SU! ATC swap

So...here's my reasoning for the following swap:

http://stampedbyhand.blogspot.com/2007/07/second-call-for-in-color-swaps.html

The ONLY thing that I technically did wrong is that I used Heidi Swapp bling and a Sakura pen...but I think I'll get away with it *wink*.

Instructions:

Cardstock: SU! In Color: Soft Sky, Blue Bayou, River Rock, New DP from SU! in Cutie Pie, and the '06/07 Pallete O' Prints

Ink: SU! In Color: Purely Pomegranate, Wild Wasabi, Versamark

Stamps: From the new catty - Priceless - Flourish on the Blue Bayou background stamped in Versamark, Priceless stamped in Wild Wasabi on the Soft Sky, Butterfly stamped twice; both times in Purely Pomegranate on the Cutie Pie DP and the River Rock. I cut the Butterfly's wings out that were stamped on the River Rock and then adhered them to their matching image on the Cutie Pie to create a 3-d effect, and the little flower above the word "Priceless" was originally stamped in Versamark.

Embellishments: SU! Purely Pomegranate Double Stitched ribbon, Heidi Swapp Bling, Paper Piercer, Foam dimensionals, Green Sakura pen - while this isn't an SU! product, the 3 places in which I used this were images stamped from SU! stamps. The inner right wing of the butterfly has a flower that I colored in and the flower above "Priceless" was originally stamped in Versamark but was barely visable so I colored it in to create some continuity between the top and bottom of the card.

Did I mention that I'm IN LOVE WITH THIS? I'm glad it's for a swap so I know I'll be getting one back!

=)

I hope everyone is having a creative night!

Bday gift

I made these for a fabulous friend of mine to go along with her birthday gift. I LOVE them because they're SO fast and easy to make yet they look really put together.

I have to apologize for the dismal background that these photos are taken on. I wrapped the gift this morning and I had practically zero time to set up the shot. The only thing you can't see (because of the way I have the cards displayed) is that I stamped the heart from the Short and Sweet set in Cool Caribbean in the bottom right hand of the Very Vanilla cardstock as well as on the envelope.

Instructions:
Cardstock: SU! Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Basic Grey - Blush in Crush

Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip, Cool Caribbean

Stamps: SU! Short and Sweet from the new catty!! (i LOVE this set!)

Embellishments: Retired SU! ribbons: chocolate, turquoise, and red

Flocked Fun

Another order (Thanks Christina!!) for my darling friend Christina. This time it's for Thank You notes for her. She is fun and flirty and a little preppie and conservative all wrapped up together. I wanted something elegant and understated for her. So here's what I came up with:

Instructions:

Cardstock: SU! Very Vanilla, Pretty In Pink, Heidi Grace Designs Flocked Paper

Ink: SU! Pretty In Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Chocolate Chip

Stamps: SU! Much Appreciated, Priceless (from the new catty!!)

Embellishments: Paper Piercing System, Dots, Dashes and Checks ribbon from Michael's

Girlie Thank Yous

My darling friend Christina commissioned me to make "girlie thank you notes" for her daughter's upcoming third birthday. La La (as she's come to be called) is beautiful, spunky, sparkling, sweet, kind and above all GIRLIE! But I get a slightly preppie vibe from her as well so I immediately grabbed for the green/pink combo. I was just playing around seeing what comes to me and the pull tag just 'happened'. As you can see in the second picture, the tag pulls completely out and can be used on another gift or as a simple bookmark or in another card. It all just fell into place!


Instructions:
Cardstock: SU! Certainly Celery, Pixie Pink, and Pretty In Pink, EK Success - Stacey Claire Boyd DP in Polly's Playground
Ink: Purely Pomegranate
Stamps: SU! Much Appreciated
Embellishments: Sakura Stardust pen, Marvy Scallop Oval punch, SU! Grosgrain ribbon in Apple (now retired), Prima paper flower from EP, Making Memories flower brad

To Have And To Hold

One of our oldest and dearest friends got married last weekend in a beautiful, backyard garden ceremony. He has found the perfect woman to marry and she is truly a fabulous soul. She is perfect for him. They are combining 3 children (2 hers, 1 his) into their new lives and new household. I hope that they have found true happiness...(they're in Tahiti now so I'm SURE they're happy today!!) I know that they will have a beautiful life together.

Here is the card that I made to attach to the gift:

Instructions:
Cardstock: SU! Whisper White, American Crafts DP
Ink: Wild Wasabi
Stamps: Warmest Regards, Warm Words
Embellishments: Dots, Dashes, Checks Ribbon from Michael's, Making Memories brad, Primas from EP, Marvy Scallop edge oval punch, Sakura Stardust pen

Scrapbook Chain Letter

I'm not going to go into the particulars of this project's story out of respect for the person that I've done it for but it's in memory of a dear sister and friend. These are scrapbook pages that I've been asked to do that will be added to a 12x12 album and then passed onto the next person on the list to add theirs until it is finished and can be given to her husband.

I'm off to deliver it to him now so I'll share the product details later.

Enjoy and I hope that everyone is having a creative day!

Just a quick thought for those of you with kids!

My daughter LOVES to paint. So I stock up constantly on watercolor paints. I always grab whatever Crayola sets are available...that is, however, until I found these:

You all may already know about these so if you do...don't burst my bubble, ok? Let me think that I've discovered something that no one else has! ;)

They are self contained paints that come with a little plastic top that I just throw away. I got them at ACM but I'm sure you could find them at any craft/art store. They are stashed on the other side of the store from the kids stuff snuggled in nicely with the adhesives, tapes, some other misc paints and other random items. The best part is that they're only $1.99!! I don't find Crayola to be overpriced but you still can't beat $1.99!! I don't even think the single Crayola box goes for less than that.

What I like most about these ones is that there are little raised dots in between each paint color where the brush can rest, a well in the middle for a splishy splash of water (because my 2 year old does not need a gigantic cup of water to paint with) she just needs a dab, AND the 'palette' can be used after the paints are gone to fill up with other stuff...more paint, beads, embellishments...whatever! =)

So I just wanted to share!

I hope that everyone is having a creative day!

Blog help?

so I'm not so computer savvy...but I'm not, not computer savvy. i can get my way around and figure stuff out. i can even (when absolutely necessary) write a *little* html.

but for the life of me i cannot figure out why...when i upload a picture here to Blogger sometimes when i click on the photo it opens up and enlarges...and other times i click on it and nothing happens...

anyone? anyone?

it's not a big deal...just one of those annoying inconsistencies...but if anyone can clue me in...I'd be forever grateful!

=)

Darling Monkey Princess

My dear friend Nita asked me to make these for her gorgeous and fabulous now 3 year old daughter as Thank You notes for recent birthday gifts. Down with Disney and YAY for Sanrio's Hello Kitty!! I'm a fellow Disney hater as well so it's just another commonality in the pile of millions that Nita and I share.

I found these to be sweet and sassy. Just like the darling Monkey Princess that they're made for.

Love you little 3 year old girl!!

SMOOCH!

Basic Recipe:

Cardstock: SU! Real Red, Sanrio DP

Ink: SU! Basic Black

Stamps: SU! Much Appreciated (inside), "R" from alphabet set purchased at the OSJ

Embellishments: Marvy Oval Scallop punch, Pop-dots, Misc ribbons from Michael's and ACM, red furry fiber leftover from my knitting days (I have about a dozen skeins of it!)

I'm BACK!!!

Hi Y'all! I can't even begin to tell you how I've missed you!! At the end of everyday it feels like I've forgotten something and I can't quite figure out what it is. And then it dawns on me...I haven't created something today!! AAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRGGGGGGGH!!!




*Sigh*





The one thing that I've always felt that I've done right in this parenting adventure (so far) is that I have ALWAYS kept a ridiculously rigid sleep schedule with my children. It just always felt like the right thing to do and for me, it worked. However, I've had a hell of a time lately with some sleep issues involving my oldest. She's slept solidly through the night since she was 4 months old...she's now almost 3 and for just about a month now has been giving us the *business* regarding bedtime. We've got it back under control now and I won't bore you with the details but lets just say...I'm now back to getting enough sleep so that I have some semblance of creativity left at the end of the day and a teensy bit more time to get something done in the evenings now. Phew...that was an exhausting episode.



So here's what I got for ya...







Flower Power Basic Recipe:

Cardstock: Misc neutral pack - gray, SU! Cameo Coral, Certainly Celery, ME & MY BIG IDEAS - DP
Ink: True Thyme, Only Orange, Gable Green
Stamps: Paper Salon - Bloom Builder, SU! Riveting, SU! Warmest Regards
Embellishments: Making Memories brads, SU! 1 1/4" circle punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Dots, Dashes, Checks green velvet ribbon, Pop-dots, Sakura Stardust pen

Football Basic Recipe:
Cardstock: SU! Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Stamps: SU! Warmest Regards, Football stamp from the $ bin at ACM
Ink: SU! Very Vanilla - Craft, "Happy Birthday" inked with both Chocolate Chip and Buckaroo Blue - RNR method used
Embellishments: Star Brad - Making Memories, SU! Red 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, staples (yes, they're on purpose and not trying to 'fix' something ;), Judi Kins heat embossing powder

In a very bold attempt, I signed up for one of Taylor's A muse ATC swaps. It's my first one *ever* and I truly hope that my work holds up to everyone else's. I struggled with this as I wanted to make sure that I did a good job! Thankfully they're not due to be postmarked until this coming Friday so I've got a little time to play if I decide that my Hula Girl needs something a bit *more*.

Basic Recipe:

Cardstock: SU! Old Olive, Basic Grey DP - Stella Ruby; Lady Kate's Roses, Stemma Brand DP; Foxy Foliage

Stamps: A muse Hula Girl and Beautiful Day

Ink: True Thyme

Embellishments: SU! Mustard grosgrain ribbon, Making Memories swirl clip

Happy 4th!

My darling friend Patrick invited us to his family's annual 4th of July bash. It is a wonderful party every year with a wonderful group of people. Patrick and I have been friends since H.S. and have been through what seems like lifetimes together. He's an amazing person...talented, creative, warm, caring and funny. Not to mention good looking!! We always have a great time doing whatever it is we do! We used to party all the time together and now that times are a bit tamer we sit and enjoy and drink wine and visit and reminisce about old times. His Mom, Marcia, is the kind of Mom that everyone wants. She's a lovely, smart, darling woman who would do anything for her family. She makes anyone that she meets feel instantly at home and comfortable. Whether she's meeting you for the first or thousandth time. I'm honored to know Patrick and his entire wonderful family.

I made this covered notebook for the Hostess with the Mostess! I, of course, gave it to her without writing down the recipe but I can tell you the following:

It's a composition notebook covered in DP (designer paper) that I ordered from EP.

Stamps: SU!'s Big Bloom's set from the Spring Mini '07
Ink: Versamark, Real Red, Buckaroo Blue
Embellishments: SU! Ribbon in French Blue, Red, Navy as well as assorted others from JoAnn's, rhinestone brad from JoAnn's, corner rounder punch



Thank you Mrs. C for all of your wonderful hospitality!! You're a fantastic hostess and a wonderful Mom/Friend.

XOXOXOXO

Family Photo

I don't have any creativity to post but I DO have a nice family photo!! It's of my DH (green shirt) and I (black shirt), and our 2 delicious children, my SIL and her DH, and my MIL and FIL. We try to take a family photo once a year when we're all vacationing together.

I do have one where my son is not being crabby...but I chose to post this one because it cracks me up. He's 99.9% of the time smiling and cherub like...that is until we try (once a year mind you) to take a famiy picture. HAHAHHAAH...he cracks me up.

Sigh...

I've lost my creative mojo...has anyone seen it?

My daughter is almost 3 (well..in October) and all of a sudden I'm having some major sleep issues with her. I have to say, they are getting DRASTICALLY better but without going into the whole thing I'll just say that she's slept solidly since she was about 4 months old. Down to bed by 630/7, sleeps through the night and wakes somewhere around 630/7ish. Oh and she naps for about 1.5 hours in the middle of the day. Solidly for almost 2.5 years now! And all of a sudden, starting about a week ago, she refuses to let me leave the room when it's time for bed or nap.

So we've got it under control but now we sit on a stool outside her room until she falls asleep. The amount of time that it takes her to fall asleep has gone down and there's no more hysteria. So we're sticking with this plan until whatever is going on with her is remedied.

BUT...in the meantime...I've been so upside down and upset about the whole thing (trying to understand what's happened is REALLY what's getting me) that it's zapped any energy that I have.

Oh and we also went on vacation to VT for a few days so that ate up a lot of creative time. So..I went down to my studio last night to clean it up, re-organize, and get set up for the creativity to start flowing tonight!

Wish me luck!!