How's it Waggin' Money/Check Holder

Since I didn't get to see my aunt during the holidays, we normally exchange gifts between the kids and her youngest son. He is my godson and now that he is a teenager, money is the way to a teenager's heart, right? I scoured the gallery for the perfect money holder and came up with this money holder template by Lisa Somerville. If you haven't visited her blog, go and check it out. She has tons of great tuorials. I also had a reason to use a stamp set I won as blog candy from Tracy Dorton. I got to play with H&M's A Lil' Behind. I just love this set because there are so many funny sayings. I believe this set was inspired by Mothermark. I came across this sketch in Papercrafts Magazine April-May issue. I didn't realize that this is a sketch from Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR). What an honor to be able to use her sketch...

The second picture shows how it looks on the inside. I left it plain and had no writing on it so that my aunt could recycle it for later use. I probably should have taken a picture of the inside with some money in there for the full effect (the money or check slips into a slot at the bottom of the panel (hard to see)...sorry maybe next time I'll remember to do that.


stamps: h&m a lil' behind paper: red, dark blue, caramel, inspirations dp ink: palette noir, creamy caramel, real red accessories: dimensionals, string, blender pen, nesties, crimper, circle coluzzle, stapler, red grossgrain ribbon

Oh pretty butterfly notebook

Here is the matching notebook I made to go with my aunt's thank you and birthday card. I was on a butterfly kick the night I made this. I just love the detail...

stamps: ginak take flight, inkadinkado formal alpha, cornish heritage farms lined paper paper: white cs, me &my big ideas value pack dp ink: palette burnt umber, antique linen distress ink, bordering blue, rose red accessories: spiral punch, button, string, red liner tape, wide chocolate chip grossgrain ribbon, RSVP pen

Mojo Monday Sketch #71

Here is the card that was inspired by Julee Tillman's Mojo Monday sketch #71...This is the first time I've ever used vellum on a card. I bought a pack of vellum paper from Hobby Lobby about a year ago and just using it now. I am a real cheapo when it comes to using expensive paper and such so I guess I was just waiting for the right card to use it on. I love how GinaK's butterfly shows through the vellum piece. I sponged the smaller butterflies with only orange and ruby red then I used Aleene's paper glaze to make them more 3D. I was trying for the cracked glass technique on them, but it just wasn't working right. Good thing, the UTEE can be heated up again if your piece doesn't turn out the way you want it to. I don't normally decorate the inside o the card either, but lately I have. I have been brave enough to layer some pieces on the inside of the card to match the outside. I really like how this turned out and this, by far, is one of my most favorite cards.

stamps: tac charming gardeners for sentiment, rubber stampede victorian butterflies paper: me and my big ideas paper pad dp, vanilla, vellum ink:palette burnt umber, only orange, ruby red accessories: dimensionals, brads, wide brown grossgrain ribbon, aleene's paper glaze, sponge

SFYTT 1.24.09 Thank You

I rarely participate in sketches, but this time I took the challenges one step ahead... One of my "honorary" aunt's birthday just passed last week and I had been working on a a little birthday gift for her. Since we did not get a chance to see her and her family during the holidays, she sent the kids Christmas presents through the mail. So taking inspiration from Jen Del Muro and Julee Tillman, I created a matching set that includes a thank you card, a birthday card and matching altered notebook (sorry, can't stop altering notebooks - I am on such a notebook kick lately).

stamps: inkadinkado garden delight, ginak take flight paper: me and my big ideas paper pad dp, vanilla/chocolate chip/teal cs ink:palette new canvas/burnt umber, distress ink antique linen
accessories: dimensionals, ms lace punch, button, wide brown grossgrain ribbon

Christmas 2008 Thank You Cards

Since moving up to northern MN and having no family around, we have been making a tradition to do a 12 hour trek back to northern IL to visit family and friends. I created several thank you notes to send to family and friends who gave us a lot great presents and for DH's hospitality during our one week stay at their house. I also made matching CD holders which held a CD of pictures from the holidays.

For the first card, I was inspired by this card by kauai17. I had some basic grey paper I hadn't used so this was the perfect opportunity to use some new paper and a new set. I made several Christmas thank you notes for friends and family for all of the goodies that they gave our family during the holidays. We also stayed with my DH's parents for a whole week so I wanted to thank you them for their hospitality and generosity. I made two of these cards to give my parents and my DH's parents. The second was inspired by Jenn D with this card. It's a little hard to see, but I used a snowflakes clear stamp set I bought from Wal-mart for $3. I really needed to make the cards simple enough to replicate since I had to make over 12-15 of them.

CD CASES

I created several CD cases to give to family because I am the official picture taker especially when we are around my DH's family. I am the only one snapping away with the camera and love doing it. I inherited this from my mom who takes a picture of anything that will sit still long enough for a picture. She takes pictures of practically everything from food to people leaving a party - geesh! The CD case that is standing up actually holds 2 CDs in it. I created it just like a stationary holder with a belly band holding it together.


stamps: inkadinkado birds galore, wal-mart snowflakes, stamp n'around snowman, studio g clear stamp paper: unknown dp ink: studio g ink, pallette burnt umber/l'amore red/landscape, sharpie markers to color snowman accessories: nesties, ms lace punch, ribbon, brown satin ribbon from wal-mart, string, computer generated sentiment, blank CDs, sharpie to write title on CDs

Gifts Sets for my Mom

My mom finally ordered some sets from me to make for her friends to give for Christmas. She gave me the amount of money she wanted to spend on each person so I had to figure out what to make. So, without further ado...

MONOGRAM "G" GIFT SET

This gift set includes a set of 6 cards and envies, a scalloped bookmark inspired by BevR from SCS, notebook and matching pen. The notebook I altered was cut in half at OfficeMax. I had seen this idea in the SCS gallery and thought it was a great idea to decorate twice the number of notebooks. It costs $1 per cut at OfficeMax. I used Unity formal alphabet stamps for the monogram. I had never created a circle card before, but had the idea to make it a bookmark for the notebook I created. I normally attach a ribbon for a bookmark, but since I did not cover the spine, I decided to create a separate bookmark for it. I found these really cool looking notecard holders made by trishalim1 from SCS. I used this template for the card holder.

stamps: unity formal alphabet, papertrey corners and borders - circles paper: white, light teal, light purple, unknown dp ink: almost amethyst accessories: nesties, wide grossgrain teal ribbon, composition notebook, dimensionals, rsvp pen, purple polka dot ribbon from M's, mini flower eyelets to hold scalloped bookmark together

LIVE, LAUGH, LOVE GIFT SET

This gift set consists of an altered notebook with matching pen and set of cards with envies. I created the card holder using the origami template I posted awhile back. Once you get the hang of folding a piece of 12x12 paper, it is easy peasy to put it together. Make sure to practice on scrap paper first. Here is the template I used for the origami card holder. I also used the stamps from Rubberstamping Fun review set #22. Love using those sentiments because they are so versatile.

stamps: tac live love laugh, rubberstamping fun review set #22 paper: white, teal, magnolia dp ink: pallette noir black, distress ink antique linen, real red accessories: nesties, wide grossgrain teal ribbon, dimensionals, rsvp pen, cuttlebug tiny bubbles embossing folder, ms lace punch

ALL THINGS OF NATURE GIFT SET

This gift set consists of an altered notebook with matching pen and set of cards with envies. Since I wasn't sure what colors the person receiving this gift set liked, I chose more muted colors. I love to use bird and nature stamps when I can so I chose to use TAC's All Things of Nature. This is my most favorite bird from the set. He is so fluffy and tiny little thing. I also paired this with SU Natural Beauty for the background panel and flower behind the bird. I also love using the cuttlebug branches embossing folder.


stamps: tac all things of nature, su natural beauty paper: white cs, memory block inspirations dp ink: pallette burnt umber, distress ink antique linen, only orange, ruby red accessories: nesties, caramel ribbon from M's, composition notebook, dimensionals, rsvp pen, clear card box, crop-a-dile, brads

PINK CAT STUDIO GIFT SET

This gift set consists of a full size clipboard, an altered notebook with matching pen. I love Pink Cat Studio stamps...the kitties are just so cute and have so many different cat-titudes! This gift set went to one of my aunt's who used to live in Japan so I had to use my Japanese kitty. I had a hard time figuring out how to color her. But I was inspired between the SCS galleries and PCS gallery. This is the first time I have ever altered a full size clipboard (I've altered many of the smaller size). So I had to create a template before doing any decorating. Good thing, I already had good practice altering the smaller size clipboards.

stamps: pink cat studio cat plate #2, autumn leaves scribbles alphabet paper: white, red, light blue, magnolia dp ink: pallette noir black, distress ink antique linen, real red, creamy caramel, summer, sun, bliss blue accessories: nesties, wide grossgrain red ribbon, composition notebook, dimensionals, rsvp pen, prima flower, button, string, full size clipboard, mod podge

Shout Out to Sheetload!

Ok, let's hear it ! Woo Hoo! Sheetloads is offering some awesome blog candy on their site. Why is it that I am always the last one to know? But there is a saying that goes something like..."Better late than never!"

If you have never visited Sheetload of Cards before, this is a new year to start. Every month, Sheetload of Cards publishes a downloadable ezine (in .pdf form) full of inspiring ideas and interpretations for a monthly sketch from their talented group of DT gals. Every month, you will see various sponsors for the sketches as well as challenges for blog candy. So, what you are waiting for????!!!!

Ruuunnnnnn Fooooorrrreeessst...Sign-up now for some great ideas and amazing inspiration!

Click on this to check out the January 2009 issue...Happy Stamping!

More Altered Notebooks for Christmas!

I had so much fun making the altered composition notebooks for my sister that I decided that I would make a few more to give as Christmas gifts. These notebooks were especially made for the three daughters of one of our good friends. They are all at that age where they like to write in journals so what not better way, but to write in something that is made specially for you.

The first notebook is created with Pink Cat Studio Cat Plate #1 stamp set. I love the kitties in this set. They are all so playful. I had trouble at first on how to color her so I had to get some inspiration between the PCS and SCS galleries. I don't own any copics yet and still using SU markers so this was a toughy, but with some persistance and determination, I was able to match the Glamour Puss with the patterned paper I chose to decorate the notebook with. I also paper pieced the scarf and shirt with some scrap patterned paper I had. Then I added some bling to her glasses (too bad you can't really see it - but it was so adorable IRL). I used a retired SU alpha stamp set called "Alphabet Fun Lower" for the monogram "J".

This second notebook was made for their oldest daughter who is an 8th grader so I had to make it a little more mature. I used the Inkadinkado Garden clear stamps along with the Rhona Farrer Scribbles alphabet for the monogram "T". I then sponged the edges with distress ink Antique Linen for a more vintage look. I also added some bling (clear glitter) to the dragonfly as well as the flower silhouette.

This was made for the youngest daughter. It took me awhile to come up with a stamp set to use with her notebook eventhough I already had an idea in mind. I hadn't inked up my GinaK Just Keep Swimming. Again, I had a hard time figuring out how to color the images so I scoured the SCS gallery for samples. Right now, the youngest one is very into oceans and sea life so this is the reason why I chose to use these images for her notebook. I also used the SU Alpha Fun Lower for the monogram "M" and PTI Borders and Corners - Circles stamp set for the dashed circle around the monogram. This looked better IRL...the lighting was just not right when I took the picture.

Ok, it's getting late so going to retire but fear not, more projects to post...ta ta!

RECIPE: composition notebooks from target, ginak just keep swimming/inkadinkado garden set/su alphabet fun lower/autumn leaves scribbles alpha/pti corner and borders - circles stamp sets, olive green/white/orange/dark blue cardstock, magnolia patterned paper, ribbon, rsvp pen, terrrifically tacky tape, green galore/summer sun/positively pink/real red/mellow moss/going grey/antique linen ink, clear glitter, nesties

Altered Notebooks - what fun!

Here is what I had been doing before Christmas...was so very busy making gifts sets! One of the projects I enjoy the most is altering composition notebooks. Man, did I overdo it...I must have made about 9 of them - yikes! But it was so much making them all so uniquely different from each other. I also love that you can combine so many pretty papers together.

For this project, my sister ordered some monogram gift sets to give to some gals who work in the office of her apartment complex. She wanted to thank them for all of their help for ensuring a smooth move to another apartment. I was ecstatic when she wanted me to make some altered notebooks - cause she enjoys the one I made her! She also wanted some matching thank you notes to go with the notebooks. I loved using these Magnolicious papers I bought from Hobby Lobby awhile back - totally down to earth yummy papers that all coordinate. I never really buy single papers anymore - just paper slabs from Jo's, M's or Hobby Lobby. So I made sure to stock up on lots and lots of paper during the holidays since we don't have much here in northern MN.

I was able to play with a new set I bought from Jo's called Inkadinkado Birds Galore...I am just so into birds and nature stamps lately! Since monogram sets are so "in" right now, this was the perfect project to add that personal touch. Each of the matching cards are 4x4 in size.

stamps: autumn leaves scribbles alpha, happy harmony, inkadinkado birds galore, small script, cornish heritage farms lined paper paper: white/teal/olive green/chocolate chip/orange cs, magnolia dp ink: bordering blue, antique linen distress ink, basic black accessories: nestabilities, cricut george cart for flower, transparency, gem bling for flower center and owl eyes, ribbon, red liner tape, sponge for distressing, scotch foam mounting tape, slit punch for scallop border, spiral punch

A Squirrel-y Thanks...

It's not often I participate in challenges on SCS so I created this for card sketch #209..I made a few of these awhile back to serve as thank you card for family and friends who gave and/or sent my son a present for his 5th birthday. I was still in the spirit of Thanksgiving so I created a more fallish card with this cute little squirrel from Stampendous (even though old man winter came very early). I bought this stamp set off a friend from a craft show. It was so cute - I just couldn't resist!

CARD RECIPE: stampendous beatrix potter nutkin knocking/mft give thanks stamp sets, chocolate chip/summer sun cardstock, unknown fall patterned paper, real rust/chocolate chip ink, clear decorative accents, cuttlebug die cut leaves and branches embossing folder, paper piercer, bone folder to make creases on the leaf, dimensionals. size of card: 5.5x5.5

Cards...Just for the Men!

I was in the mood to make some masculine cards so I just played with some simple layouts and finally inked my TAC ship collage stamp set and my favorite masculine set called Light the Path. I really love the distressed look so I used the cracked glass technique seen here. It is such a fun technique. The only thing is getting the card to crack the way you want it too after putting in the freezer. I kept the layout simple...on the inside of the card, I stamped a lighthouse image on the bottom corner using distress ink Antique Linen and stamped the sentiment in dark brown.

CARD RECIPE: tac light the path/ship collage/su cheesecloth stamp sets, beige/dar blue cardstock, inspirations by memory block patterned paper, chocolate chip/summer sun/bordering blue/distress ink antique linen/versamark ink, clear UTEE, silver eyelets, silver star brad, rectangle nesties, crop-a-dile, string

I'm so late...so very very late!

Hello Everyone and a Happy New Year! Sorry I have been MIA since the holidays. More projects got the best of me and then my family took a long drive back to IL to visit with family and friends. It was a great time and the kids loved every minute they spent with our families!

My first post for 2009 is a birthday card I made for my son. He turned 5 on December 3rd - just two days away from my hubby's birthday. I bought these 3D Disney Cars stickers from a craft fair I attended last November and knew exactly what I was going to use it for. My son is a big fan of the movie "Cars" and anything that is fast! Boys will be boys... I only had about 2 days to make the card and tried to make it nice and simple. My son is so sweet - he has such a huge appreciation for the arts that I thought to make him a birthday card this year! 'Nough said, here it is...

Ta Da! No stamping on this one - the first for me since I usually have some kind stamping on my cards. I dry embossed the kraft cardstock with the Number Collage cuttlebug embossing folder. I took a number 5 chipboard piece and painted it with some acrylic paint and for a 3D effect, I used Aleene's paper glaze on it. The rest is self explanatory. I used Mater as the focal point of the card and used some the tires as embellishments. I hooked his towing cable to the number 5 - wasn't that pretty ingenious? Well, fair enough to say that my son loved his card and is now sitting on top of his dresser. There was supposed to be another part to this card - an altered piggy bank. One of those banks with an electronic calculator on the lid that tells you how much money you have saved. I got it for a great deal from an Avon rep and ended up buying one for my daughter as well. Since I didn't have enough time, the piggy bank is still in progress so that will another post later later on...

Best Wishes to everyone in the New Year! Trying to catch up with my posts so stay tuned for more...

CARD RECIPE: no stamps used on this card, bliss blue/yellow/kraft cardstock, brown satin ribbon, number collage cuttlebug embossing folder, slit punch for scallops, DCWV Nana's Kids patterned paper