A Fresh New Look

Hello Friends!  I thought it was time my blog got a fresh, new face.  I love sunflowers and a rustic-country style, so I couldn’t resist this new blog design from The Cutest Blog on the Block.  They have some great extras and with a little code tweaking, I was able to get the sunflower post dividers at the bottom of each post.   Pretty cute, eh?

Also, did you see it?  Did you see the new little widget on the sidebar?  Yes, I’m certifiable, uh umm, I mean CERTIFIED!  Last month, I attended a Copic certification class in Phoenix.  I have fallen in love with these markers and can’t wait to play with them some more.  I would highly recommend attending one of these certification classes.  I learned so much.  However, if you can’t attend one in your area, there are many great video tutorials on YouTube.  My favorites are from Suzanne J. Dean and Cindy Lawrence.  You can find their videos throughout their blogs as well as on YouTube.

I made this card for Olivia’s birthday using Copic markers.  She’s loves monkeys and we call her our little “monkey”, so I wanted to make her something she would enjoy.

STAMPS: Monkey by Dandelion Designs, It’s Your Birthday (SU!)   INKS: Memento Tuxedo Black, Basic Brown &  Copic Markers   PAPER:  Apricot Appeal, Garden Green & “Monkey Business” by Creative Imaginations   OTHER:  Prima flowers, Pine Branch punch by Martha Stewart, corduroy & glitter brads from the Hobby Lobby

Well, thank you for stopping by.  I have more samples to post, so be sure to stop by once in a while.

Until next time…

St. Patrick’s Day Cards

March is a big birthday month for my family.   I have 3 aunts whose birthday is at the beginning of the month, a cousin’s mid-month and St. Patrick’s Day is my mom’s birthday.  Mine and Olivia’s was yesterday (3/20).  My paternal grandfather’s, Edward Behr, birthday was on the 18th.  My dear friend Dale’s birthday is in March too.  It definitely helps to keep a birthday calendar!  I use Birthday Alarm to help keep track of everyone’s birthdays.  I’ve used their reminder service for years when the ecards were still free (back in the day).  Now they charge for them, but the reminder service is still free.  I never really used the ecards anyway. ;)

Here’s the card I made for my mom.  I usually try to use a St. Patrick’s Day theme, but I don’t have any St. Patrick’s Day stamps anymore.  So, when I saw this card made by Robin Merriman, I knew I had to CASE it!  I changed it up a little with a few different details, but as you can see, the main concept is intact.  Thank you so much Robin for the inspiration!!!

 STAMPS:  Pocket Silhouettes   INK: Always Artichoke   PAPER: Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, Whisper White & Certainly Celery DSP (Ret.)   OTHER: Scallop Border, Large Oval & Large Oval Scallop punches, Organza ribbon, Chit Chat Rub-Ons & Sizzix Texturz Plates Kit #17

I made each of my girls this card for St. Patrick’s Day.  They loved the bling and the flowers too.  I used my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to stamp the greeting stamps straight.

Here’s a close-up of the card (click on card for actual size):

STAMPS:  Occasions Collection (Ret.)   INK:  Handsome Hunter   PAPER:  Green Galore, “Perfect Circles” by Penny Lane scrapbook paper, & textured purple cardstock (Hobby Lobby)   OTHER:  rhinestone swirls by Recollections (Michael’s), silk flowers (from Frantic Stamper Grab Box) & rhinestone brad (unknown)

I hope you all had a great weekend!  Thank you for visiting!  Until next time…

Hope is the thing…

I had the central image of this card already stamped and colored from when I made my previous Spring Song card.  So, I made a card out of it and then sent it to someone today who is struggling with cancer.  I don’t know this person, but I really liked the message stamped on the front and think it says more than I ever could.

STAMPS: Spring Song & Friend to Friend (Ret.)   INK:  StazOn Jet Black, Baja Breeze (Ret.), Garden Green, Chocolate Chip & Basic Brown   PAPER:  Baja Breeze (Ret.), Kraft, Confetti White & Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:   Large Classic Oval & Oval Scallop Nestabilities, Scallop Border Punch & A Rhonna Christmas” Bag of Buttons by Autumn Leaves

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time…

Dale-Ann’s Birthday Card

I made this card for my dear friend, Dale-Ann.  She loves purple.  Although I love purple myself, it’s not a color I gravitate to when stamping, so this was a challenge for me.

The silk flowers on this card are from the Grab Box and coordinate very nicely with SU!’s Taken with Teal.  The scrapbook paper is shimmery, so I coordinated that with SU!’s Shimmery White cardstock.  This scrapbook paper is absolutely beautiful IRL!!!

STAMPS:  Happiness (CTMH) & “Happy Birthday” from SU!’s Older & Wiser set   INK:  ColorBox Petal Point Fluid Chalks (Ocean Breeze & Blossom Pastels sets)   PAPER:  Taken with Teal, Shimmery White, “Snapdragon” by Bazzill (Michael’s) & “Spring Stained Glass” by The Paper Company Studio (Michael’s)  OTHER:  Large Oval & Oval Scallop punches, organdy/satin ribbon (Michael’s), rhinestone brad, masking & sponging

Do you recall me mentioning in my last post about having tons of paper flowers?  Well, it’s the truth…I have TONS of paper flowers, even LOTS of silk ones too, probably more than I’ll ever use in my lifetime.  Mostly because I recently purchased this AMAZING Grab Box of Flowers from the Frantic Stamper.  I love her site!  She has such a huge variety at great prices.  Her business philosophy is simple and honest and her customer service is fantastic!  Why promote another online store, you may ask?  Why not?  I don’t get a thing for the “plug”, but I love a deal and don’t mind passing them on others and when I find a great store with great service, I want to share that too. She has other Grab Box choices and I think the sale runs through the end of March.  Be sure to check out her Bargain Bin and Monthly Sales tabs, as well as sign up for her Yahoo customer list.

Aren’t these flowers gorgeous?! This picture does not do justice to the vivid colors.  Now other than the Prima Flower jars, the rest are obviously not in their original packaging.  The mason jars and clear, plastic round containers contain multiple packages, I just tried to coordinate them by likeness, company and/or color family.

I realized this past week that I really do have more stamping/paper crafting stuff than I could ever possibly use and I shouldn’t be so worried about trying to use it all up.  I just need to take my time and create whatever and whenever the mood (or timing) strikes.

It’s raining cats and dogs today, so in spite of all the housework there is to do, I’m thinking the mood is striking me now.  :)

Until next time…

Spring Is Here!

Spring has arrived here in San Tan Valley!  The sun is shining, blades of grass are sprouting, trees are beginning to bud new leaves and the weeds have sprung up in every nook and cranny from all the Winter rains.  Our community was built on a former pecan tree grove and the weeds are just unstoppable.  With that in mind, here is a cheerful Easter card I made this weekend.  I have TONS of paper flowers…you will be seeing LOTS of them, I’m sure.  More on that at a later time.

STAMPS: A Flower for All Reasons & Just So Sayings (Ret.)   INK:  Memento Tuxedo Black & Sage Shadow, BG01, RV02, Y15, YG63, E53   PAPER:  Whisper White, Regal Rose, Georgia Peach DSP (Ret.)   OTHER: Perfect Polka Dots Sizzix Textured Impressions Folder, Doily Lace Border Punch (Martha Stewart), Dew Drops, Nestabilities Large Oval & Standard Scallop dies, White Satin Ribbon (Martha Stewart), Modern Label & Word Window Punches & Paper Flower (center dyed with Copics marker)

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time…

Pretty As A Pig

As I sit here not sure how to begin this post, my first impulse is to apologize for my absence and explain what I’ve been up to.  Have you ever felt that too?  Why do we feel the need to apologize for having a full life?  Of course, we are all very busy with work, kids, spouses, family, friends (if we’re lucky), housework, etc…and hopefully a little paper crafting in between.  Basically, we all have more to do than we’ll ever get done in THREE lifetimes!  My mom tells me all the time that I’ll never be caught up, so I should stop worrying about it so much and just enjoy the few things I do manage to finish.  She’s a very wise woman, my mom!  I started my blog simply to share the projects I created from the precious moments I find here and there.  With all the awesome stamping blogs out there, I never really thought anyone would visit mine, so if you’ve been here more than once, I’m delighted that you’ve stopped by again.

I stole some time to stamp this weekend and made a few things I’m excited to share with you this week.  I’ve loved this Walk This Way set since it first appeared in the Summer 2005 Mini Catalog.  Yes, I actually remember that.  Probably because we had just moved into this house and I still hadn’t unpacked my stamping supplies and was wondering why I was ordering more stamps (can a girl have too many?).  In fact, I think I still have almost every country/farm stamp set that Stampin’ Up! has ever made.  Guess I’m just a country girl at heart.  I think most city girls are.  And now we live in a rapidly-growing, rural community an hour southeast of Phoenix with master-planned neighborhoods in between corn & cotton fields, horse properties and dairy farms.  Otherwise known as a “bedroom community” or “commuter town”.  I really do love it here!

I was lucky enough to buy some Copics Marker sets from Hanna Stamps at the beginning of their going out of business sale.  I got such a smokin’ deal on them, I couldn’t resist.  I have wanted to try them for a long time.  This is one of the very first things I colored with the Copics.  I really love the fact that I can color and blend with a marker and there are no lines and the paper doesn’t tear!!!  WAHOO!!!  Now, I’m still VERY new at the whole blending thing, so please be kind.  I did manage to blend two colors to match the Cameo Coral color in the Spring Flowers DSP.

STAMPS:  Walk This Way (Ret.) & Really Retro (Ret.)   INK: Memento Tuxedo Black,  Basic Brown, RV23 & RV42  PAPER: Georgia-Pacific cardstock, Barely Banana, Mellow Moss & Spring Flowers DSP (Ret.), Inkssentials white gel pen, paper piercing tool & mat, Standard Circles Large & Scalloped Nestabilities, Twill Tape, Moss Gingham ribbon (Ret.), Word Window Punch, Neutral & Subtles buttons (Ret.), Pretty in Pink brad, Prima Ivory paper flower (dyed) & embroidery floss

Thank you for stopping by!  Until next time…

Some Berry Blissful Projects

HURRAY!!!  I managed to finish another batch of projects from my unfinished projects basket.  I’m sure you’re thinking that basket must be almost empty by now, but no…I’ve got tons more.  I have no idea how I got so behind on so many projects over the years, but it does feel great to complete some.  The projects below are from a Berry Bliss DSP class I held a few years ago when the paper was first introduced.  These were part of an extra packet I made so that I can demonstrate certain aspects of the projects.  Unfortunately, when I would do that, I would often not finish the sample demo items. 

As you can see, there’s a mini metal mailbox (purchased from Target), eight Love Notes w/envelopes & a journal made  from chipboard coasters, notebook paper and my Bind-It-All.

 

STAMPS:  One of a Kind & Boho Backgrounds   INK:  Chocolate Chip, Purely Pomegranate & Craft White   PAPER:  Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip & Berry Bliss DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:  On Board Accents (Ret.); Boho Blossoms, Scallop Circle,  1-3/8” Circle, 1-1/4” Circle, 1/2” Circle, 1-1/4” Square, Rectangle Hand-held (Ret.), Word Window & Large Oval Punches; Silver Duo Micro Beads; Square Metal Edge Tags (Ret.); Paper Crimper; Fire Circle Rhinestones; Silver Mini Brads; Chocolate Chip Taffeta, Pretty in Pink Grosgrain, Purely Pomegranate Double-Stitched (Ret.) & Light Pink Gingham (Ret.) ribbons; Paper Piercer & Tag Types Tile Stickers by Stickos

I hope you don’t mind me sharing retired stuff with you at times.  When I created this blog, it was to help motivate and inspire me to get these projects finished.  I also have so tons of current stuff too and love playing with it as well.   I only have so much time and it’s so hard to decide what to get out and play with!  :)

Until next time…

Unfinished Project Pile

I was fortunate to find a moment to finish up a few projects from a team stamping event from a few years ago.  I had to make a couple of small changes on each, but they are pretty close to the original design. 

STAMPS:  Petal Prints (Ret.), Expressive Flexible Phrases (Ret.) & Be Happy (Ret.)   INK:  Basic Black & Ruby Red (Craft)   PAPER:  Whisper White, More Mustard Textured & Autumn Vine DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:  On Board Journal, Daisies #2 Bigz  Sizzix die, Aluminum Circle Tag & Mustard brad,  1¼” Circle & Tag punches, Mustard & Black Grosgrain, Black Gingham & Black Organdy ribbons, & elastic band

STAMPS:  Doodle This (Ret.), Linen Background & Dot, Dot, Dot   INK:  Basic Black & So Saffron Marker   PAPER: Basic Black, So Saffron, Garden Green & Confetti White   OTHER:  1/16” Hole punch, Versamarker, Clear EP, Black Gingham Ribbon & Gingham brad (HOTP)

It’s hard to see, but the front of the box was dry embossed with the Bodacious Bouquet Class Brass Stencil.  The flowers were stamped in Bashful Blue and the edges rolled in Close to Cocoa.  Using a sponge, the ribbon was run along the Bashful Blue pad to dye it.  And lastly, the photo corners were made by first punching small square with the ¼” Square punch, then center the 3/4” Square punch around it.  Cut the square on the diagonal and you have your own photo corners!

 

STAMPS:   Bodacious Bouquet (Ret.), All Through the Year (Ret.), Expressive Flexible Phrases (Ret.)   INK:  Bashful Blue , Close to Cocoa & Basic Brown Journaler   PAPER:   Confetti White & Close to Cocoa   OTHER:  Confetti Bloomin Boxes & Tags (Ret.); Bodacious Bouquet Brass Stencil; Silver Duo Beads; Crystal Effects; Caramel Gingham ribbon (dyed with Bashful Blue); 1/4” Square & 3/4” Square punches (to make photo corners); uni-ball Signo White Gel pen; Earth Elements & Neutrals buttons (Ret.); Paper Piercing tool & Mat Template; & Self-Adhesive Rhinestones (Icons by MAMBI)

I had so much fun finishing up these projects, especially the Mini Album Photo Box.  Even hubby and the girls liked it.  I think I’ll keep my Unfinished Projects basket out for a while and see if I’m inspired to finish something else.

Until next time…

Celebrating Winter

I wanted to make some Winter cards before it warms up here, which should be any week now. ;)  Winter cards separate from Christmas, that is.  I guess I believe there’s a distinction between the two.  But then again, Spring is often associated with Easter and Autumn with Thanksgiving, so who am I to argue! :) 

Although it’s hard to see the glitter on this card, it’s quite sparkly in person. 

STAMPS:  Branch Out   INK:  Chocolate Chip & Bashful Blue   PAPER: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango (Ret.), Bashful Blue, Whisper White & Frosty Day DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:  Earth Elements Brads, Ticket Corner & Small Oval punches, Versamark, Heat & Stick powder, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Chit Chat Rub-Ons & flocked mitten brads by The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby)

STAMPS:  Animal Crackers   INK:  Basic Brown, Bashful Blue, Going Gray, Pumpkin Pie Marker & More Mustard Marker   PAPER: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango (Ret.), Whisper White & Frosty Day DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:  Clear Buttons, Crystal Effects, Chocolate Chip Felt Stitched Ribbon (Ret.), Large Oval punch, Large Oval Scallop punch (Marvy Uchida), Layer Ease (Ret.), AquaPainter, craft embroidery floss

STAMPS:  So Many Scallops   INK:  Chocolate Chip & Tangerine Tango (Ret.)   PAPER: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango (Ret.), Bashful Blue, Whisper White & Frosty Day DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:  Soft Subtles Brads, Ticket Corner, Scallop Circle, 1-3/8” Circle, 1-1/4” Circle  & Large Oval punches, snowflake punches (EK Success), flocked mitten brads by The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby), small brown brad (CTMH), large flocked brad by The Paper Studio

STAMPS:  So Many Scallops & Season by Season (Ret.)   INK:  Chocolate Chip & Old Olive Marker & Bashful Blue Marker   PAPER: Tangerine Tango (Ret.), Bashful Blue, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White & Frosty Day DSP (Ret.)   OTHER:  Scallop Circle, Scallop Border 1-3/8” Circle & 1-1/4” Circle  punches, Tangerine Tango Double-line Grosgrain ribbon (Ret.), snowflake ribbon (unk.), flat-back adhesive pearls (CTMH)

I hope you enjoyed my Winter cards.  Have a great day!  Until next time…

Spring Song

I did get to make a birthday card for my step-mom last night.  It took much longer than I intended.  I have this love-hate relationship with StazOn and watercolor paper.  Don’t get me wrong, I love to watercolor, however, I can never seem to stamp the image right the first, second or 5th time.  It’s either too light or too dark and fuzzy on the watercolor paper…VERY frustrating!  So, after many attempts and several pieces of expensive paper later, I finally got an even image I could live with.

 

STAMPS:  Spring Song & Friend to Friend (Ret.)   INK:  StazOn Jet Black, Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze (Ret.), Pretty in Pink, Garden Green & Going Gray   PAPER:   Baja Breeze (Ret.), Chocolate Chip, Parisian Breeze Specialty DSP (Ret.)  & Watercolor Paper   OTHER:  Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain ribbon (Ret.), Baja Breeze (Ret.) & Chocolate Chip Corduroy Buttons,  Aqua Painter, Nestabilities Classic Scallop & Large Square dies & White Wildflowers Pillar Pack by Prima Flowers (actually off-white in color)

I may have mentioned before that I have the best step-mom anyone could ask for on the planet!  She’s been a real blessing in all of our lives and is ALWAYS there for us.  She likes hummingbirds, so hopefully she’ll like this card.  I designed it to coordinate with the little bookmark set I made her for Christmas.

Well, it’s Monday and time to for me to get to work.  Got lots to do today!  It’s hard for me to squeeze in any stamping time during the week, but I’d like to make some winter cards before we get up to 70º.  Yes, I know it’s only January, but it’s Arizona and 70º+ will be here sooner than anyone wants.  I personally enjoy the winters…just wish they would last longer than a month! :)

Stay warm! Until next time…