
Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants (Sweet Spring tags), Walmart Scrap Pad (Best Occasions), Crate Paper, Junkitz (snippitz)
Ink: Versamark, Copics,
Tools: Cuttlebug, Stampin Up (large note die), Sewing Machine
Misc: Crafty Secrets stickers (feel better), Making Memories (black eyelets), google eye

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

It's a "Paper Piecing" CHALLENGE

This month the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team has challenged each other to "PAPER PIECING" and we want to see your take on this challenge.

CHALLENGE DETAILS
-------->> CLICK HERE <<---------

No big secret just LOVE Paper Piecing

I used the My Cute Stamps set " Puppy Pals " for this project. I actually used 5 different stamps from that set in the photo above, however, I stamped the dog onto scrap paper that I had previously stamped using one of the "Vintage Background" stamps from Gina K. Don't you just love TABLE SCRAPS? I can pretty much guarantee that is where the Balloon Paper came from as well. So dig your SCRAPS out of the rubbish can and come "PAPER PIECE" with us. This would be a great challenge to pair with other challenges around Blog Land. Here are the
CHALLENGES I USED:
ABC Toys & Crafts: Paper Piecing
Crazy 4 Challenges: Photo Inspiration (loved all the mixed patterns & texture)
The Creative Cottage: Touchy Feely (I added texture by sewing)
Think Ink: Make your own Background Paper (I did for my dog, behind the dog and again on one of the strips on the inside of my card which you can see below)
Stamp Simply: 2's Company (2 balloons using 2 different patterned papers)

"Sweet Wishes"

This week is all about "My Cute Stamps" over at ABC Toys & Crafts. Make sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Design Team will be doing with some of these Adorably Cute Stamps.

As I was posting this card over on the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Blog, I realized that I must have gotten myself wedged into a rectangular (A2 card) RUT!! SOOOOOO let's break out of the Boring and do something a bit more creative!

How about a Round card instead of a rectangle?

How about Water Coloring instead of Copics or Creating your own Patterned Paper?

How about an Altered Item?

How about a Gift Set?

And if all else fails Let's Go Shopping and SAVE 15% off of "My Cute Stamps"
----> MCS1510 <----

CHALLENGES I USED:
City Crafter: Terrific Tags
Stamp Something: Birthday Something
Simon Says Stamp: Birthdays/Celebrations
Card Patterns: Sketch

..........Supplies I used..............
Stamps: My Cute Stamps (sweet chocolate), Gina K Designs (vintage backgrounds-polka dots)
Ink: Stampin Up (pretty in pink, close to cocoa), Momento (tuxedo black)
Cardstock: Stampin Up (razleberry fizz textured, close to cocoa, watercolor, white)
Tools: Stampin Up (label die, large scalloped die), Spellbinders (Nestabilities circle dies)
Misc: gingham ribbon, Paper trey Ink (twine, button), Making Memories (pink eyelets)

A Special Valentine Treat & a CHALLENGE

I recently "Challenged" the ABC Design Team to create a project using this theme

I love you....... "Sweetheart"

No other requirements than to be creative & "interpret I love you....... Sweetheart"!!

Each day this week one of us will share our project with you on the ABC Design Blog.

Would you like to join in on our "CHALLENGE"?
Mr. Linky will be
-----> HERE <----- Deadline to enter your project is Saturday, February 6th @ 12pm EST

Random number generator will be used to pick the WINNER of a $10 store credit to
ABC Toys & Crafts

My inspiration came from this tutorial by Beate -----> HERE
I used the following dimentions for my container: 4 1/4" x 11" (this way I was able to just cut my cardstock in 1/2).

How about my little 3"x 3" card ? My son just stated that he would like me to make more of these so that he can give them to his teachers. ( out of the mouth of a 12 year old boy.... How is that for a "SWEET HEART")
Here are a few photos showing some of the steps in creating these fun projects

Challenges:
ABC Toys & Crafts: I love you "Sweetheart"
Verve: Tags, Tins & Treats
A Spoonful of Sugar: Freestyle
No time to Stamp: Bleeding Hearts-use red & a heart
Hand Full of Stamps: I give you my Heart-use a heart
Little Red Wagon: Hearts
...........Suppies I used.............
Stamps: Hero Arts (Whoo loves you), My Cute Stamps (Sweet chocolate)
Paper: Papertrey Ink (red), Stampin Up (naturals white, chocolate chip) Bazzill (brown orange peel texture)
Ink: Papertrey Ink (dark chocolate), Stampin Up (close to cocoa, riding hood red)
Tools: Spellbinders (Scalloped square Nestabilities), Cuttlebug, Stylus, 1/8" hole punch, Marvy Uchida (heart punch)
Misc: Papertrey Ink (Glassine bag), ribbon

Tickled Pink

Ok I was not quite ready to stop creating Christmas cards, however, I was excited to participate in the Cupcake Craft Challenge #72 to create a "Baby" card, which I paired with Paper Maniac's first sketch challenge of the New Year. Speaking of challenges, I have started listing the challenges used on each of my projects towards the bottom of each post. This image is from the "Tea Party" stamp set by My Cute Stamps. Isn't she precious? All of the Patterned Paper is from Basic Grey's Lemonade line, including her sweet little dress which I darkened using Copic markers. The "Tickled Pink" sentiment on the inside is from Shirley's 2 Girls..

Challenges:
Paper Maniac: sketch
Cupcake Craft Challenge: Baby
Cute Card Thursday: anything New (new stamps yah!)
Stamp Something: new somethings (new stamp/new baby)

In the mood to "SHOP"? Click on the products below to see where I do my shopping.

..................Supplies I used.................
Stamps: My Cute Stamps (Tea Party) , Shirley's 2 Girls
Ink: Copic Markers, Momento (tuxedo black)
Paper: Basic Grey (lemonade), Stampin Up (pretty in pink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Spellbinders (Nestabilities-labels one, labels four, scallop squares), Stampin Up (scallop edge punch)
Misc: Paper Trey Ink (buttons), My Favorite Things (ribbon)

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)

AWWW Paris

If you haven't noticed, I am having sooooo much fun with this new "Paris Tower" stamp set by My Cute Stamps. Now is the time to treat yourself to any of the stamps that ABC Toys & Crafts carry because they are all on sale 25% off until December 31st......

How would you like to be featured at the
"Creative Customer of the Week"
over on the ABC Design Blog?

I would love to see what some of our customers are doing with the products purchased from ABC. Simply send me an email with a photo of your project or email me a link to your project.

Send emails to: littlebombs@yahoo.com

(There is only one of these kits left, so hurry)

..............Products I used (everything in bold is available at ABC Toys & Crafts)..................
Stamps: My Cute Stamps (Paris Tower)
Paper: Basic Grey (Sublime), Stampin Up (very vanilla cs), Bazzill (textured CS brown)
Ink: Momento (tuxedo black, rich cocoa), Copic Marker
Misc: Making Memories (antique mini brads), Prima Flowers, Paper Trey Ink (scarlett jewel twill ribbon & buttons)

WINNERS

Winners of the

My Cute Stamps
from
ABC Toys & Crafts

Grand Prize Winner from the ABC Design Blog = #22 Cheryl Valadez

"Paris Tower" - my blog = #23 Ribenaruby

"Merry Wishes" - Karolyn's blog = #15 SemSee

"Gumball Machine & Owl" - Erin's blog = #19 Christine

"Lots of Love" - Heidi's blog = #5 Craft Princess

25% off all Stamps at ABC Toys & Crafts until December 31st
(click on the blinkie above to SHOP NOW)

Introducing our NEW Design Team w/ a BONUS

Well the wait is finally over. Due to so many amazing and unbelievably talented ladies that applied to the ABC Toys & Crafts Design Team Call, we just couldn't decide. Therefore, we have chosen 5 new members for our team. Please join me in CONGRATULATING these Talented Ladies:

Cheryl Walker

Maria Matter

Piala Biswas

Terri Dodd

Sandy Hulsart

**Karolyn Loncon - that's right Karolyn will be joining us for another 6 months, Congratulations

FREE STAMPS

You have until Saturday to visit these blogs

all you have to do to enter is leave a comment on the

MY CUTE STAMPS giveaway posts

Monday - Justine - yep that is ME - featuring Paris Tower

Tuesday - Karolyn - giving away Merry Wishes

Wednesday - ABC Toy & Crafts Design Blog (special giveway)

Thursday - Erin - Gumball Machine & Little Owl

Friday - Heidi - Lots of Love

-------------- And Finally MY PROJECT ----------------
created using the stamp set that I will be giving away called "Paris Tower."
created using the Whimsy challenge - Black & White

Kickin' off the My Cute Stamps newest release with FREE STAMPS

Join the ABC Design Team as we introduce the newest additions to the

My Cute Stamps line by giving away FREE STAMPS.

Check out these blogs:

Monday - Justine - yep that is ME - featuring Paris Tower

Tuesday - Karolyn - giving away Merry Wishes

Wednesday - ABC Toy & Crafts Design Blog (special giveway)

Thursday - Erin - Gumball Machine & Little Owl

Friday - Heidi - Lots of Love

Click on photo to Purchase this Stamp Set for just $5.99 or LEAVE A COMMENT to WIN on TODAY's Post....... I will draw a Winner on Saturday, Dec 19!!

Project Details:

The tin is filled with chocolate chip butter cookies which is why I chose the inside sentiment "you make life SWEETER". The Sentiment is not included in the "Paris Tower" stamp set, however the little flourish is. I used Nestabilities -Label one & Scalloped Square for my die cuts, then I simply stamped & heat embossed the Poodle. The only thing that I colored was her teeny little bow. The hot pink Pearls are by Hero Arts. Finished card is 3x3. Check out these amazing Specials:

25%off Sizzix until December 15th 2009

25%off Spellbinders until December 15th 2009

25% off Clear Stamps until December 31st, 2009

25%off Rubber Stamps until December 31st, 2009