Green Fusion

This is the first card that I can really say that I'm in love with! I'm making an entire set of 8 with 4 different sentiments; Thank You, Congratulations, Happy Birthday, and Thinking of You - all from SU's Warmest Wishes set.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Tan - misc brand from Michael's, Green embossed and light green with flowers - Martha Stewart, Stampin' Up Chocolate

Stamps: Delight In Life, Doodle That, Warmest Wishes

Ink: SU chocolate

Embellishments: Dots, Dashes, Checks ribbon from Michael's

Technique: I stamped on MS paper with Doodle That in Chocolate and then colored it in with Sakura Stardust pen. I matted the light green paper with Chocolate cardstock from SU and then mounted the flower from the Delight In Life set with Mini Pop Dots.

Here's my link to my gallery on Splitcoast:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/543082?cat=8955

Whoopie Pies!!!

Just a plug for one of my best and oldest friends from college!!

http://www.freewebs.com/makinwhoopies/index.htm

BECAUSE WE ALL NEED MORE WHOOPIE IN OUR LIVES!!!

Camp Mattress

Ok so you may all think I'm a *smidge* crazy but the DP that I used on this card reminds me of an old cot or camp mattress. Or one that would be in an infirmary or old hospital. But I think that's why I was drawn to it! There was just something about it that I loved. Maybe it's nostalgic or rustic but I thought it was cool. I made a few of these to have so that I can start to build my inventory.

Recipe:

Cardstock: SU Old Olive, Misc Designer Paper

Stamps: SU Birthday Best, Inkadinkado Clear Stamp Set (new at ACM) - Floral Wishes

Ink: SU Chocolate for balloons and sentiment inside, Mellow Moss for background flowers

Ribbon: Kelly green ric rac from the $ bin at ACM, SU chocolate grosgrain

Embellishments: Glitter Glue, Making Memories aluminum swirl clips

Beg, Borrow or Steal!

One of the best thing about having friends who share crafting with you is the ability to borrow stuff from each other! My darling friend and enabler Joanne loaned me her Doodle That set last week and last night I got to play!!

I don't have a lot of time now but I WILL get back to this post and put more info up but for now here's what I've done! Some of them are *Thinking of You* and others are *Thank You*.

As you can see, I've been busy with my new Cuttlebug embossing folders and my new "Georgia O'Keefe" sentiment stamp. Both purchased at ACM by my MIL and FIL for an early bday gift! THANK YOU S AND C!!!

I've been TAGGED!

YAY! I love this kind of thing. I've been out of touch for the last week with just STUFF going on so I haven't been blogging but...my greatest and one of my oldest friends, Joanne, has tagged me to share 7 things about myself and to then tag others. So...here goes!!

1. I'm super messy. I HATE admitting it and I fight against it every day but it's the truth. I pile everything and anything, I let dust bunnies mount armies against me and my family, I let the laundry pile up, I collect magazines (sometimes they get read and sometimes not), I leave wet towels on my bed, the floor and on the counters in the bathroom. Everything eventually gets done but there's no rhyme or reason to it. I try to be different...really I do...but it's super hard for me. I'm messiest when I'm crafting or cooking.

2. I don't really like children. Well...I didn't until I had my own. I guess that's how it goes sometimes. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends kids, and I certainly don't bear ill will against children that I don't know...it's just that...I'm not really oooey gooey over them. I was never a good candidate for a babysitter or camp counselor. I did both and was never very good at either. I used to have boys over when I babysat (the kids were sleeping and never in danger...however) and I was brought into the camp directors office because I was swearing too much and the kids wrote home to their parents (it was an overnight camp) that I was doing so. So I had to be given a "talking to" about it.

3. I have a tattoo on my lower back and I love it. However, I'd never get another. They say that they're contagious...not so much with me.

4. I miss being a blonde...I think I looked better that way. As a Mom of 2 under 3, it's way too hard to be blonde, or have any kind of regular hair coloring process that requires updating every 6-8 weeks.

5. I was in pretty intensive therapy for roughly 7 1/2 years. I guess I never really realized how hard I worked at it all until recently when I can clearly see from the other side of it.

6. My husband and I are coming up on being together 16 years...16 YEARS!! My little brother (he's 25) lives with us and we were recently reminiscing about how my husband taught him how to drive a standard - when he was getting his license, how my husband remembers when my little brother got braces, and how when we met my half sister was 1 month old. OY! This coming fall we'll be celebrating our 11 year wedding anniversary.

7. I've traded in my sick and expensive bag collection for an equally sick and expensive crafting hobby.

I don't know anyone really know anyone in the blogging world except for my great and fabulous Mommy friend Nita so I'm tagging her. We met in baby yoga and I'm a better person for knowing her...for thousands of reasons. She knows sooooooo many people in the blogging world so hopefully we can keep the tagging going!!

Thanks Jo for tagging me!

Thank You

*one piece of 6x6 DP done 3 different ways

I always seem to finish up JUST as the kiddies are waking so I'll do my best to get back to this recipe later!

Hope everyone is having a creative day!

Some Variations

Bugs and Kisses

I'm totally loving this. I'm making a card pack for my girlfriend and I've made a couple of variations on this. The sentiment inside is Happy Birthday.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Summer Sun, Taken With Teal, Shimmery White, Pink Passion

Stamps: Bugs and Kisses, Delight in Life, Warmest Regards

Ink: Tempting Turquoise, Only Orange, Pink Passion

Embellishments: Glitter Glue on bugs, Foam pop squares under the flowers

gotta run...my oldest is waking from her nap!

Love it or Hate it?

I can't decide. My youngest is waking up now so I don't have time to go into detail but wanted to put her out there. I'll write more about her later.



edit:

so she's grown on me. i like her. but i feel like she's missing something...but i didnt want to over do it...

i need more practice...

any suggestions??

What a Mess!!

does anyone else's crafting area look this disasterous? or is it just me? i craft like i cook...SUPER MESSY! i've got to get better about organization...

Kiddy Birthday

I think this is a super cute birthday card for boys and girls alike!! I found the stamp in the $ bin at Michael's. It's a foam block stamp so it was a little tempermental with the regular ink so I used my craft ink.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Summer Sun, Ruby Red, Tempting Turquoise
Stamps: Foam Stamp - different images on all sides - from Michael's
Ink: Colorbox craft ink - brown (horse), SU's Real Red (horseshoes), Apricot Appeal on the Summer Sun card (hay) - hard to see in this picture.
Embellishments: Farm Animal Ribbon from the $ bin at Michael's, SU Turquoise, I used my blue Sakura stardust pen for a little bling on his saddle!

Blog Candy Fundraiser

This is a post from my great friend Joanne's blog :

www.stampedbyhand.blogspot.com

My friend Sarah Scaletta is participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer on May 19th and 20th in Boston. The weekend consists of marathon length walk on Saturday and a half marathon on Sunday. Sarah is participating in memory of her mother Sallie Reed who passed away in February of 2005 at the age of 62 after being diagnosed 6 years earlier with breast cancer breast cancer which later metastasized to her liver and bones. She was an incredible person that touched and inspired everyone she knew.

With your help, I'm sure that Sarah can meet, and hopefully exceed her goal of $1,800.

If you'd like to enter the giveaway all you have to do is visit Sarah's Avon Walk website and make a donation, in the comments section please add "Stamping Contest" and then comment on this post letting me know that you've done so.

For every $1 that you raise through this blog you will receive one "chance" at the prize. A winner will be selected the day of her walk - May 19th. The more money you pledge, the more chances you get to win!

So far, this giveaway includes:

Your choice of any one $25.00 Stampin Up set (donated by Sarah D. - my dear friend and Sallie's niece)

One Mel's Bracelet - http://www.melsbracelets.com/

Assorted Pink ribbon - donated by CraftyMomof2 from http://www.papercanteen.blogspot.com/

One Causabella Stamp donated by Emily of Stamping Bella

The upcoming "May Release" of Paper Trey from www.papertreyink.com including a project stamped by Nichole Heady herself!

Nita has donated a custom scissor charm, so helpful at workshops so that you don't loose those snips!

Emily Giovanni will be creating a pink tin, filled with assorted pink goodies.

One Bakers Dozen Traditional Whoopie Pies - with pink frosting - by Makin' Whoopies Includes shipping via UPS, or personal delivery to suburbs south of Boston.

Pink Cards created by some of my favorite stampers including:
TayloredExpressions, Confesssions of a Naptime Stamper, Inkin' It up with Kendra, Stamping with Julie (stay tuned for more to come)

....and hopefully even more to come!...

I will continue to add new items, so please check back often. Remember, for every dollar you donate to Sarah's fundraising efforts, you will get one chance at this awesome, and ever growing, blog candy!

Please help me support Sarah, and women everywhere, in the fight against breast cancer. Please pass this post along to your friends and ask them to join in because, together we can make a difference.

Crazy Thanks

I love to mix and match. Sometimes they all coordinate and othertimes NOTHING coordinates...and sometimes those are the ones that I love the most. The latter applies here. I challenged myself to take the scraps that were lying around my workstation and do something with them. This is what came out. And I LOVE IT!

Recipe:

Cardstock: SU's Orchid Opulence, Shimmery White, Misc patterned paper from scrapbooking

Ribbon: SU's Light Pink, Tangerine

Stamps: Delight In Life, Warmest Regards


Ink: Certainly Celery, Orchid Opulence

Embellishments: Staples, silver paint pen for the inside of the flowers, the shimmery white is pierced on the outside edge

Bella Oh Bella!

I do love my little Bella! And I'm really grooving on this card. This is the Desinger Series paper that I was working with the other night and I'm really getting used to it. Thanks Jo for the cute idea of the 'cut out' for Bella's skirt/sweater bottom! It really adds some nice dimention to her.

Oh and sorry about the mediocre photos. The light here is horrible today! I really need to invest in a photo light box.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Pale Plum and Designer Series paper (I still haven't found the name for it yet)
Stamp: Surprise-a-bella, Happy Birthday from the Warmest Regards set
Ribbon: SU - Chocolate and Misc brands from A.C. Moore
Emebllishments: boot clip - found on craft table - i bought them in a pack years ago to have at my desk at work. Top of Bella's party hat colored in Sakura Stardust pen, Pale Plum oval cut out with Fiskars edging scissors and Bella's skirt/sweater bottom is cut out of Certainly Celery and adhered with a Foam Pop Up Square.

Congratulations!

When I worked in retail and had my hand into buying a little bit for the stores that I used to work for I always had to force myself to look at merchandise from other people's eyes besides my own. It's a hard thing to do because you know what YOU like...but it's often hard to commit to something that you aren't initially drawn to but you know that others could be.

With that said, I bought this paper earlier in the season to make some cards for my SIL for the holidays. I struggle a little with it because I'm so much more into the bold colors. But like lightening...something just hit me last night and I LOVE how this card came out!!! And I can't wait to make more with this paper!!

Recipe:

Cardstock: SU - Lovely Lilac and Designer Series paper from the Winter Mini - I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it OR put my hands on my WM catalog to look it up. I'll edit later when I figure it out.
Stamps: Background sampler (hard to see in the pic) stamped in Lavender Lace on the LL cardstock, and Congratulations is from the Warmest Regards set.
Ribbon: Misc brands from A.C. Moore
Embellishments: light purple brads - Making Memories

p.s. I know I may seem insane for taking my pictures outside but right now that's where I get the best light. I'm still trying to find the best spot INSIDE to take pictures (and during what part of the day) where I get the best light.

Card Packs!

I just shipped out the most FABULOUS card pack to my darling cousin this morning. She ordered 2 mixed packs so I set to it! They were so beautiful I had a hard time parting with them. But I KNOW she's going to love them so that makes it totally worth it.


I package them in clear cellophane boxes that vary in size depending on the amount of cards. I then wrapped them in grosgrain ribbon and used the scraps from many of the cards inside to adorn the wrapping ribbon. I love they way it all coordinates together. I said to my DH last night how I'd love to receive such a beautiful gift!!

Confessions Of A Ribbon Addict...

Hi. I'm Meredith. And I'm a ribbon addict. (I'm waiting for the collective..."Hi, Meredith")

I know I'm not alone...I know there are MANY of you out there just like me. I went to Michael's today and hit the $1 bins. And just when I thought that I'd destroyed the selection of ribbon there...I turned the corner and there was MORE ribbon...all for $1. And I didn't even hit the ribbon aisle!! Yes...they have an entire aisle dedicated to ribbon. It's the best selection of ribbon that I've found in the big, box stores. I have an A.C. Moore and a couple of Joann's Fabrics near me so I forget about the Michael's that's not too far away.

Boy do I love that May is coming up as it brings my birthday! I know where I'm going shopping with any birthday money!!!

It's a good thing that I bring my children with me because then I can't spend too much time parusing the ribbons, stamps, and scrapbooking supplies. My kids are great in stores, but my oldest says "Let's keep moving Mummy!!" because that's always what I say to her when she lollygags in the aisles. My youngest is content to sit in the seat in the cart as long as he's got a snack or small toy. He's just so delicious and good! Like me, my oldest loves to browse and go up and down every aisle. Her favorites are smelling candles, running her hand along the walls of hanging beads, playing with the yarn balls, and looking at all of the stickers.

So my habit is NOT the only reason that we hit the craft stores SO often. ;)

Polka Dots

I was *trying* to do something a tad more neutral than the other cards I've been working on. So I started with the Creamy Caramel cardstock. I then looked around my workstation and pulled out a scrap of Pretty In Pink. I also had some Shimmery White and Pink Passion scraps so all together the colors looked very sweet. The sentiment on the inside reads 'Congratulations' stamped in brown ColorBox pigment ink. The polka-dot background (stamped in Pretty in Pink) as well as both of the flowers come from SU's Delight in Life set. I wasn't drawn to this set at first when I saw it in the SAB catalog BUT I use it CONSTANTLY! It's a great 'go to' for any occasion. The ribbon is American Crafts (a brand I've come to love!) - they have the best 12x12 selection of albums for scrapbooking. (I get mine here). The brads are both Making Memories.

Happy Sunday, Happy Easter and Happy Passover!!

Surprise-a-bella!

Much thanks to my enabler I am the proud owner of one, very cute Surpriseabella! (I think that's what she's called) I LOVE her! The Bellas are ridiculously adorable and I have a few on my list to order!! If you haven't check them out...you most definitely should. They have one for just about every event, profession or occasion!

I'm having a tough time figuring out where in my house the best place is to take photos so I don't think that the pics that I'm providing do the images justice. But you get the point. In retrospect I would have done a little more to enhance this card and it's background but I was so excited to show off Bella that I didn't want to crowd her. Inside is stamped 'Happy Birthday' from the SU's Warmest Regards set.

Recipe:

Cardstock: Lavender Lace, Perfect Plum, Shimmery White

Ribbon: misc brands from AC Moore, SU Apple Green

Brad: I *think* Creative Memories

Colors: Prang colored pencils

Don't Know Where To Begin

so just like me i'll jump in sideways and just start! for those of you who don't know me...by nature i'm very impulsive, impatient, loud - in both volume and style, and a just a *little* over the top. i am NOT methodical, precise, accurate...which is a tad problematic when you LOVE LOVE LOVE to craft.

becoming the mother of 2 has changed most of those qualities. by no means am i now a khaki and cardigan kind of girl...but im VASTLY more patient...both with children and the general public, while inside i can be impulsive - i am reserved in my purchases for myself (sometimes not so much for my children), my style is now whatever is clean or not completely gooed up from beautiful, sticky little hands and faces.

but all of those qualities still come out when i'm crafting. i rarely measure...unless i have to...i mix and match everything and anything...sometimes the zaniest or STUPIDEST things...the wilder the better (in most cases). sometimes things don't even remotely match...but that's what i love about crafting...you REALLY can't make a mistake.

so...with all that said...i love scrapbooking and i love stamping. i got myself sucked into the world of scrapping about 2 years ago when my daughter was an infant. i was so taken with her that i wanted to remember every second and every movement that she made. and so...i did. her first year encompasses 2 huge 12x12 albums. and i havent even started her second year. oh and THEN there's my 1 year old son. everything for his album is categorized, organized and color coded. i just have to find the time. but IN THE MEANTIME...one of my oldest and dearest friends http://stampedbyhand.blogspot.com/ got our other oldest and dearest friends http://www.freewebs.com/sbd529/index.htm completely sucked into rubber stamping...and she in fact became a Stampin' Up demo. So between the 2 of them...i stood no chance. so here i am...

i've been gingerly playing with the few sets i have and the bit of cardstock that i've collected. ive had a party and am considering becoming a demo myself. just working on the financial aspect of it as well as the time commitment. but in the meantime...i gave a few cards to my cousin as a thank you for having us over for a playdate recently and she called me the next day and asked if she could order some! i was thrilled. so i've got pictures of all the ones i made her that ill be posting. but one of my favorites that i made last night is this 'just beecause' card. I found the sparkly cardstock at Joann's yesterday when just getting out and about with my dynamic, miniature duo was necessary. It is a 4.5x6.5 Mat Stack of cardstock. It comes in a pack with 60 sheets, normally 9.99 but they're having a huge Easter sale so i got it for 5.99. It comes with a ton of patterns and colors with a few sheets of each. i was totally dying to use it. i came up with the yellow and black theme from the SU bee stamp and i saw a similar card in this month's The Rubber Stamper magazine. well...there was NOTHING similar (see above about being over the top and loud) about my card to the one i saw but i got the idea from a card in the mag. i colored in the bee with some markers that i had from scrapping, the wings are filled with glitter glue that i grabbed from the $1 bin at Joann's, his antannae are colored with an old silver gel pen i had lying around and he's punched out with the SU 1 1/4" circle punch and mounted with Scotch brand foam squares. the ribbon is misc brand from AC Moore that i got for $1/spool and the little circle embellishment was found on the floor of my car. HAHAHH...this description sounds ridiculous. but again...that's me. oh and i stamped the background with a flower from my Delight In Life set as well as my Reason To Smile set. so all in all i'm really loving this card.

oh and for anyone who cares the name Paper Canteen just kind of came out of the blue. i was wrangling with names and nothing hit me. then i thought about paper, letter writing, arts and crafts...etc, etc. (i cant get into the way my thought process works) but i was a kid who went to overnight came for the entire summer from the age of 6 or 7 on. so we always had to write letters home and when we'd run out of paper to write on we could order some from the Canteen. for those of you who didn't 'do' summer camp the Canteen was a place where you could order basic stuff - toiletries, stamps, some candy, paper and envelopes, etc. your parents would pay extra for this stuff so in case you ran out you could replenish without having your parents send you stuff. so...i just put the 2 together. Paper Canteen. it just stuck.

thanks for anyone who visits!