Productive Sunday Afternoon

This has been quite a productive day for me. DH is fixing dinner and I went to Mass yesterday. So today was a play day. You can see the result here and below. This is the new Cuttlebug Christmas Tree embossing folder. I embossed on 140 lb. watercolor paper which really gives you a hugely raised image, much better than regular card stock. Try it. I did another but different embossed image a few days ago and tried to color it and was not happy. Here's one trick I discovered. Use a sponge dauber, lightly dab it on your chosen ink color, then lightly rub across your image. You may need to go back for more ink and do this several times until you get the depth of color you want. On this image, I then added gold Stickles for highlight and mounted it on the Garden Green cs. This image is larger and does not fit well on an A2 sized card so this card is actually 4.5 x 6 so it will need a custom made envelope which I hate doing BUT I think the effect is worth it. LOVE this card! Now I want to try the same technique on the Haunted Halloween House folder on black cs.

Here's another wonderful Cuttlebug embossing folder. I'm not sure about the names of these but I think this one is called Winter Village. Again, I embossed it on watercolor paper, and just added a simple sentiment from Papertrey at the bottom, stamped with Night of Navy and brushed with the same on the edges. I like simple and this is surely it.

This card is SU Night of Navy cs and ribbon and the beautiful part is one of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders. This one is snowflakes and I embossed it on 140 lb. watercolor paper and it makes ALL THE DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD in how it looks. I got this tip from Becca on Amazing Paper Grace. For the focal image I used a snowflake die from Sizzix or SU, embossed it with Winter Wonderland EP. I think this is so elegant. And I also think this CB folder could be used as a quilt background. Don't you think it looks "quilty?"

This is another of the bags like I posted yesterday. This one is made from Afternoon Tea DP from Stampin' Up! and the stamp is from SU Friendly Flowers. I loved doing the detailed stamped images like I did on yesterday's bag but this one is quicker and easier, especially if you are selling them.

Excuse the darkness of this picture. These are note pads. I have seen these on so many blogs I wouldn't know who to give credit to. They are the lined pads of paper that you have cut into long skinny pads at your office store. They can be grocery lists, wish lists, to do lists, make a nice little gift and are great for craft fairs. I made mine like a book, opening right to left. Some girls do it other ways.

I am getting ready to do a craft fair at our church in September (yikes, it's sneaking up!!) and I am showing a few of the things I have been making. These are post it note key chains, very quick and easy and inexpensive, great for craft shows. Here's Angie's instructions: http://chicnscratch.typepad.com/stampinacademy/2008/02/post-it-notes-k.html. I just made up an assortment in different colors and added Stickles for a little bling.

A Beautiful Bag

These bags are all over blogland! This particular one was designed by Andrea Walford and shown on her blog Sunny Stampin. It's larger than most and made to hold cards. But it's large enough to be a great gift bag and you could really get a lot in it. I used SU More Mustard DP and cardstock. The image is an old Inkadinkadoo and I really went crazy with the bling: lots of various colors of Stickles and Liquid Pearls. Used the Fiskar's corner punch behind the image and four little matching brads. Michael's ribbon! Enjoy! And check Andrea's blog for more inspiration http://andreawalford.com/.

Holy Bats!!!

The background of this card is a kind of dark khaki green with gold, a slightly metallic look. I used SU Always Artichoke for the main image which matched really well. Then I used Carved and Candlelight, an old SU Halloween set for the pumpkin but embossed it with a fall looking orange color and Stickled the stem in Patina. The greeting is Inkadinkadoo from Cats and Bats, one of their new fall stamp sets. I really like how this turned out.

Simple and Easy

A tale of two cards: really easy and simple and in serene colors. I came into a boatload of free cardstock from Leslie Hanna on her Crooked Stamper blog. She was giving it away! I used some of her pieces to make these two today. And isn't using ONLY solid colors interesting? Try it sometime. Have a great weekend everyone!

Oh No! Don't use the "C" word yet!!!

I know what you're thinking....it's only August. You're right. But I had to tell the story of this stamp. Last year I wanted this stamp like crazy. Checked everywhere..no luck. Tried on ebay....it was going for crazy prices, like $30. So I gave up and thought about it as the one that got away. Fast forward to this summer. I get an email from Delta who either owns or distributes Rubber Stampede telling me that they are going to re-issue the stamp and did I want one. ABSOLUTELY! I do the credit card thing, wait 3 weeks and one day it comes in the mail. I'm in heaven. Had to make a card with it right away.

I also in this same week visited my local Michael's and yes they are putting out Christmas things. Lo and behold, there is MY stamp for $7.99 (same price I paid minus the shipping et al), I could have used a 40% off coupon!!! Oh well, I got my stamp and I'm happy. My daughter said I should have bought a dozen and sold them on ebay!!!!!!!!!!!

Somehow, to me anyway, this card doesn't look like me. It came together out of my scrap basket. Have no idea where this DP came from but the stamps are SU A Beautiful Thing and I had to add stickles to the little dots which I think makes this card. Anyway, after a big cleanup of the studio and purging of unnecessary items, I am back in the cardmaking business! My first big SU order from the new catty is scheduled to arrive next Wednesday and I am ready for it. New rubber! Yay!

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!!!

Well 5,000 hits finally came and I used my very scientific random number generator ("honey please pick a number from 1 t 8" as DH is washing the dishes). He picked lucky number 7 and stampincats is the winner. Please let me know your mailing address so I can get this boxed up and out to you. Congratulations and thanks to ALL OF YOU out there for helping me reach such a milestone. I can't believe that many people want to see my little creations.

On to 10,000!!!!!!!!!!!!

Blog Candy Reminder!!!! Don't Miss Out!

Just wanted to remind you to be sure and check out the blog candy post below to get in on the goodies!!! Thanks!

Good Night Inkadinkadoo!

Here's the last two cards of the day. I need to clean up the mess I've made. The one above is Inkadinkadoo's Halloween Trails and SU Home Is Where the Haunt Is. The little pumpkin stamp is one of a group I won on ebay last fall. The sentiment is SU All Holidays.

The card on the bottom is the More Mustard CS and DP again. Ink is Close To Cocoa from SU and the stamps are from (can you guess???) Harvest Expressions and Autumn Trails. I again used the Nesties to showcase the main image. A few Stickles on this one. You know me and Stickles!

Still have more new rubber to share with you but I need a break. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your weekend. Don't forget the blog candy BELOW!!!

Inkadinkadoozie!!!

I have been a cardmaking fool this afternoon. Yesterday I visited my local A.C. Moore store and went temporarily insane! They had all the new Inkadinkadoo fall and christmas stamps in. I tried to be good.....but you know how that goes!! This card is three shades of rusty cardstock, two are SU and the lightest and the black are non SU. The background stamp is Inka's Foliage Trails and the sentiment is from Harvest Expressions. I stamped the background with Close to Cocoa on Really Rust and the sentiment is also stamped with CTC ink. Used the slot punch and added some black ribbon. Fall, but elegant looking. I have two Halloween sets I also bought but haven't used yet, so those will probably be up next.

PLEASE sign up and leave a comment for the blog candy post and get a chance to win some goodies in honor of 5,000 posts. YOWZA!!!

The background cs is SU So Saffron and Really Rust under the image. I distressed the edges of the print paper with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo. Stamped the image from Inkadinkadoo Harvest Expressions. Added a strip of ribbon from Mike's and punched out some leaves, adding darker ink to the edges and veins with a gel pen.

This is my favorite of all I've done today. Again it's very peaceful and soft. I used More Mustard SU cardstock and DP and stamped with SU Close to Cocoa. The images are from Inkadinkadoo Foliage Trails and Harvest Expressions ( 2 separate sets....told you I went insane). I highlighted with chalks and a few Stickles on the sentiment. Cut it out with the Nesties Rectangles and added white Spica dots to team up with the dp.

This card is from a set called Winter Birds. I used SU Not Quite Navy cs and ink. The paper and ribbon are not SU. Used the Nestabilities ovals to focus the main image and the sentiment (which is from Papertrey's Winter Wonder). This is so peaceful and serene looking. I also highlighted the image with Liquid Pearls, just a little.

Blog Candy---To Arrive Soon!!!

I will be coming up on 5,000 hits on my blog. I can hardly believe it. So I dug out some goodies for one lucky person. When I reach 5,000 I will draw one name from all those who leave a comment. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you. Included in the blog candy are some Sizzix papers, foam stamps, a Mary Engelbreit box, Magic Mesh, Halloween stickers, mini clipboards to alter, felt cutout ribbon, and some other ribbon rolls I forgot to include in the picture. If I come up with anything else between n ow and then I'll add it in. USA and Canada only at this time. Good luck everyone!

Carolina Purse

http://creativepad.typepad.com/CarolinasPurse.pdf

Here's the link to make this adorable little purse. A baggie added inside or a flap to hold a gift card would work for this little goodie container. I used velcro dots to close it but it's rather bulky at the flap. Other than that, it's a darling little project