I "chews" You

I almost don't want to post anything today because I am loving that cute little Doggie!!! Hopefully this Super Yummy Valentine won't be too disappointing..

A co-worker had asked me to create a cute Valentine for her little boy, I believe that he is 3. This is one of those stamp sets that I doubt I will ever part with. First I have always had a "thing" for those retro/antique bubble gum machines. Second, it is just so much fun to create with. Last Valentines, I also broke it out but I made shaker cards and filled the bubble gum machines with little hearts that resembled conversational hearts. Sure wish I had taken a photo. I also wish that I had taken a photo of the inside of this card. I finished the inside with the same red paper that you see on the front. That is hand made paper that my adopted dad, Joe, sent to me. Not sure if you can tell but the hearts are embossed and shiny.........

Speaking of Joe, I just received a care package and he sent me an amazing kit/collection of 12x12 Designer papers. There are 300 sheets, all double sided and they came in a really nice zippered accordion folder with handles. How cool is that. He actually thought about something that I would LOVE and took the time to go find it, package and mail it to me!!. Thanks Joe.

Back to this card - I Stamped the image with Momento Tuxedo black ink onto Gina K 120lb cardstock, colored and shadowed using my Copics. Now I did stamp some bubble gum then decided to use a small SU circle punch, A heart punch and my teeny hole punch to create some dimentional bubble gum. I added white ink for shiny spots. The tag was created with my Spellbinder/nestabilities and Cuttlebug and I had some scrap ribbon that I added. Both sentiments are mounted on foam squares but I used the taller ones for the ribbon tag.

Hopefully this will inspire you to break out your retired stamps and show them some love. I hope everyone has a fantastic Aloha Friday..

A turtle for today, since I am slow in posting

I don't even know what to say today. I mean what can compare to being asked to be on a Design Team? I have been a card creating crazy woman. Well not just cards. Today I worked on several little box designs to be used for Valentine Treats. I think I only completed one. Not sure what was wrong with me, I just kept miscalculating my measurements. So frustrating to waste cs!!

So here is an update on how my Copic Coloring is coming along. I felt so clever combinging these stamp sets. The palm trees are from the retired SU "Do the Hula", the turtle is from the retired SU Hostess set "older & wiser", The string and triangles for the banner are PTI "celebration". I used one of the triangle banner flags as a birthday hat for my turtle and embellished it with a little star rhinestone to compliment the little stars on his "hat". I sponged the sky and the sand but I used Copics to color the trees, and the turtle. I also used them to draw my grass (freehand). I created the little birthday sign by stamping and heat embossing the sentiment and then cutting a rectangle and giving the top a bit of curve. The corners are also rounded..

I decided to snap a photo of what my craft table looked like while I was working on this card. No way I could tell you what colors I used. Might be easier to look in the boxes and say which ones I didn't use!! I am probably going to run out of ink faster than I am supposed to also. You would not believe how much ink I use trying to blend. One of the nice attributes for getting the GinaK Designs 120lb cardstock was that the Copics didn't soak through to the other side, therefore eliminating the need to stack or layer after coloring......... WELL, so far I have gone through everytime.......

That is all for me today, my hubby just got home from work and is heading to bed so I better go say hello......... See ya'll tomorrow for some Valentine FUN.

Merry Christmas, A challenge and A Tutorial

Wow what a fantastic, wonderful Christmas Day this has been......... Just having my husband home was a huge blessing ......... Since everyone has gone to bed with content smiles across their faces, I thought I would steal a few moments alone to wish all of you a Merry Christmas and share a card that I created for the sketch challenge of the week over at PaperCraft Planet...... At first I felt hindered by the sketch challenges but I am really starting to enjoy them. Kinda fun to see what your own take on a sketch can become. For this card I pulled out the retired "Do the Hula" stamp set by SU. I don't think I will ever be able to part with that set. Not sure who manufactured the Sentiment stamp. I purchased it in Hawaii.

I also wanted to share an altered tin that I created late last night!!! Grandpa Joe sent the kids each a gift card and I wanted a fun and unique way to present it to them. Not to mention a way for them to remember his gift long after the cards have been spent. I printed out a small version of his 2008 Christmas photo, trimmed it down and it sat up nicely inside the tins. These tins are the ones that I had ordered from PTI to create the teachers' gift tag sets but didn't end up using.

Here's what I used:

2 - Red pieces and 2 coordinating pattered pieces of cardstock 3 3/4" x 2 1/4" corners rounded 1 - White strip 3/4" x 3 3/4" 1 - White strip 3/4" x 2 1/4" corners rounded on the lower 2 corners 1 - Black strip 2 1/4" x 1/2" 1 - Silver 1/2" x 3/4" 1 - Black square very small for the center of belt buckle 2 - Black holes from regular hole punch 1 - White scalloped edge with the upper ends rounded (I used my large purple Marvy Uchida scalloped circle punch) 1 - Black and White ribbon adhered with double sided red line tape

Piece all of the pieces together and adhere with a quick drying glue.................. So Simple, So Fast, SO CUTE!!

Fall Tags

Not a whole lot to talk about today, I'm feeling kinda blah.  I ended up subbing 3 times this week so now I feel as though the house is filthy and chaotic. 

These cards, on the other hand,  have a very tranquil feel to them don't ya think??  I stamped the chocolate chip cs with the large, retired, background stamp called French Script (SU), layered it onto the card base and added a little photo brad.  The tag is a piece of More Mustard cs with inked edges, rounded corners and a piece of patterned paper layered on top.  I punched a whole, added the ribbon, stamped the sentiment and adhered it onto the brown.

The second card is similar, however, I embossed More Mustard using my Cuttlebug, added a scalloped scrap to the bottom, added some twill to the ribbon and changed the sentiment..  

Super simple and super quick.  Lauren Meader had issued a 5-minute card challenge and this is what I came up with.  I hope that everyone enjoys their weekend.................

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

paper: whisper white, more mustard, chocolate chip, bravo burgandy, very vanilla (SU)

ink: close to cocoa (SU)

stamps: french script (SU retired), out on a limb (PTI)

tools: corner rounder punch, whole punch, cuttlebug, fall harvest embossing folder, copper mini brad, organza ribbon, chocolate chip twill ribbon

May your day Bloom with Happiness

Happy Saturday.

Did you notice that I spruced the place up a bit??   I cruise around so many blogs each morning while drinking my coffee and felt like mine needed a face lift.  Not to mention, I was getting bored with the same ole blog day after day.  

 Feels like it has been forever since I actually posted a card but believe me, I have been hard at work. I am trying to build up enough cards to sale them at the upcoming Fall Festival.  My hopes are to make enough profits that I can give a small donation to the Family Readiness Group at our command. 

I could go on and on but I'll spare you and move on to this yummy card.  I have been having so much fun mixing and matching coordinating papers.  This one really makes me think deserts. What a shame that SU retired this stamp set. Not sure when it was retired but it is still one of my favorites.  I used water color pencils but was not brave enough to add water.  Apparently I am just not very good with the whole blending  or water coloring thing.  Lately I have been messing everything up and that can be SOOOOO frustrating.   

I snapped a few photos of my "WorkShop" so come back tomorrow to see how creative I have become in my tiny little space.  I think we should invite  Nichole Heady (owner of Papertrey Inc.) over to see my "WorkShop".  Her husband built her a state of the art amazing place AND she has a NEW one being built.............. She would be so jealous of MINE. (wink ;o)

www.nicholeheady.typepad.com

..........................................................................

paper: so saffron, chocolate chip, pretty in pink, whisper white, prints pack apricot appeal (SU), Printed paper pack stack (SEI)

ink: basic black stamp pad, ballet blue stampn'write marker (sU) 

stamps: bloomin with happiness (SU retired 2007)

misc: pink satin ribbon from my stash, marvy uchida scalloped circle punches, dimensionals

Checking In

This has been one of those transitional type weeks for me.  Apparently I am not very good with transitioning.  Transition is one of those terms that we use in the world of special education and probably in the world of children in general.  So I don't transition into new routines very well then add in that Administration has done a doozy within my entire department.  I was asked to begin working during my lunch hour in order to meet some social/peer interaction needs.  After a quick phone call to our district office, I discovered that my hours had been increased from 65 hours per pay period to 70........ I was not aware of this change nor did I agree to this change.  Obviously I cannot go into more specific details, but I will tell you that the letter of termination is sitting in the top drawer of my desk ;o(   Although I entertain the idea of quitting within myself, my husband has asked me to please please quit.  He isn't even here but can definitely see that the stress is having a negative impact on me.  The needs of my own children must obviously be put above the needs of the children I service at school............ I certainly hope that this weight will be lifted once I have handed that letter over.  As of right now, I am physically sick and deeply depressed. 

I have not even opened the doors to my "workshop" this week, therefore I apologize if I have already shared these cards with you previously.  This is another SU set that has been retired. My desire is to get in and create some wonderful cards and maybe another clipboard.  

Thank you for continuing to check my blog even though I can't seem to post on a consistent basis.