Congrats Oven (CPS #190)

Tonight's card is based on this week's sketch over at Card Positioning Systems.  I made this card for one of my dear friends who just found out she was pregnant for the first time.  It's kind of an inside joke, the inside of the card has a muffin stamp and says "..on the bun in your oven!"  I didn't have a bun stamp, so the muffin was the closest thing.  I won't be posting very much for the next two weeks or so because I have a ton of deadlines, I'm not feeling very well, and I am getting ready to put a ton of my craft stuff into a big "garage" sale at my LSS.  I will post as often as I can, but I don't think it'll be very often.  Thanks for understanding.  I hope you all have a great week and get some good crafting time in!

cardstock, gingham patterned paper, sentiment stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
daisy oven: Stamping Bella
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic

Thank You Paper Flower (CAS FTL #111, Moxie Fab Perfectly Placed Pleats, PDCC #52)

Tonight's card is based on the Perfectly Placed Pleats challenge in the Moxie Fab World, this color challenge from The Play Date Cafe, and this sketch challenge from Clean and Simple Stamping.  My card is very simple, but for the first time I made a pleated paper flower.  I cut a strip of patterned paper 3/4"x11", scored it every 1/2" , and then accordian folded it along the score marks.  I adhered the ends together with very strong adhesive forming a circle, gathered the folds together at the center, and then pushed the center down forming the "flower".  I punched a circle, cut the edges with scalloped scissors, and adhered it to the flower.  I tied yellow baker's twine in the button and adhered it on top of the flower as well.  I think for my first pleated paper flower it turned out pretty well.  I think I'll try it again soon.  It's fun to try something new once in a while.  I'd recommend it, you might be surprised at the outcome! :)  Happy Crafting!

all paper, stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
punch: EK Success
decorative edge scissors: Provo Craft
scoring board: Martha Stewart

You're Sweet Ice Cream Girl (Embellish Magazine, Card Patterns #86, CPS #189, ESS #105)

Today's card is based on the challenge at Embellish Magazine, the sketches at Eat Sleep Stamp, Card Positioning Systems, and Card Patterns.  I made the card from patterned paper and then cut rectangles of gingham paper and adhered them to the card.  I stamped the image on cardstock, colored it with my Copics, stamped the sentiment, trimmed it, and adhered it to the card with pop dots.  I adhered the brad and felt flower with an adhesive dot.  I adhered the ribbon with adhesive and then tied the ends with string.  It's a technique I've seen many times, but I've never actually tried it until today.  I think it's very cute.  I love how this card turned out and I absolutely love the color combination! :)  I hope you can find some creative time this weekend.  Happy crafting!

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
ribbon and felt flower: American Crafts
brad: Queen and Co

Another Quilt Card, Handmade With Love (PDCC #51, GS # 60)

Today's, or should I say tonight's, post is going to be short and sweet because I don't feel very well.  My card is based on the sketch below from Get Sketchy and based on the colors in the picture below from The Play Date Cafe.  I made another quilt card for these challenges.  It's my second one and I am really loving how they are turning out.  I hope you enjoy this card too!  Happy Crafting!

all paper, ribbon, ink: A Muse Artstamps
stamps: Hero Arts
markers: Copic
square punch: Marvy Uchida

Eat Dessert First (2S4Y Kazan's Sketch #63)

I hope you're enjoying your Saturday as much as I am.  It's a beautiful Fall day here in Oregon and I'm going to get some great crafting time in this afternoon.  A near perfect day! 

Today's card is based on the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You.  The stamps are from A Muse, of course. :)  I used my Nestabilities curved rectangles die to get the beautiful shape on the ice cream cardstock panel.  I decided to use my corner rounder punch on this card, which is something I don't do very often.  To be honest I rarely think of it, but I really love how it just adds something different to the card.  I colored the image with my Copics.  I shaded the ice cream to give it a little subtlety, outlined the ice cream with my Copic Spica clear glitter pen to give it a little sparkle, and lastly outlined the entire image with my Copic BG10 to make it "pop".  I absolutely LOVE how this card turned out!  It may be because I love the color combo, it may be because this is one of my fave layouts for a card, or it may be because I LOVE ice cream images since I can't actually eat it anymore.  I'm gluten intolerant, dairy intolerant, sugar intolerant, and lactose intolerant.  What a combo right?  I have to get my treats where I can, in the stamping world.   I hope you enjoy the treat I've brought you today and that you have a chance to take some time for yourself this weekend.  Happy Crafting!

Kazan's Sketch #63

all paper, stamps, ink, ribbon: A Muse Artstamps
markers, glitter pen: Copic
apron lace border punch: Fiskars
corner rounder punch: Creative Memories
curved rectangles die: Spellbinders

My Craft Room

I recently got a request to post pictures of my craft room.  Well, here they are.  I'll try to explain what you're seeing the best I can and if you have any questions please feel free to email me. 

I took this picture standing in my door way facing right.  Off to the right of the picture there are bookcases filled with scrapbooks, books, magazines, and pictures.  The plastic drawers are filled withed with my paper scraps, next to it in the black dessert stand are my inks, and above that in the white basket are my clear stamps.  Below these are a set of white drawers that house half of my stamp collection.  The other half of my collection is on the other side of the room.  I keep most of my embellishments, paper, adhesive, tools, etc... in the white drawers that run across the wall.  On top of the drawers I keep my notecards, Spellbinders, paper pads, gems, and a rounder of stickers.  The shelves on the wall house my punches, embossing folders, rub-ons, glitter, embossing powder, stickles, and ribbon. 

My desk is from Ikea and I love it!  I haven't found a chair yet, so I hijacked one of out kitchen chairs.  I have a large, clear Alvin self-healing mat where I do all of my projects to keep my desk protected.  I have a lamp with a daylight bulb.  I have several different bins/cups to hold my pens because I have so many and several different kinds.  I have a large Making Memories paper trimmer for cutting larger paper and a smaller Creative Memories paper trimmer for the smaller paper.  I use the smaller one much more often because it's easier to use.  The bottom shelves on the legs of the desk come in handy for storage too. 

The little jars on the dry erase board are actually magnetic spice jars that are filled with all of my small embellishments like brads and buttons.  Below that on a microwave cart is my ipod player/radio and picture storage.  The shelves on the next wall hold the most recent cards I've made.  Below that on top of the white shelves is my laptop, a rounder with more of my cards, and a basket with more cards (behind my laptop).  The white shelves hold the other half of my stamp collection. 

I hope you've enjoyed the tour.  I've gotten a lot of great storage ideas by looking at other people's rooms so I hope I can give you some ideas too.  Like I said before, if you have any questions please feel free to email me.  Happy Crafting!

If Friends Were Flowers (GS #59, 2S4Y Kazan #63)

Good Afternoon on this beautifully sunny day, at least where I live here in Oregon.  The card I have to share with you today is based on this sketch from Get Sketchy and also this sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.  I grass border punched a strip of the green gingham paper and adhered it to the bottom of the card.  I stamped the stems (Everyday Button Bits by Papertrey Ink) on cardstock, die cut it with my circle Nestabilities, and adhered it to the card.  I grass border punched another strip of green gingham paper and adhered it over the first with pop dots.  I glued flower buttons to the tops of the stems.  I stamped the clouds on a scrap of blue gingham patterned paper, cut them out and adhered them to the card with pop dots.  I stamped the sentiment and tied a ribbon around the top of the card.  I'm really happy with the way this card turned out.  I hope you are able to get some crafting time in this week or at least some time to enjoy yourself.  Happy crafting! 

all paper, sentiment, clouds stamp, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
Everyday Button Bits: Papertrey Ink
pear tart dye ink: Momento
grass border punch: Martha Stewart
circle die: Spellbinders
ribbon: American Crafts

Beautiful Autumn (Funky Fall Tuesday Trigger)

Today's card is inspired by the picture below from Moxie Fab World's Tuesday Trigger.  I was inspired by the picture as a whole and tried to replicate it on my card in a much smaller version.  I used A Muse's cloud patterned paper to make my card and then used their grass and papaya cardstock to make the hills at the bottom of my card.  I stamped the house on cardstock and die cut it with my Spellbinders Nestabilities circle die.  I stamped the house again on a scrap piece of cardstock, colored the trees with my Copics, cut them out and adhered them over the originals with pop dots.  The coloring on the trees was done with my Copics as I said before, but I also used my Copic blending pen to put "dots" on the leaves so it matches the picture below.  It may be a little hard to see it the picture, but it turned out pretty well IRL.  I hope you all had a chance to craft this weekend, and if not, I hope you'll get the chance during the week. 

                                                Funky Fall Tuesday Trigger

all paper, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
markers: Copic
die: Spellbinders

Friendly Winter Snowman (2S4Y Bonus Sketch #62)

Anyone who knows me knows I love snowmen!  When the Christmas holidays come around my house is decorated almost completely in snowmen.  They are so adorable and because they technically represent winter you can leave the decorations up through January and February, which I do of course. :)  When I started collecting, I mean using, stamps it was only natural that my love of snowmen would transfer.  There are so many cute snowmen stamps out there.  Some of my very favorite come from A Muse, no surprise.  Their new 2010 Holiday release has the cutest snowman family!  I used the Snow baby and birdie image on my card below.  Could that stamp get any more adorable?!

My card is based on the sketch below, which is a bonus sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You.  You still have time to play the bonus sketch and this week's actual sketch until Saturday.  I chose to use the Thrift Shop paper pad, Fly a Kite paper pad, and Good Cheer: Gingerbread patterned paper by October Afternoon.  I wanted something wintery and monochramatic, but something that didn't necessarily scream winter.  If that makes any sense at all.  I, of course, used my Copics to color the image.  The wonderful sheer ribbon is A Muse.  They make great ribbon that doesn't fray at the ends when you cut it and it comes in tons of great colors that match their notecards and cardstock.  I think the ribbon finishes the card off perfectly!  Thanks for all of your wonderful comments each day, I really appreciate them!  Happy crafting!

                                                 Stacey's Bonus Sketch #62

cardstock, stamps, ink, ribbon: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: October Afternoon
markers: Copic
scallop border punch: Fiskars

2S4Y #62, Jolly Holiday Greetings

I have two cards for your veiwing pleasure today.  They are both based on the same sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You and one also qualifies for the Jolly Holiday Greetings challenge over in the Moxie Fab World.  The first card is based on the holiday coming up this month, Halloween.  I used the Matilda mini deck by Cosmo Cricket for all my patterned papers.  I just love the witch leg paper!  It's so adorable!  I used the Crooked hat and Boil and bubble stamps by A Muse to complete this card.

For my next card I decided to look forward to winter.  I used the Be Merry line by My Mind's Eye.  This line is a of couple years old, but I absolutely love it!  I bought a couple sheets of each paper when it came out and I also made my Christmas cards out of it that year.  I still have quite a bit of it left, which is fine by me because I don't think I've ever loved a Christmas line more.  I do wish I could get their paper in smaller pads like October Afternoon, Basic Grey, and Cosmo Cricket.  I rarely buy big sheets of paper  anymore.   Anyway, back to the details of the card...I used A Muse stamps, Snowlady and Winter wishes hand, and colored the image with my Copics of course.  Lastly, for the first time I did a ribbon ruffle.  It was a little difficult to get the hang of, but once I did it went pretty smooth.  I'm sure I'll try it again sometime soon because it looks really neat. :)  I will tell you that if you want to try it you need very strong adhesive to adhere the ribbon to.  I used Rubber Stamp Concepts Super Adhesive Tape and it worked pretty well.  You could also try Super Tape by Therm O Web  or Terrifically Tacky Tape by Art Accentz and see how they work.  Both of them have the red liner, in case that makes it easier to identify them.  Thanks for sticking with this long post today.  Happy crafting!

Image #1
stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
marker: Copic
decorative edge scissors: Provo Craft

Image #2
stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye
markers: Copic
ribbon: American Crafts

2S4Y #62, Happy Holidays

So I did it.  I made a holiday card today, actually a couple.  I've been seeing them all over the blog world for quite some time, but it's a little early for me, considering I'm still wearing capris.  I love holiday cards, but I usually just can't get in the spirit until the weather is a little colder.  When I looked at this week's sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You the only things that I could think of were Christmas, winter, and snow!  I picked selections from the Mitten Weather paper pad (by Cosmo Cricket) to make this card.  I love the purple snowflake paper!  I colored the Winter houses (by A Muse) with several violet Copic markers and then added glitter to the rooftops and the ground.  It's a little hard to see in the picture.  Now that this card is done I'm getting a little excited for winter, Christmas, and hopefully some snow this year! :)  Happy crafting!

                                                                    2S4Y #62

cardstock, stamps, ink: A Muse Artstamps
kraft cardstock: Papertrey Ink
patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket
markers: Copic
threading water border punch: Fiskars
glitter: Doodlebug Design

CAS FTL #109, Embellish Magazine Challenge

I hope you all had a great weekend and were able to get some crafting time in for WCMD!  I sure had some fun!  I was able to make a couple of cards and spend some good quality time in my craft room.  I love spending time in my craft room, even if I'm just looking around at all my creations.  It just inspires me and makes me happy.  I've had my room painted several different colors and the color it is now is the perfect color for my creative energy.  It was yellow first, with painted butterflies and such all over the walls.  I know, I know, you don't even have to tell me...what in the world was I thinking?  Not so great for creating..too distracting.  Then it was medium purple with a dark purple stripe around the top.  I was able to live with this for a while, but it just didn't feel quite right.  Finally, I painted my room a light green (Christopher Robin's Swing or something) and added white shelving.  It's perfect!  I feel so creative and everyone who sees my room loves it as well.  Has this ever happened to you, where the color of the room you're working in hinders your creativity? 

Today's card, if you're still with me,  is based on the sketch below by Clean and Simple Stamping and on the challenge below from Embellish Magazine.  You still have time to play both challenges until Thursday, October 7th.  I stamped the rain stamp (by A Muse) with grey ink on a pre-made white card.  I stamped the umbrella (by Technique Tuesday) on a piece of white cardstock, matted it with black cardstock, and border punched the right edge.  I outlined the umbrella with my trusty W1 Copic marker to make it "pop".  I stamped the sentiment on yellow gingham patterned paper, trimmed it, and adhered it to the cardstock panel.  I adhered the panel to the card with pop dots and then added white glitter to the umbrella.  I think I've said this before, but when using glitter you almost always want to add it to your projects last.  This way you won't get glitter all over your entire project.  If you didn't get any crafting time in this past weekend, I hope you can find the time this week!  Happy crafting!

                                                               CAS FTL #109

all paper, Rain stamp, black dye ink: A Muse Artstamps
The Weather Report clear stamp set: Technique Tuesday
grey whale chalk ink: Clearsnap
marker: Copic
scallop border punch: Fiskars
white glitter: Doodlebug Design

Not Your Square Granny Squares Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge

Surprisingly enough I have never made a "quilt" card before.  It was based on this week's Tueday Trigger Challenge over at Moxie Fab World (the picture below).  I believe you still have until the end of today to play along as well if you want. What inspired me about this picture was the quilt itself, obviously, and the colors in it.  I wanted to make my own "quilt" on the card with similar colors. 

To make this card I trimmed a piece of cardstock slightly smaller than my card, then punched a bunch of scrap patterned paper pieces with my square paper punch.  I adhered the squares to the cardstock panel, turned the panel over, and then trimmed off the overhanging squares with scissors.  Because I don't sew I drew stitching lines with my black pen, but you could also use rub-ons or stamps if you don't sew either.  Real stitching would look super cute, but alas that is one skill I don't possess.  Next, I stamped the dress form (from the Sew Lovely clear set by Lawn Fawn) on a white cardstock panel, trimmed it, paper pieced it with pink gingham and popsicle pink paper (by A Muse), colored it with my trusty Copics, outlined the panel with faux stitching, and adhered it with pop dots.  Lastly, I stamped the sentiment (from the Sew Artsy clear set by Hero Arts).  I have to tell you I really love how this card turned out, especially since I've never made a quilted card before.  I love that it used up a ton of my scraps, that it used so many colors and patterns together, and that it just looks so cute!  It seems that almost every time I try something new I like how it turns out.  What does that tell me?  Branch out and go out of my comfort zone more often...try new techniques and styles way more often.  I encourage you to do the same.  You too may be surprised and love the results!  Happy crafting!

Not Your Sqaure Granny Squares

all paper, ink: A Muse Artstamps
image: Lawn Fawn
sentiment: Hero Arts
markers, black multi liner pen: Copic
punch: Marvy Uchida

2S4Y #62

HAPPY WORLD CARDMAKING DAY!  I hope you all are getting some crafting time in today in honor of World Cardmaking Day today.  Just in case you didn't know, it's always the first Saturday in October.  So, mark you calendars for next year.  There are always a number of blogs that participate and give away prizes and have challenges.  Also, many LSS and chain Craft Stores participate with sales, make-and-takes, raffles, and give-aways.  It's grown to be quite a big deal.  If this is the first year you've heard about it, mark your calendar and start looking around a couple weeks before it starts next year and you'll be able to participate in a lot of fun stuff! 

Today's card is inspired by the sketch below from 2 Sketches 4 You.  The sketch challenge ends today, but you still have a few hours to play along.  I used the new Wander paper pad from Basic Grey and the chip stickers that go along with it.  That paper pad it so cute!  It's perfect for travel cards or for masculine cards, which is kind of what I was aiming for here.  You can tell me whether I achieved that or not.  I don't think I need to explain how I made this card because I think it's fairly self-explanatory, but if you have any questions please feel free to email me.  Once again, I hope you all get a chance to make some cards today in honor of World Cardmaking Day.  Happy crafting!

                                                                    2S4Y #62

cardstock, stamp, ink: A Muse Artstamps
patterned paper: Basic Grey
cornice border punch: Martha Stewart
chip stickers: Basic Grey