Until I can figure out how to get more space for pictures without buying it, I guess it'll be quiet around here in Blogland!!  Happy Holidays everyone!!

Kim as KIRBY,thank you Grandma and Grandpa!!

 

I just had to post this! My nine year old went to girl scout camp this weekend and dressed
as Kirby for their Halloween party. Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for making this possible!
They did a terrific job on her costume!!




You think she's excited??

                                     
                                                               See you all later!!

PDCC #155 and Make It Monday

I've got another two for one today. And for some reason it took me ALL day to finally finish this card. Believe it or not I have no one to blame because I had the house all to myself today with no interuptions. There were just too many things I wanted to accomplish I guess.

Anyway, on to the card.  I am entering this in PDCC #155 and MIM #88 . The suggested colors over at PDCC are:   

Mint ... Gold ... Leather.

For the MIM challenge, Erin has a great video about using positive and negative dies.

 So in the end this is what finally came about!

PTI Supplies used: Edger die, Turning a New Leaf Stamps.
Other Supplies: Take Note SU Sizzix Die, Tim Holtz Tattered Flower, Leather,
Metallic gold CS, mint green CS, Washi tape, gold glitter embossing powder, pearls
and rhinestones, Paper Studio dot stamp. 

Thanks everyone for your comments!

October Papertrey Blog Hop Challenge

 

So, here we are again on the 25th for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop. Nichole challenged us
to use the not so traditional holiday colors. I chose the scheme below:

Here is a holiday bag I made. Not so sure what I will put in it or who it's for but
I know it will come in handy. I also used positive and negative die cuts for Make It Monday. The tree is a negative cut as well as the upper hill.

PTI Supplies: In The Meadow Dies and Stamps, Snow Border Die, Double Ended Banner Die,
Pure Poppy PP, Pinefeather CS, Vintage Cream CS, Ocean Tides Felt, Pure Poppy button,
Front and Center Die and Fresh Snow Ink.
Other supplies: Distress Ink in Pine Needles by Tim Holtz. The envelope liner stamp
by Hero Arts, Heart Paper punch, and Divine Twine.

Thanks for taking a peek!! Off to hop!!

The Play Date Cafe 3rd Anniversary Celebration Challenge

Now, usually I would never, ever, ever... getting back together. (Oops, sorry. I saw Taylor Swift on TV this morning and I know that song is very popular but it can get a little annoying.)
Ok, so back to what I was saying, that I wouldn't normally put these colors together but since the fun was extended through today over at http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/  I had to use these fun colors:
                                        

Flame ... Grape ... Mulberry


Please don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions!!

Supplies:  PTI: Orange Zest, Scarlet Jewel and Ripe Avocado CS,
Orange Zest and Autumn Rose Ink, Fall Elegance and Autumn Tags Stamps.
Mat Stack 3 Die
Other: Sizzix emb. folder, Misc. thread/fiber and Zing Em.b powder

You Make Me SMILE

I'm having a ball over at The Play Date Cafe. Please come and join us! There's still a whole day left to celebrate and add YOUR projects!!  I wanted to do a CAS(clean and Simple) card but it did not
turn out exactly as I planned. Oh well, that happens I guess!!  I incorporated the Make It Monday into my card by die cutting letters out of fun foam and using them as stamps just like Heather showed us on the video. A little challenging stamping them. Rather than use bottle caps like Heather suggests I used Perfect Pearls and other little jars of stuff I had on hand.  I don't need to add another item to my small crafting abode!!  Thanks for looking!!

Jen

PTI Supplies: Autumn Tags 2009, Alphabet, Orange Zest and Summer Sunrise Ink.
Hero Arts:"You make me" and smiley guy. Tim Holtz Distress Markers

Rickety Old House lantern

I first want to tell you that the quality of this picture is terrible and I apologize.
Another project for the celebration going on over at The Play Date Cafe . Having a ball with this!

The color is Aged Mahogony by Tim Holtz and it really looks awesome but you can't really tell.  Anyway, I die cut some card stock(grunge paper was an after thought) with the Rickety House by Tim Holtz. Embossed it with a brick Texture Fade. Inked it up and used a bit of Black Soot around the edges. Secured it around a battery operated tea light. Tied a bunch of twine together for some smoke and stapled it in place(with tiny attacher) and glued the chimney together. I die cut the letters out for the MIM challenge and then stamped them using blueberry Sky ink which came out like a true navy blue. Added some googly eyes and that was all.
Sits on the table all crooked too! I really like the way it turned out. I may make more of these with Grunge paper so they will hold up a bit longer. Thanks for looking!

Two for One: Get Well

A friend of ours is having knee surgery tomorrow so I thought I would use this excuse to sit, create and listen to the Bills game. I decided to make another card for the festivities going on at The Play Date Cafe and also Make It Monday on Stamping Alphabets with die cuts.



                                                 
Supplies: Papertrey Ink Royal Velvet and Terracotta Tile CS, Parisian Doily Die, Tiny Tags die.
Two For Tea Additions Stamp Set, Alphabet.
Other: Prima Flowers, American Crafts Zing Embossing Powder, Divine Twine, Kaiser Crafts Rhinestones. I think that does it. Oh yeah, shaving cream and ink refills for the tye dye effect patterned paper.

On the inside it says: " a speedy recovery!"

Thanks for looking!!

Make It Monday # 87: Stamping Alphabets with Die Cuts

Well,  I finally accomplished this card for Make It Monday over at Nicholes' Blog.

Heather hosted this week with some great tips to boot, thanks Heather!!

I began having issues with my glimmer mist. I tried three different bottles,
all of which were clogged so I tried a few different options and hated everything. During this time, I spilled half a bottle on the kitchen floor trying to unclog the sprayer. Flung a cap under the stove to find out the dust bunnies were having a ball under there-it's been a while since I cleaned under that baby!!

I didn't think I was meant to craft today but in the end, it all worked out and I did get a baby card out of the deal. This will hop in the mail tomorrow for a college friend that I haven't seen in years but Congrats to you Jules!

Oh, and I didn't even mention any of the issues I had making the stamps! I don't think I had my head screwed on right today. I just couldn't seem to get it right. I think after about the 5th run through my vagabond did I finally get the adhesive on the correct side and everything cut properly and all the way through! I used a quickutz cookie cutter alphabet. (I think it was the Recycle set). I also used a sizzix embossing folder but everything else is PTI in blueberry sky and Spring Rain.

                                                         

Thanks so much for stopping by today!!

Jen

The Play Date Cafe challenge # 154

Happy 3rd Anniversary to The Play Date Cafe!!  I just stumbled across this Blog recently and I want to start participating in more challenges so here's my chance! They are having a great celebration so hop on over!!!

Here's the inspiration photo:

and.........

This week's suggested colors

are great for Halloween

and all the beautiful autumn inspiration around us . . .
Flame ... Grape ... Mulberry

So here's the tag I made today:

I love the limited edition Distress Inks that Tim Holtz
came out with last year. Ripe Persimmon, Gathered Twigs
and Seedless Preserves. Great colors for this challenge.

I heat embossed the "JS" with Ripe Persimmon and colored up my
tag really well. Then you iron off the embossed image onto
newsprint. It's an awesome technique that Tim taught in his
Creative Chemistry 101. It really makes the lighter color pop!
I finished it off with some orange twine, a little tag from Paper-
trey Ink. That about does it everyone. It's been fun. Hope to see you again!!



 

Make It Monday #86: Inside Edition

Today I am looking for a little feedback. As you can see this card is different on each side.

I prefer the right side with the pine branch stamped around the side and framing the sentiment. I am making moving announcements and I wanted to see what everyone thought. The inside is not perfected and I didn't fill in the new address but I thought everyone could figure out where it was going.   I don't think I really like the line of houses but I'm still not sure. I used Mat Stack 1 and a wood grain texture plate. "Hello" stamp by Paper Studio and "we've moved" from Close To My Heart. The trees and pine branch are by Tim Holtz.

I figured I'd enter this into the MIM for the week. I did two other cards for the challenge earlier in the week and sent them off in the mail. Didn't I forget to take pictures of them! Oh well, at least I got them in the mail!  The challenge was to step up the inside of the card with stamps, borders, paper or whatever else to enhance the inside of your card.  Anyway, here is the inside of mine.


                                  

I appreciate your comments and thanks for stopping by today!!

Make It Monday(on Tuesday) #85: Glitter Tabs

 

 

Another take on the MIM , even though it's Tuesday. You have all week long to play along!

Dawn showed us how to glitterize our tabs and add them to a project.
Here is a tag that I made.
A little Martha Stewart glitter on the journaling tab that I added with a little scor-tape
and a glue pen.  I also die cut the parisian doily out of some black tissue paper. Added some
flowers and some tattered angels mist on this first side.

 

On the second side I inked it up with
some Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet and Seedless Preserves. Then I finished it off with Gathered Twigs.
A little washi tape and some miscellaneous recycled pearls I had from something.
That's about all for now.

 

Thanks for stopping by today and I love your comments, THANKS!!

Make It Monday # 85: Glitter Tabs

First of all I want to say thank you to all the wonderful birthday wishes from everyone. I had a terrific day and some quality time spent with my fabulous Mom whom drove two hours to make my birthday EXTRA special. I also had a great birthday surprise(from my daughter) when I got home after a romantic dinner with my DH.

So, this card is headed for the mailbox as soon as I get this posted. I wanted to partake in the Make It Monday challenge today that Dawn Mcvey is hosting over on Nichole's Blog.

I used a My Minds Eye card base to begin.  Half & Half die for my glittery tab with Martha Stewart glitter. I just masked off the edge, applied some glue and then glitter. Punched a few hearts out.Backed them with vintage cream CS so they would pop out a bit.

Adhered this to my card base.

I then die cut a doily details out of vintage cream CS. Stamped Thanks Mom with Mat Stack 4 and Women of Life Stamp sets. Masked that off with a circle and added some Tea Dye Duo and stamped it with BB: Text Style II. Then stamped "You're the best" with Flower Fusion 5 in Dark Chocolate Ink. Adhere this with some foam tape and I was done.  This was a great way to add a little sparkle and I do like the finished card, why not head over to The Make it Monday link above and join us this week???

Papertrey September BLOG HOP Challenge

Welcome to my BLOG today. It's the 25th, so time for the
Papertrey Ink September Blog Hop!!


The challenge was to "Wrap It Up". You can find the inspiration photo below but go here
for more details.
OH WHAT FUN!!! I still have many different ideas brewing in my head and this is only
one of them so be sure to hop around and check out all those talented people out there
participating today!!







So I decided I wanted to make some sort of wrap for a 3 wick candle from Bath and Body Works as I love to give these as teacher gifts.  So I pulled out my Front and Center die and started cutting green felt that I have an abundance of this year.  I die cut three of them and stitched the sides together on my sewing machine. The bottom formed a triangle on it's own by pulling them together at the base so I stitched those three sides until there was no longer a hole in the center. Much of the height was taken up when I did this so it worked out perfect for the shorter 3 wick candle.

  I embellished using Leaf Prints Dies, Mat Stack 5 Layerz(with Bitty dot paper),Spring Moss and Simply Chartreuse CS, felt and buttons. Dark chocolate Ink and buttons. Wreath For All Seasons Stamp Set(Happy). Orange Zest Ink and a few other non PTI supplies were the twine and Close To My Heart Charm Alphabet Set. My sewing machine and thread of course.

Here is a close up below. I ended up flipping the leaf prints dies to get the reflection of them as well as the stamped sentiment image that Betsy showed us how to do on the MIM this week. What a fun technique that was too!

Anyway, hope you enjoy your Blog hopping today, I know I will!!    TTFN!  

Jen

Make It Monday #83: Card Aisle Inspiration

Here's my second take on the Make It Monday
this week. The inspiration card is below my card. I
don't have the polka dot stamps and the Background Basics: Postmarks
was the closest thing I could find. I better put that on my wish list!!
If I did it again I think I would start a bit more off the top of the card
so everything shifts up a couple rows. Overall, I like the look. Thanks for stopping!!

SUPPLIES: New Leaf, Blueberry Sky, Pure Poppy and Orange Zest ink.
Memento black ink. BB:Postmarks, Tag It's 10, Just the Ticket and Limitless
Labels Stamps

Make It Monday # 83: Card Aisle Inspiration

For this week's Make It Monday, the wonderfully talented Melissa Phillips challenged us to get
inspiration from the card aisle and here is the card I chose:

And here is the card I came up with for today.



Everything is PTI with a few exceptions like the Quickutz present die and the rhinestones.
Any questions about supplies I used, just leave me a comment. Just too many to list today!!
Have fun with your Make It Monday!! I had a ball, such fun!!

Make It Monday # 82: Cutting Stamps

Here's a Layout I started when CKC was here in Buffalo but just found the time to actually put it together with a title. I am waiting on the birthday photos.
I used Big from Big and Bold Wishes and Birthday from Think Big Favorites #12 Summer Sunrise and Orange Zest Ink. Thanks for stopping by today!!

Make It Monday # 82: Cutting Stamps

I switched gears a bit to do a layout. These are a few of my favorite pictures of my daughter. I used the Big from Big and Bold Wishes for the stamp to cut. The whole stamp was Wish Big so I just cut it in half. The "Beautiful" is from a Close To My Heart set and the "smile" is fro.m an old Fiskars set.

The rest of the papers I used were all scrap pieces. I also used Beautiful Blooms and layered them with pop dots for some dimension. Stamped the middle one with Half & Half stamp.  That's about all for now.

Make It Monday # 82: Cutting Stamps

My Fourth and final tag for today:

PTI Supplies: I again used  "Big" that I cut from "Wish Big" in the stamp set Big and Bold Wishes.
Wonderful Words Additions, Spring Rain and Blueberry Sky Ink, Bloom Builders #3 and Filigree
Border die

Other: Rhinestones, Me and My Big Ideas Tag, Close To My Heart Stamps

Make It Monday # 82: Cutting Stamps

The third tag:
PTI supplies: Tag Die, Spring Moss CS, Spring Rain and Blueberry Sky Ink,
                      Big and Bold wishes and Wonderful Words Additions.
Other Supplies: Close To My Heart Typeface and All Occasions, washi tape and rhinestones

Make It Monday # 82: Cutting Stamps

Here is tag # 2
PTI Supplies: Big and Bold Wishes, Think Big Favorites # 12, Pure Poppy Ink, Orange Zest Ribbon
Other Supplies: Fiskars Stamp(wishes)
I used the tye dye techniques from the Stamp A Faire day with the shaving cream to make the tag.

Make It Monday: #82 Cutting Stamps

I made a few tags this weekend to have on hand. They're so great to have when you need one at the last minute like I often do.I decided to incorporate the MIM: Cutting Stamps

Supplies: PTI: Big and Bold Wishes(I cut the "WISH BIG" stamp to use just the "BIG".
                        Celebrations, Outlines Alphabet, Orange Zest and Summer Sunrise ink. Ribbon

Other Supplies: Me and My Big Ideas tag, Close To My Heart(Typeface).

Make It Monday #82: Cutting Stamps

For the Make It Monday challenge this week Erin wanted us to CUT OUR STAMPS!
Well, I'll admit, I have done it before so I didn't have a problem with it. I just had trouble
finding a good stamp to utilize for my project.

This is a Hero Arts set that I decided to use. I couldn't find the right
PTI stamp so I went with the FRIENDS FOREVER.

Here I used the Wonderful Words set for "friends" and cut the Hero Arts "forever friends" to use
forever on a fillable frame and stitched it onto the fabric page. This is a project that I have been
working on for quite some time so here's a little sneak peek for you Jen!


Once this is complete, I will post it and share the details. Hopefully sooner than later, it has been
a project in the making for far too long!!!

Make It Monday # 81: Clay Embellishments

For my last MIM challenge I decided to make a gift card holder that you can stick inside a card or on a card.  I used one of the butterfly dies to cut out my clay, baked it and embellished it with some rhinestones. I used the seed packet die for the pocket in terracotta tile and scored it for texture. I then inked up a white mat stack #4 die cut with some Tim Holtz Squeezed Lemonade and Wild Honey to get the color I wanted. Stamped some grass/stems from Botanical Silhouettes in New Leaf and stuck the butterfly on right in the middle. 

If you look closely you can see that my clay has some bubbles in it. I think my oven may have been too hot. Anyone else had this happen?? The clay darkened a bit on this one too.  I still like the end result though.  Thanks for stopping!!

Make It Monday #81: Clay Embellishments with Dies and Stamps

Late night photography is horrible, I know and I apologize. You can't see any of the detail here. I stamped the poinsettia in pure poppy on the pure poppy paper so its very suttle. I used pop dots to give the flowers lots of dimension and the center of the flowers are the clay embellies that I made. The "merry christmas" is a metal embellishment that I had. I think I want to add some gold stickles to the flowers now that I've looked at them for a bit. Just too plain! What do you think?

Make It Monday #81: Clay Embellishments with Dies and Stamps

This clay embellishment came out much better than the last as far as color.  I rolled out my clay and did as Betsy does in the video found here . I then cut the clay around the die with my needle tool. I then stamped it after spritzing the stamp with water to avoid it from sticking to the clay. After it was baked I covered the heart with stickles. Stamped the tree trunk, sentiment and hearts on the card all from the Trendy Trees Stamp Set and adhered the top of the tree. This came together quickly after the embellishment was complete.  Thanks for looking!!

Make It Monday #81: Clay Embellishments with Stamps

Another MIM challenge! I wanted to mass produce this card to give to my daughters' teachers. After I baked the clay, the red turned dark burgundy so I decided to keep the same simple card but use the die with CS instead of the clay for the rest . A little washi tape and a favorite "Thanks" stamp of mine from Close To My Heart.  The apple is from PTI Fruit Fusion set.    Thanks for looking!!   

Make It Monday #81: Clay Embellishments

Wow, I just realized how you can barely see "Birthday" in the photo. It is kinda light but you can see it much better in real life.
Everything is PTI except the clay circles, fiber and embossing folder.  Thanks for stopping today!
The Make It Monday challenge with Betsy can be found here. Why not play along???

Make It Monday #81: Clay Embellishments

Betsy Veldman shows us how to make clay embellishments on this weeks'
Make It Monday found here

Here is my clay embellishment that I made by mixing some scrap colors of Sculpey I had. I cut  a small heart in my circle, stamped it with "LOVE", poked a hole in the top with my needle tool, baked it and backed it with a small scrap of paper.

I then added it to my layout below:
Happiness is...a surprise visit from nana



This is a LO of one of my Mom's many surprise visits.  I love the happiness captured in these
photos. I couldn't find any stamps from PTI to use so I added the felt and used the double ended banner to die cut them out. Any questions about supplies...please ask!!

Mr Bones' Spook Out

So, I guess this is #4. Some how I forgot my first little treat bag. Anyway, I wanted to make
something out of this plain vase I had and this was the perfect challenge.  I used a piece of vellum and cut a hole for the moon with my exacto knife. Cut the house from a Tim Holtz die. Stamped some spider webs. Trimmed it with some ribbon and stamped "Halloween wishes" to the right of the house which you can't really see due to the glowing battery operated candle.  I'm getting to really like these. Especially the ones with the timers. No worries!!  Thanks for stopping and thanks to Nichole and Heather for the fun Spook Out!

Mr. Bones' Spook Out #2

I wanted to try out some ghostly goodies with some rice paper because I made veggie spring
rolls the other day and I thought what a great way to make a ghost!  I do think they came out
super cute but not as good to eat. This is what I did:

1. Stuck marshmallow on a stick. Brushed the rice paper with some warm water mixed
with a bit of vanilla extract and some sugar.( Once the rice paper gets saturated it quickly
gets limp and sticky so you have to work kinda quick).
2. Sprinkled wet rice paper with Cupcake Gems in Shimmer white sugar made by Cakemate.
3. Draped the wet sprinkle covered rice paper over the marshmallow on the stick. Let it dry.
4. Drew on a face with Wilton Sparkle Gel and that was it. Tied on a Tiny Tag with some
bakers twine and I was done.

The true test was my daughter when she ate it. The rice paper was a bit chewy but she didn't
mind much. Then she had a second and ate all the sugar off, pulled off the rice paper and ate
the marshmallow. I agreed that the rice paper was a bit too chewy and hard to eat not to mention
it did not taste great. 
Anyway, it was fun and we enjoyed making them!!

Here is a close up of one of the ghosts below:

 If anyone has any suggestions on how to make this a little tastier or a better idea please leave me a comment!! Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Ink and Spook Out!

Papertrey Ink has been doing a Spook Out Challenge this week and it runs through the 5th. You can find it here:http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/2012/09/mr-bones-halloween-spook.html

I decided to make a treat bag that I could mass produce and this is what I came up with tonight.

I made my own washi tape with tissue paper and 2 inch scor-tape. I stamped black tissue paper
with the spider web from Spooky Sweets  in fresh snow ink, stamped a spooky sentiment on a
fillable frame die. Cinched the glassine bag together with a little velvet ribbon and hung a little spidey from some bakers twine.  I don't have any Halloween treats yet so I dropped in a few pretzels
and really liked how they fit so nicely. I thought I could always cover them with white chocolate and add some sprinkles or eyes for ghosts.      Enjoy the rest of the Spook Out!!

I love your comments!!

Make It Monday #80: Making Garland

For Make It Monday this week, we were challenged to make a garland and I chose to pair it up
with the Spook Out challenge found here:  http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/The Make It Monday challenge is the post right before the Spook Out Challenge.

Anyway, I made a tag for some Halloween ".Spooky Sweets". I messed up a little on the
sentiment but decided to keep it that way for the effect.

I used Mat Stack 5, Sizzix ghost die, Spooky Sweets Stamps for sentiment, Half & Half
Stamps, google eyes, bakers twine and PTI ribbon.

Thanks for stopping and have fun on the Spook Out!!

Make It Monday #79: Fabric Die Cuts

Here is my take on this week's Make It Monday.  Melissa gave us some tips on cutting fabric with dies. You can find the challenge here:
http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/

Sorry about the picture quality. My DH had to take the picture with his phone  because I was having issues with my SD card/camera and I'm not sure why. Anyway, hopefully I can get a better photo because I really liked all the texture with the fabric die and felt flowers. I stamped on the felt leaves as well.  Any questions, please ask!!  Thanks for stopping by today!

Make It Monday #78: Stamping and Stitching on Die Cuts

I needed a baby card becuase my neighbor just had a baby girl. I bought this cute little outfit and that's where I got my inspiration for the card.

The Make It Monday challenge found here:

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/make-it-monday/
challenged us to use stitching on our card. I originally wanted to stitch on the flowers but it did not work out like I planned so I skipped it and just kept it under the sentiment.













PTI Supplies used: Enchanted Evening, white and Rasp Fizz CS.Rasp Fizz ink
Limitless Labels(small flower stamp), Simple Sentiments and Women of Life.
(Center of flower is stamped under foam circle but it is difficult to see in the
picture.)
Other: Houndstooth embossing Folder, Fiskars Border Punch, Cricut flower from
Art Philisophy, foam dots, embroidery floss.

Thanks for stopping by today!!

Make It Monday #76: Double-time Bleach Stamping

This week Nichole challenged us to use bleach with stamps and step it up a notch by stamping over
the bleached image. You can find the challenge here:

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/capture_the_moment/
This was tons of fun and I hope to do more this week.
PTI Supplies:
Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise and Terracotta Tile CS.
Pure Poppy and Terracotta Tile Ink.
Trendy Trees,Wreath For All Seasons and Natural Beauties Stamps
Other:
Bleach, heart pearls.

I love your comments!!  Thanks for stopping!