Little Mouse takes Tea

Isn't this guy the cutest thing ever?  I got this stamp (Its all one stamp) from My Favorite Things.  It is the first stamp I have purchased from that company.  I really like it... especially the size.   It was so much fun to color.  I colored with my copics and then mounted up everything on PTI's spring moss and scarlet jewel.  The ribbon is scarlet jewel satin.  Stamp and sentiment are from MFT.  Thanks for popping by!  I am off to the gym.... hope I come back in one piece!

Happy Birthday Amy Jo!

It's my friend Amy Jo's birthday today! I made her a little gift that I will show you below. Of course its not in her hands yet because I am waiting for the new PTI cream envelopes to be delivered, so I can tuck some inside. In a minute I will get to the project details but first I want to give a little shout out to my friend.
AJ and I met on the internet. Its so crazy. We were on a message board for kids due in August of 2000. We have been friends ever since. She is one of my best friends. I know I can call her no matter the time of day or night. I know she always has sensible advice and a shoulder to cry on. She is so fun and funny too. She does nice things for people all the time. When we met up in St. Louis, she drove my favorite Iowa ice cream specialty (A cherry bon bon sundae from Whitey's) all the way from LeClaire IA to St. Louis packed in dry ice. I devoured the thing upon arrival. Anyway I just want to say I love ya AmyJo and I hope you have an awesome birthday!

This is the box of cards that I made AJ. I got the box template from the talented Stampin' Gal Val. Its free and super easy to use. I made it with Mind's Eye papers that I got from Beverly at Precious scraps. The rest of the paper is PTI cardstock. The A is stamped from a set from MM. The other stamps are from PTI's borders and corners circle and Birds of a Feather.Here we have one of the single cards. Same materials as those above with the addition of some prima flowers and a PTI dark chocolate button.

This is what the insides look like. I lined them so she wouldn't have to go find a gel pen to write.

Last but not least, tied off with an ocean tides twill bow. I think this is my favorite card. Thanks for stopping by my long winded post!!

Love You

Made this with the left overs from Dawn's last color challenge. It uses the stamp sets, Beyond Borders and Bird Watching. Cardstock and ink in cream, scarlet jewel, plum pudding, and raspberry fizz. Its for my hubs. We are celebrating 14 years of wedded bliss today. 14 years! How can that be?? I got married at 22, which apparently is very young, according to everyone around me. We met in college, lived in the same dorm. Started dating after a month or so... dated for a year... got engaged and the rest is history! I have the best husband out there. He is so neat and tidy, way better wife than me, LOL. He is also the best dad around. I chose well. Thanks for stopping by and listening to me go on and on!

Plain Jane

Hello there!  I have a little plain jane card for you today... she is not fancy but I like her anyway.  The card base is melon berry.  The strip of green is spring moss.  They are stamped with beyond basics borders in their coordinating ink.  Add a couple of matching buttons and some lovely twine and you have yourself a card.

Back to School!

Hello friends! It is back to school today for my kiddos! (I work in a different district which does not start until September 8th, if /when I get my job back.) This is the first year I have made first day gifts. What do you think? I, as a teacher, have never gotten a first day gift so I know I would be thrilled- but then I would be thrilled with anything! LOL!This first one is made with Basic Grey and DCWV paper.  I've got some MM ribbon and some cute PTI  and Doodlebug buttons.  Stamps are from MM.
This paper is from ???.  I got it out of my stash.  The accent paper is DCWV and PTI cardstock.  Stamps from MM.  Ribbon from PTI.  Buttons from PTI and Doodlebug.
This background paper is from Rusty Pickle (they are smart enough to print their name on the back! haha!) Accents by DCWV, cardstock by PTI.  Ribbon and buttons by PTI.  Other ribbon from Michaels.  Thanks for Looking!

A Card and a Story

First up the card.   I made this last week when I had out Beyond Basics Borders to work on Dawn's color challenge.  Everything here is from PTI.  Colors are Cream, Kraft, Melon Berry, and Spring Moss.  Little different then my norm, but I like how it turned out.  If you like to read about me being tortured at the gym, read on!  If not, have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

A Gym Story

So the Friday before last I was at the gym, in my normal spin class, just spinning away and almost (well not even almost) enjoying my exercise routine when the instructor, Kevin, announced a new class he would be doing.  The new class was at the new gym which is a good 15 minutes closer to me.  The new class had a nice bland name: Sports Conditioning.  Now really, that doesn't sound too difficult does it?   I asked Kevin, " is there a lot of choreography?".  No, not at all he tells me.  This is good because I have two left feet, am beat deprived, and have a brain that has trouble with the simplest of verbal directions.  I am convinced my eyes see everything backwards because I have trouble figuring out even the most of basic of dance steps, even while I watch the person demonstrate.  What can I say?  I have issues.  So Kevin tells me this class will be great, wonderful, take no special skill, and that I most definitely can do it.  Hmmm,  I think what he meant to say was, "this class will kill you, its a special kind of hell I thought up to torture my worst enemy, even the most seasoned athletes will hit the floor crying and grabbing the their quadriceps while screaming in pain."

Since I was unaware of what he meant to say I went to the class.  It was at 5:30 last Thursday.  That is three full days ago.  It still hurts to stand up.  It hurts to sit down, bend over, walk up or down stairs, walk in a straight line, brush my hair, roll my eyes, and a bunch of other things too!  Yes friends, Sports Conditioning, really translates to Death Class.  There were crunches, lunges, weights, some horrid, horrid thing called mountain climbers, there was stepping up and down on a step...super fast, until you couldnt catch your breath, there were curls, flys, and a multitude of other things meant to make your arm muscles quiver.  By the time the class was over my legs were jello.  I was surprised that I managed to walk out of there on my own power.  I was by far the worst in the class... BUT all the other people in there looked they were about to die as well, and this includes the girl with the rock hard body who looked like she could knock me on my butt with a flick of her finger.   She left early.  I finished the damn class (amazing what potential humiliation will do for you).  I finished and I limped out on my own two feet.  I went home and sank into my favorite chair, where I had to sit the rest of the night because it was impossible for me to move again.  I sat there until Friday.  On Friday I had to get up and host a slumber party (because I am a glutton for punishment).  I stood all through the party... if I had sat I would have been unable to get up again, for any reason. 

I went back to the gym yesterday, you know... a little hair of the dog.  Just as a bloody Mary can perk up a hangover, a little elliptical and weights can help you once again be able to sit and stand.  Now don't get me wrong... it still hurts (ALOT!) but at least I can get out of the chair.  So let this be a lesson to you... Sports Conditioning = Death (or something very close to it that hurts twice as bad.)

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

I can't believe she is 9 and starting the 4th grade on Monday!  If ever there was a mini me it is this girl.  Sometimes I look at her and I feel like I am looking at myself.  Of course she does many things much better than I did at that age.  She is also much more kind to her little brother than I ever was!  Currently she is obsessed with American Girls, Hannah Montana,  and Taylor Swift.  We celebrated with a sleepover in which no one slept, including me!  At least I dont have to do another until next year.  Happy birthday baby girl!

Blue Eyed Owl

The last in my frenzy of wise owl projects. This one uses both Wise Owl and Vintage Picnic. The patterned paper is Urban Prairie by Basic Grey. Cardbase is Aqua Mist cs from PTI. Hibiscus burst twill tied around the top. I dont know about this guys eyes. I rarely use these eyes because I think it makes wise owl look a little strung out, maybe he has had too much coffee.

Many Mini Owls

Still playing with Wise Owl. I hardly ever use the little guys, don't know why, I guess I just like the big guy so much. This time I stamped the little guys in a row on Stamper's Select White. I colored them in with my copics. Everything is mounted on hibiscus burst paper. I used stripes of urban prairie paper. I tied the whole thing with hibiscus burst twill. I stamped the sentiment with dark chocolate. The sentiment is from Vintage Picnic.

Wise Owl in the Flowers

After the Papertrey Princess challenge the other day I had Wise Owl sitting out on my craft table. (Let it be known I rarely put anything away- just ask my husband.) I couldnt resist using him to create a few more cards. Wise Owl truly is one of my favorite sets. I also wanted to use up some of this basic grey Urban Prairie patterned paper. Somehow I bought both the 6x6 and 12x12 pads. This paper is from the 6x6 pad.
Details: I stamped the stems in ocean tides on stampers select white. I stamped the flower in dew drops chalk ink, mango. I created a base of aqua mist. I cut the pp to size and glued it on the base. I adhered the strip of flower. I stamped thank you (From Vintage Picnic) on the flowers in dark chocolate. I stamped Wise Owl on a piece of scrap white. I colored him with copics and cut him out. I stamped his belly on the pp, cut it out and adhered it. I popped him up with pop dots.
Thats all I have for today. The kids and I are off again, this time heading to my BFF's house, to visit with her and her twin boys. I have a couple of posts set up to run in my absence. Summer is coming to end here, school for my kiddos starts up on August 17th. I still have my own fingers crossed that I will have a job come September. Thanks for stopping by!

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #14

Dawn McVey has issued another color challenge over at her blog. I love the colors from this week's challenge, so pretty!
Here is my card, I used a couple of different sets.  Everything you see here is from PTI.  The cardstock is scarlet jewel, raspberry fizz, plum pudding, and vintage cream.  I stamped the fizz pieces with the leaves from Beyond Basics Borders in Scarlet Jewel.  I stamped the cream with the same leaves in Plum Pudding.  The little branch is in Scarlet Jewel on Cream.  The birds are stamped in fizz and plum on their respective cardstocks.  I cut them out and popped them up with pop dots.   The ribbon is Plum Pudding satin.  Sentiment is from Beyond Basics Borders.

Kitty in the Bath

I made this right before I left for St. Louis. Kept meaning to post it but then I would make something else and it would get pushed to the side. The main stamp is from Penny Black's clear stamps. The sentiment is from PTI's Vintage Picnic sentiments. I colored the image with my trusty copics and then cut it out with a Nesties Label 1 die. The patterned paper is by MM and the CS is by PTI (Spring Rain). Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Princess Challenge

Wise Owl Takes a Picnic

This is for the papertrey princess blog challenge over at Serendipity.

The challenge was to use an owl.  I love my wise owl set.  It has always been one of my favorites.  I paired it up with the basket and flowers from Vintage Picnic.  Both sets are by PTI.  The patterned paper is from basic grey (urban prairie).  Everything else is by PTI. I used copics to color the images and paper pieced the bellies and the baskets.

We Interrupt Your Crafting to Bring You This:

Pictures from St. Louis! I took a trip with several of my very good girlfriends to St. Louis Missouri. It was so so so much fun! I just got back home last night (from an extended trip to my mom's...) so I have been gone for awhile. I thought I would share a few pics before I headed over to my crafting table to play with my stamps.This is me (in the hat) with my friend Amy.  We were so happy to make it to St. Louis.  Neither of us are seasoned travelers!  We navigated two airports, a bus, two shuttles, and two airlines as well as the St. Louis Metrolink.
Group picture of all of us.  Taken by some guy who claimed to be a photographer.  It did turn out rather nice, so maybe he wasn't lying.  I am in the center looking like the shortie of the group but really Edie (pink roses) is shorter than me.  I met all these lovely ladies on the internet... its a story that sounds so silly.  We met on a message board when we were pregnant with our year 2000 babies.  That would be my daughter, who is now 9.   We are from all over the country.... Connecticut, New York, Maine, California, and Iowa.  There are 2 girls missing from our little group, they couldn't make it out to St. Louis.

Hoping to be back soon

Me and two of the girlies in St. Louis, I am on the right.
Hello! How I have missed my blog! And crafting too! I have been in St. Louis, for a wonderful girls weekend with some of my best friends. We did all kinds of fun touristy stuff including: going to the top of the arch (SCARY!), eating out, drinking fruity beverages, riding the metro, taking in the zoo. So much fun, so little time. I got back to California Sunday night and drove straight to my mom's house where I am visiting and taking care of some unpleasant business. Sorry to be vague but its really not fit for a public blog. Anyway I hope to be back to crafting by the weekend time. Thanks for all your lovely comments on my challenge card. Your comments make me happy! (Yes I am that pathetic!)

Dawn's Color Challenge

Well I guess I had one more card in me before vacation!  I could not resist Dawn's color challenge this morning!  The colors she chose were: spring moss, white, pure poppy, and berry sorbet.   My card is made with all PTI product with the exception of the ricrack which is from MM.  The shapes and letters were cut on my cricut (never use that poor thing, it was so dusty) from the All Mixed Up cartridge.  Stamp set is Polka Dot basics. Did you know you could mix those dots together like that?   Me either, until today!  Love it!  I will see you all in a week, thanks for stopping by!

Just a Little Something

I can not even tell you how much I love the new In Bloom set by PTI.  If you love to color this is the set for you.  I stamped the flower three times and then colored the different sections and cut them out.  I stacked them up using pop dots.  I made the patterned paper by stamping the small leaf and flower in enchanted evening.  I stamped the larger leaves on kraft and colored them with my copics.  The sentiment is stamped in Fresh Snow and is from the Everday Button Bits set.  All materials except for the rhinestones are PTI.  Rhinestones are from Basic Grey.

The next week will be quiet at the old Blog-o as I head to St. Louis to meet up with my wonderful girlfriends.  Lots of fun to be had, but no blogging.   I should be back to blogging sometime after August 4th!  See you then! 

One More

This is the last of the cards I made from the text paper that I put together for PTI's blog hop.  The background paper was made from stamping a bunch of different sentiments for the Birthday Basics set.  The embossed sentiment is also from Birthday Basics.  The flowers are from Everyday Button Basics.  I used some little primas and buttons for the flower portion.  Small Basic Grey rhinestones are under the sentiment.  Thanks for stopping by!

PTI Blog Hop Time!

Its blog hop time at Papertrey Ink! If you have never played before you can check out the rules here. The challenge this time was to use text. I dont have any text background stamps so I made my own! The first thing I did was make the background paper that I used on both cards. To make this I got out my Mixed Messages set, Birthday Basics Set, and Flower garden set. I took out all the Happy birthday related stamps and laid them out on a big grid block. Then I inked it up with dark chocolate and stamped all over a piece of Kraft cardstock. Next I went back and filled in any gaps with my tiny birthday stamps (mixed messages). Then I got out my tea dye ink and rubbed it all over. It was so quick and easy, you have got to try it! Now that I had the paper I went on to make some cards. (I have two here and one more I will put up tomorrow.)
In this first card I used New Leaf as the base.  I mounted my homemade background paper on a piece of Enchanted Evening.  I stamped the balloon strings from Bitty Button Basics in black noir on my background paper.  Next I added buttons from my PTI vintage button collection.  I added in three strips of twill in Enchanted Evening, Scarlet Jewel, and New Leaf.

For my second card I stamped the largest flower from In Bloom on white.  I colored with my copics (the only time consuming part), I stamped the leaves on white and colored those.  I cut out both and glued them down.  I added a ribbon in scarlet jewel twill.  I stamped a verse from Birthday Basics in Ripe Avocado on a scrap of Spring Moss.  I also stamped a small leaf from In Bloom.  The whole thing is mounted on a Scarlet Jewel base.  Thanks for stopping by!!  I hope you will come by again soon!

All Supplies PTI unless otherwise noted.

Top Ten

In an effort to be more grateful here are my top ten for this week:

10.  Nice relaxing pedicure yesterday

9.  Fun spin class with a good friend

8.  My daughter had a great time at my dad's house

7.  Got to spend some one on one time with my cute boy

6.  New stamping goodies arrived on Thursday

5.  Made it to gym 4 times this week

4.  Happy hour with my work crew

3.  Baseboards all done, furniture can be moved back in

2.  Bacon (man who isnt grateful for bacon?  best food ever!)

1.  1 week until my girls only trip to St. Louis- this time next week I will be partying!  Actually this exact time I will be sleeping I bet!

Thanks for stopping by!  BTW tonite is PTI's blog hop so I will be back with a second post.

New PTI!

The big brown truck came yesterday and delivered my goodies!  YAY!  First up we have a wonderful new set called, In Bloom!  Love this.  So easy to color, so easy to cut out!  Here I stamped on white in scarlet jewel, colored with copics, and cut it out.  I mounted it on Kraft that I had stamped with leaves from the same set.  Stamped in Avocado and colored with copics.  The whole thing is on a scarlet base with a scarlet ribbon.  Hope you like it!  Top picture shows a more true color, got a little overzealous editing the bottom one.

Same Card, New Colors

I was so in love with the original I had to make a few more.   This one uses Spring Rain, new Leaf, and Lemon Tart cardstock.  For the ink though I used palette viridian leaf, a variegated blue pad I have had forever (not sure who the maker is) and palette paris lights.  I didn't use the matching inks because I feel that new leaf ink is way too piney and doesnt match the cardstock, lemon tart is too light (can barely see it!), and spring rain doesn't show at all.  These inks have been the only time I have been unhappy with PTI quality.  The dark inks are mostly fine (the green just being to piney in my opinion), the light inks are so light they disappear.  PTI is reformulating the light inks... I will wait for reviews before I buy.  Also PTI would have refunded or exchanged the inks, but to me its too much trouble for a 6 dollar ink pad, kwim?  

In other news I did make it to the gym yesterday, an hour of torture with Stephanie... who is so brutal she makes Michele look easy.  I left with muscles quivering.  I am thinking I will take today off and go drinking with my friends (Happy Hour tonite!!!!).  Then tomorrow I will head back to the gym for another grueling work out.  Happy Thursday!

Simple Tea Card

Made this a few days ago.  A combination of tea for two and everday basics.   I used Scarlet Jewel ink and paper and buttons.  I also used hibiscus buttons and my copics to add a little pink to the mix.  

Currently I am sitting here trying to force myself to go get on my gym clothes.  Spin class at 8:15 with the dreaded Michele.   Need. To. Go.   I just need to say this.... why are all those skinny girls at the gym?  You know the ones... the ones who are very clearly skinny by nature.  They could probably eat donuts all day long and not gain an ounce.  And there they are running or biking or swimming!   If it were me, if I weren't cursed with the genetics I am, I would not set one foot in that gym.  LOL!

Super Star

Good Morning and Happy Tuesday!  I have a long day ahead of me... I have to go pick up my daughter from her grandparents (3 hour drive).  It would not be so bad except I have to bring along my little guy who hates the car.  Should make for a long trip.

On to the card.  Here I used all PTI:   berry sorbet, summer sunrise, and pure poppy.  Most of the stamps are from Star Prints.  The little star is from It's a Celebration and the Polka Dots are from Polka Dot basics.  The orange ink is not PTI, its a dew drops chalk ink, mango I think.  The chalk ink showed up better on the kraft.  Thanks for looking!

Fancy Flourish Card Set

I am so proud of this! I made the little holder all by myself, out of my own head! Now I am not saying no one else has every thought of this simple holder but I came up with mine right out of my imagination. LOL. The things that make me happy. Working in 3D is not my best skill.
This is the little holder. Its made from two sheets of PTI spring moss cardstock. I stamped it with Fancy Flourishes in avocado ink. The little flower is from the Bird Watching set. The sentiment is from Vintage Picnic.
There are four cards and envies inside. There are two of these thank you cards. The flourish is from Fancy Flourishes, the stars are from Its a Celebration. The sentiment is vintage picnic.
The other two cards are happy birthday. Same stamps here as used on the holder.
And here is the whole ensemble. Now I just need a worthy recipient.

Little Birdie

The fabulous Nichole Heady, over at Papertrey ink, has a new stamp set out called Everyday Button Bits.  The idea is to use buttons to make different things.  I ordered it but it hasn't come yet so in the meantime I made my own cute little birdy with a sharpie marker and some coloring.  The stamps here are from PTI's Bird watching.  I stamped in dark chocolate on rustic cream paper then colored it all in with my copic markers.  The bird is made with a hibiscus button and turquoise rhinestone (hero arts).   The rest of him I drew.

How About a Little Hand Coloring?

I broke out my prisma pencils for this one.  Its funny, I have had these pencils since my college days- they last forever.   I stamped my card in PTI fresh snow ink on Kraft.  Then I waited very impatiently for it to dry.  When it was dry I colored with my Prismas and added some stickles.  The stamps are PTI's Garden of Life. 

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

This little guy was born six years ago today!  I can hardly believe it, my baby is six!  He was an easy baby and he is a sweet little guy now.
Here he is earlier in the month at his grandfather's house.  He is at that age where these are the only faces we see when the camera comes out.   It cracks me up everytime.
Here is the lego cake.  Not my best effort.  It was so time consuming to make but its done and he is happy so thats what matters!

Dawn's Color Challenge

I have just been feeling inspired lately!  I stopped by Dawn's blog and saw she had up a new color challenge.  Today's colors are spring moss, raspberry fizz, scarlet jewel, and cream.  When I first got them out I was thinking... ugh NO!  But I love how this turned out.  The stamp set is Star Prints with the exception of the tiny star.  The tiny one is from Its a Celebration.  Thanks for stopping by, let me know if you participated in Dawn's challenge.  I would love to come see your creation!

Stop and Smell the Flowers

How about a little more Penny Black?  Aren't these little hedgies adorable?   I stamped them on white (stampers select from PTI) and then colored with my copics.  I mounted them on some PTI bitty boxes patterned paper that I had punched with my ek success bubble bunch.  The whole thing is then mounted on spring rain cardstock and finished off with a sentiment from PTI's vintage picnic sentiments.  The ribbon is PTI satin hibiscus burst.

*** Tomorrow is my son's birthday.  He is turning 6!  Where has the time gone?  Anyway today I will be in the kitchen whipping up a lego star wars cake.  I hope it turns out!  If its not completely embarrassing I will post some pics of it tomorrow.

Kristina Werner Color Challenge

Kristina Werner's Color Challenge can be found here. I don't have Stampin Up colors so I used PTI in the colors I thought matched best.  

Card deets:  Stamps:  Women of Life  

Ink: black, spring moss  

Buttons:  doodlebug (red)  PTI all others  

Ribbon:  PTI lemon tart  

Cardstock:  select white, spring rain

Sewing On Cards

Do you sew on your cards?  I have here the first card I have ever sewn on, it will probably be the last.  I guess I just don't get it.  So much work!  I did this by hand but I do own a machine. I actually know how to sew.  Not well mind you, I wont be winning any awards, but I can put together a halloween costume from a pattern or make a patchwork quilt.  I have sewn pillows and slip covers.  But sewing, well its alot of work.  I am basically a lazy person.  I don't want to drag out my giant sewing machine to put a tiny line of stitches on a piece of paper.  My hat is off too those of you who do.  I have seen some awesome stuff with stitches out there but this lazy girl is sticking to glue dots.

Card deets:  PTI: Bird Watching, Vintage Picnic, Kraft, Rustic Cream cardstock.  Basic Grey pp. DMC embroidery floss, copic markers, dark chocolate ink. 

Spoil Yourself with Scarlet Jewel

Who loves Penny Black?  ME ME ME!!!  My first love is PTI... but close behind that I love Penny Black!  Love this little kitty and mouse in the tub.  They crack me up.  I colored them up with my copics.  They are mounted on PTI bitty boxes and PTI scarlet jewel.  Scarlet jewel saddle stitch ribbon is tied in a bow.  The sentiment is all Penny Black.  I screwed it up ... worse embossing job ever... but other than that I love the card.  

Tea for Two Owls

I am so happy that my wise owls love tea!  I used chocolate and scarlet ink.  I colored them up with my copics and then adhered them to a scarlet jewel card base.  I used some PTI black and white dp and colored it with my copics.  Tied the whole thing off with some saddle stitched scarlet ribbon.

Wise Owl Takes Tea

I think Wise Owl is one of my favorite sets from PTI.  Of course if you ask me tomorrow that could all change.  Today Mr. Owl is taking tea with the cup from Everyday Classics.  The sentiment is from Tea for Two.  He is stamped in dark chocolate and scarlet jewel.  I colored him with copics.  The patterned paper is Bitty Boxes.  Oh how I love that paper.   To round out everything we have a bit of button twine and three scarlet jewel buttons.   

This is the first card I made after getting my craft table back!  There is no other furniture in the living room or dining room.  I told my husband if he could just finish the baseboards on the craft table wall and put my table back I would not nag at all about the completion of the rest of the room.  His vacation is over and he doesnt have a day off until Thursday so it might be awhile til the room is totally finished.  He works twelve hour days with an hour commute so working on work days is out.  Anyway in honor of the new floor I took my picture there.  See how pretty?  I am in love.