Hero Arts Blog Challenge Card

I made this for the Hero Arts blog challenge... heart card not for Valentine's Day.  Stamps:  Hero Arts So sweet, PTI Heartfelt basics and Around and About.  PTI Kraft paper, sweet blush twill, sweet blush ink, dark chocolate ink, copics.

Thanks

I made this card for my friend, Amy Jo.  (Hey its on the way AJ) to thank her for the cute little stamps she got me.  Aren't they adorable?  They are clear stamps from Penny Black.  I think the set is called Fresh New Day.  I just love that little bird.  I stamped them in palette noir and colored with copics.   The background paper is embossed paper from Doodlebug.  The red is PTI's pure poppy.  The ribbon is also by PTI.

I don't know about you all but I am so glad we are at the end of the week.  It has been a long week here.   I worked on my day off, I hit three spin classes (one of which was with the dreaded Michele), I hauled my butt over to RAFT to pick up science supplies (read: buy supplies with my own money because school is out), and then of course there were all the everyday mom things I also do.  I am tired and looking forward the weekend.   I just need to get through my Friday and one more spin class!  Hope you all have a fabulous weekend.

More Fizz

This cute little card uses more of PTI's Raspberry Fizz.  I love that paper!  I used aqua mist to stamp the flowers and raspberry fizz and aquamist ribbon.  The stamp set is PTI's flower garden.  I just love those flowers, its an awesome set, good for both coloring or just plain old stamping.  Happy Tuesday to you!

Purging!

I got issues. Lots of them. One big one is I cant stop buying paper. I love paper!!! And I love a good deal... and a good deal on paper? Watch out! Well yesterday in a lull of quiet (who knows what the kids were into) I went through all my paper! I had paper in there that was a good ten years old! I went through and removed everything I knew that I would not use, lots of it was from those deal paper packs or clearance packs at the LSS. I have made a promise to myself that I am no longer going to be swayed into buying things I only sort of like just because they are a super deal. The picture above is the 5 inch stack of paper I am giving away to the teachers at school to use for art projects. I embarrassed by the sheer quantity I have!! YIKES!

PTI Blog Hop Time!

It's that time again! Papertrey Ink is hosting their monthly blog hop! This month's challenge was to make your best birthday card. I love to make birthday cards. I had a really hard time deciding which one to pick. In the end I settled on two different cards. I hope you see something you like!
This first card was inspired by Beth.  She has been dreaming of a paper or stamp that would make multicolored polka dots easy.  I ran and got my polka dot basic stamp set and came up with this card.  Unfortunately making those dots multicolored is not easy!  But if you have the time this is a fun card to make.  I used PTI select white for the base.  I stamped polka dot basics open circle with palette noir ink.  I then used the coordinating solid dot stamp to fill in the dots with berry sorbet, aqua mist, and spring moss inks.  The card is tied with PTI twill in the same three colors.  The big "medallion" is cut with nesties, punched with a regular hole punch, and stamped with the sentiment from Around and About.  I like the just for you sentiment in lieu of the traditional happy birthday, which I used on the inside.


My second card uses Raspberry Fizz paper for the background.  Its stamped with PTI's borders and corners circle stamp in fresh snow.  I then layered on a piece of aqua mist cardstock.  I stamped the sentiment from PTI's birthday basics in Raspberry fizz ink.  The flower is from petaloo, the gem is hero arts.  The scalloped circle is punched with a marvy punch and stamped in raspberry fizz with a Borders and Corner stamp.  The little birds are from Hero Arts.  They are also stamped in Fizz.  I colored them with a copic marker (BG11).   Hope you like it!  Enjoy the blog hop.

Kids and Toilets Dont Mix

When I first started this blog, it was because I wanted to comment on the blogs of others. Then I started writing about the trials (and joys) of being a mom and finally I ended up with this crafty blog that occasionally sinks into whining about exercise. Well today I am going back to my roots for this post. Right back to the trials of motherhood, because what happened today needs to be told. What happened today is going provide me with a big laugh someday... but today is not that day. I suspect it will provide most of you with a good laugh though, because these things are always so funny when they happen to someone else.

I had a really rotten day today. Fridays are always tough because I see my hardest classes. I came home from work feeling exhausted and already knowing that I was going to be putting in some hours on Monday, which is my day off. So I was already dragging when I pulled in the driveway. I was also running late for spin class. I had already skipped Wednesdays class due to working late. So I pull into the driveway, brain going a mile a minute, thinking about all that needs to be accomplished. I quickly say hello to the hubby and dd, I run upstairs to put on my sweats and tennies. I open the door to my bedroom and I hear sloshing. I round the corner and there is my son (he is 5), pants around his ankles, plunger in the toilet, water all over the floor, nearing ankle deep. He yells at me to go away. Trust me, I wanted to! So I get him out of there... clean him off, get towels and start drying up the mess, fix the toilet, clean up some-more. I look at the clock and see that its 10 minutes until spin class. I change clothes, tell my husband that I will mop and sanitize the floor later and I take off for class. Now that right there, that would be enough.... but wait there is more.

I get home and I am wiped out. I decide to take a bath before finishing my chores. I have a nice leisurely soak in the tub. I get out, wrap my towel around me and guess what? Yep its sopping wet. From what you ask? Oh my son forgot to mention that he used mine and my husbands bath towels to mop up the first wave of the toilet flood. Nice. Another shower was in order. Hoping your day was better than mine!

Hero Arts Blog Challenge

When I am out of things to read over at PTI, I often go to the Hero Arts blog. They have some fun challenges for both card makers and scrapbookers. This week's challenge was hearts. You had to use at least one Hero Arts stamp. My monkeys are from Hero Arts Playful Animals. Arent they cute? I colored them with copics and cut them out. The cutting was a bit time consuming but other than that it was an easy card. The remaining materials are from PTI. The stamp set is Heart Prints. Enjoy!

Is this little hedgehog not the cutest thing ever?  He was in my new Penny Black stamp set.   He is so sweet!   I colored him up with copics.   He is inside a PTI Borders and Corners circle stamped with Raspberry Fizz ink.  The sentiment and cardstock is also by PTI.  That Penny Black set was a good buy!  Speaking of Penny Black, my friend AmyJo, sent me another set of them!  For no reason at all!  Man, I sure lucked out in the friend department.  Now I have to get off the computer and go use them!

Another Penny Black card.  I just love that set I bought, such cute images and so much fun to color.  The cat and balloons are colored with copics.  The sentiment is from Papertrey.  Also from Papertrey is the ribbon and cardstock.  The polka dots are made with liquid pearls.  This isnt my favorite card. I love the image, I like the coloring... the rest of the design not so much.  But a friend of mine really liked it so I thought I might post it.  I have lots more cards I made this weekend but I havent gotten around to photographing them.

Little Star

Another cute image from Penny Black.  I just love this set.  Its so much fun to color too.  The little mouse is colored with copics.  The stars in the background are from PTI... Its a Celebration set.  I stamped them in Lemon Tart and then outlined them with a yellow spica pen.  So sparkly IRL.  The sentiment is PTI also, same set, stamped in Aqua mist, outlined with another spica pen.  Lemon tart and Aqua mist cardstock and lovely aqua mist grosgrain.  Hope you enjoy!

It's Been a Long Week!

It has been a long week!   I had my formal observations this week.  That means I formally write up two lessons and then my principal comes in and watches me teach.   I have been doing this for quite a few years but it makes me nervous every time!  The first lesson was earthquakes and it went very well.  The sixth graders really did a nice job.  The second lesson was rocks and it went awesome.  Those second graders rock (no pun intended).  Anyway along with that comes some meetings to talk about the lessons both before and after.  Then on top of that I got my hair done which takes forever since I have required bleach since the age of 19, lol!  So that was my week in a nutshell.  I barely had time for anything, but of course I did manage to crank out a few cards.
This is one of my favorites.  It was kind of a happy accident.  My original thought was to mask off the square in the middle and stamp the square flower from Out of the Box.  However it turned out a little funny looking.  So I took the vellum that I used for the mask and adhered it to the card and then stamped the square sentiment on it in Ripe Avocado.  I then remembered these cute little Heidi Grace translucent flowers that I had bought on impulse at Big Lots ages ago.  I am such a sucker for the Big Lots deal.  So we have the flower, a rhinestone, and then yellow stickles on all the other flowers.   I think its pretty cute.

Other Stuff I used:

PTI kraft

PTI fresh snow ink

MAMBI rhinestone (I think...)

Have a Wonderful Day

Sorry for the washed out photo, it was not the ideal photo taking light today.  Really I need to build a light box or something, but then where would I store it?  My papercrafting has already taken over half of our "formal" living room.  This card has a little of everything.  The paper and flower stamp is by Papertrey Ink.   The ribbon is American Crafts.  The little birds and sentiment is by Hero Arts.  The multicolors are stickles.  The blue ink is PTI ocean tides and the white is PTI fresh snow.  Speaking of the white, if you are in the market for a good white ink, this ink is the best!  The coverage is fantastic.  The dry time is a bit, but its worth the wait. I need to get going and do some actual work... tomorrow I am getting evaluated.  Nothing sets my nerves on edge like my principal watching my lesson, looking for things I need to do better!  LOL!  Hopefully she wont find to many!

Spoil Yourself

Another cute little Penny Black image!  I colored with my copics.  Can I just tell you, these pens are so worth the money, especially if you artsy at all.   Long before I stamped and scrapbooked, I drew and I painted.  I have had a love affair with art since I was a kid.  Markers always disappointed me though, I hated the streaking and how hard it was to blend or layer colors.  Well copics are so perfect for those things.  They are fairly easy to use once you practice a bit.  They are pricey but so worth the money to me.   Anyhow on to the rest of the card:  PTI paper in Aqua mist, select white, and pink patterns.  Berry Sorbet swiss dot bow.  Love those swiss dots.  Hope you like it!

Switching subjects:  I am sitting here watching the Bachelor.  Oh I am so embarrassed that I got sucked into this drama.   I sit her with my mouth open for the most part as these women fight to win a "prize".  Its no wonder 99% (yes I know about Ryan and Trista) of these match ups fail!  This stuff is just crazy!   Although I would have happily gone to the private concert by Robin Thicke, LOL

Why Didn't Anyone Tell Me?

Why didn't anyone tell me Penny Black made clear stamps? I love Penny Black, but I hate wood mounted stamps. The main reason being that they are just too cumbersome to store in my tiny house, but also because I am spoiled and I like my stamps see through. I am too lazy to use a stamp a ma jig! So anyhow I was strolling through my local stamp store and I saw these cute little Penny Black transparent stamps. They hopped right into my basket, even though I need more stamps like I need a hole in the head. They had two different sets and it took all my restraint to only buy one. And the only reason I was able to restrain myself was that I know papertrey ink is releasing 4 new sets this Wednesday! Back to the card at hand, I made this with no one in particular in mind, I am just low on birthday cards.  The main image is Penny Black.  I colored it with my copics.  All the paper is by Papertrey Ink.  The sentiment is from PTI's birthday basics.  The ribbon is PTI.  I added liquid pearls to my scalloped edging.  Hope you enjoy!

More Issues...

Did you know that today Bath and Body is having their big clearance sale?  They are changing bottles again so everything is out the door.   I am embarrassed to say how much soap, shower gel, and bubble bath I now own.   It's shocking how much I can over do it!  Which, incidentally, is why I titled the post, More Issues!   I am saving money though... I probably won't set foot in Bath and Body again for another 6 months or so.  I bought 6 of the antibacterial soap... on sale for only $3!  I bought uh.. um.. 6 (yes six... ) bottles of bubble bath.  I was out, I needed more!  Plus most of it was only $3.  I bought a whole bunch of those little sample bottles... normally they are 3.50 but today it was only $1!  How awesome is that?  Those will make some great little gifts.  I also bought two things of lotion, normally I hate lotion but I have noticed my skin is really dry... could be age.... or it could be my diabetes.   Either way lizard skin is not something I want to have.   I also bought some matching products (shower gel, bubble bath, and lotion) for my friend's birthday.  The grand total was 68$!!!  YIKES but lucky me, I had a gift card so we were down to an easily manageable 40 bucks by the time I left.  Now I am sitting here thinking maybe I should have bought more shower gel, maybe I should have got those cute little lip-glosses?   Lucky for my bank account I won't be leaving the house anytime soon.

I Got Issues

One of them is I have too much stuff. Sometimes I buy things twice, or almost buy things twice. Sometimes I know I have something yet cant find it anywhere. Do you have these problems? I say this because of this card. I used the birds and swirls embossing folder for the background. Just two days ago I was coveting this folder on someone elses blog. I had to have it. I went to the store, scouring the aisles for it. Lucky for me it wasn't there. Thats because that night when I sat down to craft I dug around for my swiss dots folder and instead came up with this... yep the birds and swirls folder I was so desperately looking for I already owned!!! And now I cant find my swiss dots. Too much stuff I tell ya!

Thanks Ingredients:
PTI chocolate and vanilla cardstock
PTI berry sorbet ribbon
PTI mixed messages and borders and corners stamps
Hero ARts birdie stamp

Dark chocolate ink

Copic markers

Another Little Birdie

I love this card.  I have been saying that alot lately!  But I just love that little hero arts bird.  I made this in my card frenzy the other day.  I have done a lot of circles after receiving PTI's borders and corners for Christmas.   I also got a big stack of sweet blush cardstock.  Anyhow  this card is all PTI except for the little Hero Arts bird and HA gems.

Lets switch topics... The Bachelor.  Do you watch?  I dont... well I have before but in general I dont however last night I was up and it was dull night on TV.  Ok, that show is just freaky!  What is with those women?  At the end the "wedding planner" was sobbing because she got kicked off and she was "falling in love".  Seriously?  In love?  After a night of hanging out with the guy and 25 other girls?  oh and reading his Facebook page?  What is up with that?  And speaking of Facebook, what was up with Stalker girl?  The one who had memorized his Facebook page and then started rattling off all his vital stats?  Oh and she says she "knows" him.   CRAZY- with a capital C.   No wonder these relationships don't work out.  Perhaps I am taking it too seriously but I was like what is wrong with you people??? And what about the mom with the 14 month old?  Who would leave their baby for that long for this?   I guess her, LOL.  What do you all think?

MMMmmm Cupcakes!

I have been a card making fool these past few days. I was in desperate need of birthday cards. This is one of quite a few that I made yesterday. Of course its probably no surprise that all the materials are PTI. I am thinking I could nearly support that company on just what I buy. LOL.

The Gym Update

So I went to spin class this morning.  It was Michele's class.  Now I hurt.  ALOT.  It's back to work for me tomorrow, for the first time in 2 weeks, so I dont know if I will be at the gym tomorrow.  

Cute Little Birdie

Is this not the cutest little birdie ever?  I got it in an alpha stamp pack by hero arts.  I love hero arts, not as much as PTI, but still I heart it alot.  The circle stamps are both from PTI- the borders and corners set.  The sentiment is from PTI's birthday basics set.  The trim... well I am not sure I bought it on clearance somewhere about a year or so ago.  I think its from Making memories.   I am shocked I am actually using it!  I dont know about you all but I have a horrible tendency to hoard things.  Those buttons are from doodlebug.  The sparkly ones I just got, the plain one is from ages ago.  The cardstock is PTI.  I love their cardstock, its so thick!  They have spoiled me.  Now when I hold a piece of Bazzill (my former favorite) I think, oh this is so thin!

The Gym

I haven't posted about it but I have been going.  I have completed one spin class since January 1st.  It was Kevin's class.  It was brutal and it was packed!  I hate January at the gym.  Every person in the city joins as a New Year's Resolution.  The parking lot is packed.  The  classes are crowded.  But then February rolls around and most of those poor souls are back in front of the TV.   I understand, its happened to me... several times over the years.   I mean lets be honest here, if I was a size 2, if I had good genes or the sense not to eat junk I would not set foot in an exercise establishment!  But I am proud to say this past October marked 2 years of going to the gym 3 to 4 times every week.   I am now working on year 3.   Now if I can only keep the crap out of my mouth I will be on my way to a better body.

Raspberry Fizz

This gorgeous pink is PTI's latest color. I am in love with it. I heart it so very much! Anyway this is one of a set of notecards I am working on as a gift for someone. I am nearly finished. The stamp set is Flower Garden by PTI. The paper is PTI, the ribbon also PTI. I colored the stamp with my copics. I have no idea what colors I used, sorry.

A Little Enabling....

for my friend, Cheeky. She wanted to know what the Just Right Stamper was. So here are some links: Here is the awesomeness that is the Just Right Stamper. Here is a great buying guide put together by Emily Giovanni. Here are some links to crafty people who do wonders with this little tool.
Emily
Debbie Olson
The Just Rite Design Blog.
So to answer your question Cheeky, yes this is a must have!

Flower Garden

This is part of set I made for my stepmother's birthday. I just got these stamps for Christmas. Thanks mom! They are flower garden by PTI. All other materials are PTI as well. I used copics to color and spellbinders ribbon tag and long scalloped rectangle for the cut outs. I LOVE this card. I might make some for me as well! Another thing I got this Christmas is the just right stamper. Love it! Again from my mommy, the only person I know who gives such awesome presents. She really listens when you tell her what you want.