More Tags

Hello friends! I am going to be in and out of town all week. We just got back from my Father in Law's place and in a few days I am off to my grandfather's memorial service. In between, I will be working. So if the posts are a bit sporadic, that's why. Its going to be mostly tags this week, although I am starting another project that I am pretty excited about, my SIL's baby shower invites! I am sure the first 5 will be fun (and the next 35 a chore! LOL).

And a little bigger....

This tag uses PTI Tiny Treats Christmas and a Waltzingmouse Christmas set (I am not sure which off the top of my head, sorry!)  The paper is from My Mind's Eye.  The ribbon and buttons are from PTI, as is the cardstock and die I used to cut the tag.  The twine is from Crate and Barrel.

Christmas Tags

Hello Friends!  Well I think I am finally over this stupid cold.  It had me down for a week, which for me, is really unusual.  Anyway, last night I was finally feeling well enough to get some crafting done.  I decided to break out the Christmas stamps and make some tags.  I made soooo many! So its gonna be all tags on the blog for the next week or so.  LOL!
This tag features stamps from Papertrey Ink.  The sentiment is from Holiday Lights and the little penguin is from Tiny Treats:  Christmas.  I am using 6x6 Christmas paper from My Mind's Eye.  I love this collection!  The ribbons, cardstock, and buttons are from PTI.

Same tag, different colors! The twine is from this massive spool from Crate and Barrel. I bought it last year and I dont think I will ever be able to use it all up!
Thanks for stopping by today! I should be back on Monday with more tags.

Friendship

Katie Renz died yesterday and it hit me even harder than I thought it would.  You see, Katie and I have never actually met IRL.  I have never spoken to her on the phone.  Yet, I considered her a friend.  I met Katie online on the Papertrey Ink Forum, way back when it first opened.  Katie was one of my first online crafting friends.  She visited my blog.  She left me sweet comments.  We chatted through email and later through facebook.  I visited her blog at least weekly.  We talked about silly things, like when the latest stamp goodies would be coming or if my husband was ever going to finish the club house he was building the kids, or what sugar cookie recipes were the best.  I remember going to her blog last year and reading that she had been diagnosed with cancer.  I cried.  Life is so very unfair.  No one can ever explain to me why good people have those kinds of things happen to them and rotten people run around enjoying good health.  Life. is. not. fair.  So I sit here thinking about Katie, hoping her little family is doing ok- though I know they are probably not doing ok, and wondering just what is it that makes a friend.  It seems there are no real "rules" for that.  Friendship can blossom anywhere. It can spring up in the most unlikely places.  Where ever you are now Katie, I hope you are happy and peaceful.  I hope that you know how many people you touched with your life.  I hope you know that you will be missed in lots of little ways, by lots of people who barely knew you.  I hope you know that many people, like me, counted you as a friend.

Random!

Hello there blog friends!  Its been a week.  I've done nothing crafty, so I have no crafty pictures.  The past three days I have been sick.  I am not a good patient.  I whine, a lot.  I want my mom.  Mom knows how to make a sick person feel good.  Alas,  my mom lives three hours away so I am on my own.  Lucky for me, I don't have to go to work until tomorrow.  Hoping to be partially recovered by then. So what do I have to show you? Lets start with this:  

That's my new nephew.  Isn't he adorable?  We call him baby Z.  That picture was from my husband's 40th birthday.  He is officially old.  LOL... yes, yes, I know 40 isn't old...

Next up we have my kitty, Duncan. He is attention starved. Every time I turn around he is there, begging to be petted. Its a good thing he is so cute.

This is science! We are using some new materials I got donated through Donor's choose. Have you heard of Donor's Choose? They are awesome. There is a link to their website at the top of my sidebar on the right. Check them out, a great way to see your charitable contribution put to good use, right away.

This is my hubby's head. He likes to celebrate Halloween this way. The black was sharpie and it did take a day or two to come completely off! LOL!  Thanks for stopping by today and reading my randomness.  Hoping to get crafty just as soon as I get well.  Have a wonderful week!

Halloween Make It Monday

Hello friends! Its Make It Monday over at Papertrey ink. Today's challenge was making your own background paper, which just happens to be something I love to do, so I decided to play along.  My background paper is made with the little characters from Tiny Treat Halloween.  The little stars are from Star Prints and Love Lives Here Christmas.  I colored with my copics, just quickly, it really didn't take very long.  Next I stamped the big Mat Stack 4 in Virdian Leaf green.  I added the little Jack O Lantern and the sentiment.  To get the green mat I traced around my Mat Stack die and then hand cut with scissors, not as easy as die cutting but it gets the job done.  Thanks for stopping in today!  Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Early Halloween Blog Friends! I thought I would share some quick little favor baskets that I made for work.  Sorry for the less than stellar photography.  It was late, I was tired.  My messy table is in the background... my excuses are many, but the result is the same! LOL! These are made with a combination of stamps.  I used the Mat Stack One and Two sets along with some Waltzingmouse- Wanda's Pantry.  I love those stamps.  Claire is a genius.    I used the PTI Favor It 1 box.  Its my favorite because it only takes one pass through the machine for the whole box. 
Most of the patterned paper is from Authentique.  It was gifted to me from the lovely and talented Michelle Phillippi.  The Favor It box fits perfectly on a 6x6 sheet.  And I found at that I can cut two boxes with one pass by doubling up the paper.  YAY!  Less work.  I put these together with my ATG gun.  It didn't take too long, I did it while watching Dr. Phil (yes I admit it!)

More Christmas

Hey there blog friends! Its been a few days. I had a really busy weekend. My sweetie turned 40. Its so weird to me, we have been together since we were 21 so its just bizarre. I mean I remember sitting in my college dorm room talking to him about how old 40 was! LOL, guess I will be eating some more words, eh? Anyway... todays card is more of PTI's Love Lives Here Christmas set. I love those little ornament stamps. So cute! I was hoping to get all inky this weekend, but nada. Maybe today after work- otherwise it will be a quiet week here on the blog, cause I got nothing! Have a great day!

Love Lives Here Christmas

Good morning friends! I have a few more Christmas cards for you today. Today I am using PTI's Love Lives Here Christmas set.   I bought it for that pine bough, but it turns out I love almost every stamp in the set.  I do not love the angel.  Don't know why.
And here we have a less fancy version. I personally like the spiced up one but I thought I would show both. Thanks for stopping by.

Waltzingmouse Christmas Cottage

Yes, I am still obsessed with this stamp! I love everything about it.  This house is stamped on Rustic White paper.  Rustic White is super soft, so if you color on it with copics, be very careful.  After coloring the house I pulled out my liquid pearls and went to town.  It dried a little more silvery than I expected but I still like it.  I mounted the card on Pinefeather cardstock.  I have to admit I am not fond of this color but way back when I bought a 24 pack and I need to use it up.  What I would give for a better hunter green. LOL
Close up of the house and the liquid pearl craziness! Thanks for stopping by today!

More Little Bitty Bird in Winter

Hello blog friends!  Earlier this week I was a creating machine, so hopefully the blog will be all updated this week!  One thing I was working on was making "Winterberry" creations without actually buying the set.  I really like the set but I have so many similar things and honestly I only use Christmas stamps for about 3 months a year.  So I pulled out some similar sets and went to work.  The tree and birds are from Little Bitty Bird.  The berries and sentiment are from Rustic Branches.  The star is from Love Lives Here Holiday (yes I caved last month, but I held strong this month!).  The snowflakes are from Rustic Snowflake.  I drew in the drifts with an American Crafts paint pen and then added white ink with my fingers.  A little copic coloring on the birds and the tree and thats it.  Oh I also used some of the three million yards of bakers twine that I thought would be an awesome purchase last Christmas.  At this rate I will have some for Christmas 2050.

Little Bitty Bird in Winter

Want the new PTI Winterberry set look without the price?  Try using the Little Bitty Bird in combination with the older Rustic Branches.  Rustic Branches has the lovely little tiny open circle for berries.  LBB supplies the branch and birdie.   The snowflakes are from Rustic Snowflake and the sentiment is from Tiny Treats Christmas.  Snow drifts are made with a pencil and some white cardstock.  Add some stickles and you are all done.  All supplies PTI except for the copics and the stickles.  The idea for this card came from Heather's blog on this post:  http://pinefeather.typepad.com/pine_is_here/2011/10/introducing-winterberry-tag-its-9.html

Waltzingmouse Christmas House 2

Good Morning blog friends! How are you all this week? I am worn out!! And guess what? I have my copic marker, intermediate class this Sunday! I am so excited, I hope this will improve my coloring! Today I have another copic heavy card for you. Its simple in design but the coloring takes quite a while. Not one for mass production, to be sure. I created this little scene with stamps from Waltzingmouse's Christmas Cottage.  I stamped the snowman first because he is in the front.  I masked the snowman and then stamped the house.  I masked the side of the house and stamped the trees.  I got out my fine line copic multiliner and added the snow to the sides and the path way in the front.  Claire has a great pathway stamp for the regular house and I almost pulled it out but then I saw it had grass.... and since I was thinking snow.... I just drew in my own.   The whole thing is colored up with copic markers.  The background is colored too.  I own the air brush system but not a compressor so I rarely use it as I am always out of canned air.  I used some crystal stickles to give the snow some sparkle.  Thanks for stopping in!

Christmas Kitty

Good Morning Blog Friends! Another Christmas card for you today. I picked up this stamp at a recent clearance at my LSS. I am so sorry I don't remember the maker. I looked at the stamp and it doesn't say. I threw away the packaging when I put it into a CD case. If I find out, I will edit the post to let you know. I found it! Its by Laurence Attrill. Here's a link. Basically what we have here is a lot of copic coloring and not much else. You know me, simple is the way I usually go. Thanks for stopping by!

Waltzingmouse Christmas Cottage

Hello Blog Friends! Happy Monday!  My Mondays are generally happy because I start my work week on Tuesday! Today I was lucky enough to get in some crafting.  I had planned to craft yesterday but instead put my sad sewing skills through a workout as I worked on my son's Halloween costume.  Today though I broke out my new WMS- Christmas Cottage and got to work!  I love these little cottage sets.  So so cute!  For this card, I stamped the cottage on kraft paper and then got to work with my copics.  Coloring on kraft is kind of tricky.  The paper is a lot softer and so there is more bleeding.  You have to really watch how much ink you lay down and also how close to the line you are.  All the bright white is from my Signo Gel pen.  I think it did a fine job with the snow.  I added a sentiment at the top and thats it!  Actually even though its a simple card, it did take a good 45 minutes to color.  Definitely not for mass production! Thanks for stopping by today.  I made more than one card today so I should be able to update at least a few times this week.

For My Drinking Buddies...

Hello blog friends! How is everyone out in blog land today? I have got some serious crafting to do later today after I finally get my chores done. For some reason I am moving slow today. I've got new WMS stamps all over my desk and I want to play with them. First though I need to hit the grocery store, vacuum, and finish the laundry. Enough with the mindless chatter, on to today's cards. I don't know about you but I love a good happy hour with my girls. I don't go every Friday or anything, but when we do go its always a really good time!   So I love this little sentiment on the first card!  These stamps are all from My Favorite Things.  I got them at a deep discount from my Local Stamp Store.
The main difference between the two cards is the glitter on the glasses. I LOVE glitter. I might go back and put some on the non-glittered card. We are having a big happy hour this Friday so maybe I will actually use these cards. Thanks for stopping by! Have an awesome Sunday.

Happy Halloween- Waltzingmouse Style

Hello blog friends! I got my WMS order last night! LOVE, love, love these new little cottages designed by the fabulous Claire Brennan.  I combined two sets to make this little scene and then I added that tree from MSE to create a little "mash up".  The cottage is from the Cottage Home set and all the Halloween elements (not the tree) are from Hocus Pocus.  Aren't they fabulous???  Lots and lots of copic coloring, some distress inking, and thats it.  The card size is a 5.5 square.  My scene was too big for a regular A2.  Thanks for stopping in today!

More Christmas and Some Sad News

Hey friends! I have another Christmas Card for you today. Another PTI set, Love Lives Here, Christmas. Its one of those cards that I found very difficult to photograph. I make no claims to being a photographer! Anyway I used the sending you die to cut the arch and then just stamped it up. Quick, easy and flat for sending!

Now for my sad news, my grandpa- my last biological grandparent- passed away yesterday. He had lived a long life but its always so sad when the good ones go. I will miss him. The picture below is of him, my late grandmother, me (age 3) and my brother (newborn). That's how I remember my grandpa. He was an awesome person.

More Lights!

Hi! Good Morning Blog Friends! I have another couple of cards using PTI Holiday Lights. Same basic idea as yesterday, with some variation on the theme.   On the first one I used a Spellbinder's rectangle to emboss a rectangle on the background.  I then masked and stamped on the light cord and the star lights.  After they were stamped I came back in with some stickles.
On the second card I extended the cord a little bit with my black pen. Next I hand drew in a black frame. I again added stickles to the lights. Thats it! Easy Peasy! Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Lights

Hello bloggy friends! Thanks so much for your comments yesterday. Comments always make me way happier than they probably should, LOL. And thanks Joyce, for agreeing with me about the spelling of layers with a z. I just can't stand it. Its kind of like cheese its- the actual box has it written as Cheez Its. I just can't stand it! LOL Today I have a Christmas card for you.  I have actually made a few Christmas cards over the last few weeks.  I took pictures when I had the camera out for Make it Monday yesterday.  Today's card uses a new set from PTI.  It was designed by Dawn McVey.  I think its called Holiday Lights.  I love how the string is separate from the light bulb stamps.  If I could change anything, I would add a light bulb that could be colored.    Anyway this card is quick and easy- perfect for mass production- if I did that kind of thing (I don't).  Cord is stamped in silver, lights in pure poppy and virdian leaf.  A little bit of scoring and silver sentiment and we are all done.  As always, thanks for coming by.

Make It Monday- Make Your Own Washi Tape

Well I am back! Sooner than I thought too, probably because of this Make It Monday, from Papertrey Ink. Nichole Heady had this genius idea to make your own Washi tape. Check out all the details here.  It was so simple and easy.  I was totally wishing I had some fatter scor tape.  I used the 1/2 inch tape on my card.  I stamped with with the diamonds from A Little Argyle.  The sentiment is from the Mat Stack 2 Collection.  The underlayer is the Mat Stack 2 Layerz (can I just say that I hate Layers spelled with a z.  Its completely tacky.  Thank you for hearing my rant.) stamped with the diamonds from A Little Argyle.  Ink colors are Aqua Mist, Ocean Tides, Raspberry Fizz, and Color Box Lime Pastel.  All products Papertrey Ink, unless otherwise noted.

Still Got Nothing...

Hey Blog Friends!  I have been having a hard time creating lately.  School (aka work) has been eating up a lot of time.  Its soccer season here too.  Most importantly though, I just haven't felt like it.  I go sit down, I putter a little bit and then get up and walk away.  I made four Christmas cards the other day and then haven't felt the need to photograph them.  It's kind of weird.  However, I create and blog because I like too- not because I have an obligation or anything- so I decided I will just take a break.  When I finally feel the "mood" come back then I guess I will be back to posting.   I don't tell you this to sound self important, and no one has sent me emails wondering where I have gone, I just tell you because I feel bad letting my blog sit without updating.  As a blog reader, I always wonder whats up when there are no updates for a long time.  So anyway that is whats up here.  Nothing staggering or earth shattering, just me not "feeling it".  Take care blog friends and as always, thanks for stopping in!

WMS- a PaperCrafts Reject

I submitted this to the latest PC magazine call. It was for masking (and also a spring theme). It didn't get picked up but I still like it. That little chick is one of my favorite WM stamps. I love it.  So anyways, lots of masking.  Then I colored with my copics and then I added some fun stickles and some cute paper trim.  Thanks for stopping in!  I know I have been real sporadic lately- just life going a bit crazy on me.  Hopefully I will settle in soon.

Hello

Hello friends!  I actually have a card for you today!  I made this with some new patterned paper I picked up at my LSS last weekend.  The fruit paper is from doodlebug and the polka dot from cottage press.   They were both in 6x6 collections.  The stamped fruits are from hero arts.  A cute little small set that I do not know the name of.  I think the sentiment was in the same set.  Its based on a sketch from Papercrafts mag.  Thats all I got.  Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Mail!

 
Good Morning Friends!  Sorry its been so long since I have had crafty things up.   Mostly I just haven't been feeling in a crafty mood.  I did make two big projects (a book for my husband and present for someone else) but neither will be blog fodder.  Hoping to get back into the swing of things soon.  So for today's card I used a new stamp I got at my LSS.  Its from My Favorite Things- Pure Innocence.  Can't remember the stamp set name and I am too tired to go look.   Anyway I pieced the dress, shoes, and socks and also the little bird.  Everything else got colored with copics.  The grass was drawn in with my copic multiliner.  The paper is from Echo Park (Its new, I think its called Happy something or other- sorry I am not good with details).  Thanks for stopping by! 

Rosemary for Rememberance

As always on this day, I remember September 11, 2001.  I spend some time thinking of those who sacrificed everything, of those who were taken too soon, and of those who are still sacrificing today.  I hope you will join me in reflection as we take some time from our busy lives to remember.

Back to School Cookies

Hello Friends! Can you believe its September? That summer just flew by!  I am going back to work tomorrow.  We had some work days last week and on the first one I brought in these cookies, complete with little cutie tags.  I used the PTI tag die and apple die.  The apple stamp is from Fruit Fusion, the scallop border is from Beyond Borders, the scallop circle is from one of the Tag Its and the Just for You is from a Fillable Frame set.  All stamps from PTI.  I got the bakers twine from Crate and Barrel last year.  There is so much I will never be able to use it all! LOL

Ever So Grateful

Another acorn card, another example of crappy photography- again my apologies. :) Everything PTI, except for ink and the patterned paper. That paper is from echo park. Speaking of paper- I think I need to take a little trip down to my LSS because I heard they have some new 6x6 pads in. Yeah, I know I need paper like a hole in the head- but when has that ever stopped me before? Also going to look for some more chalk ink while I am there, sure it stains the stamps but it stamps very nicely.
Its my last few days off before the official start of my school year. I am trying to enjoy it. My house (exterior) is getting painted, the kids are off at school, and so far I have spent a lot of time laying around doing not to much! But Wednesday and Thursday are mandatory workdays and on Tuesday we are back in business for the 11-12 school year! Thanks for stopping by!

Fall Birthday

Hey there! Good Morning! I just noticed this picture looks a little blurry. Please excuse my poor photography skills. I've got another card and envie combination today. I used the new PTI set called Autumn Acorns. I really like the Acorns. I only wish they would have included an outline acorn for those times when you want to color. Ah well, can't have everything. Most items are from PTI. The polka dot paper is from K&Co. The inks are all chalk inks by Versamagic.

I did up the inside too with a little rustic cream paper and some avocado ink. (Yeah, I had to fix a big smudge, LOL) Thanks for stopping in. And thanks too for your opinions on the dies and envies, I love hearing what everyone else thinks!

Sunflower Card and Matching Envie

Good morning! Another card with the sunflower set from PTI. Alot of masking on this one. I masked the flower on both the card and the envelope to add the leaves and other flowers. Then I masked the leaf to add the frame. The frame on the envelope is one of my favorite uses for Fillable Frames. I have started creating more matching envelopes but then I wonder if I am wasting a good envelope because lots of times my cards just sit in a box. Am I now condemning the envelope to sit too? I could make the envelope right before sending but I rarely do, usually if I am ready to send a card I am in a hurry (like 4 days passed the deadline). What do you do with your envelopes?

Do You Like Dies?

So I have noticed the latest thing is to have dies for all the stamps. Lots of companies are making their own dies (PTI, MTF, Hero Arts) and some make stamps to fit existing dies (WMS). At first I was buying them all up but then I noticed that except for a few I really wasn't using them all that much. Take for example the card above. The stamps are from PTI and both the flower and the leaves have coordinating dies. Now I didn't buy them. I cut those out and really it didn't take that long. I left a little white border like the die does because sometimes I like that look. I also saved some cash because I didn't need to get the die and I can get the same (or similar) look. Now of course if it hurts your hands to cut or something those dies could come in real handy. I do still buy border dies and I love nesties and frames. I am a huge fan of Waltzingmouse's stamps that match the spellbinder nesties. Such great little frames. I am also a fan of PTI's fillable frames series. I have matching dies for most of those because I tend to use them on things that I mass produce. So what's your opinion?
Card Deets:
All supplies from PTI except for ink. Ink is from versamagic chalk inks (the little dewdrop ones)

Long Time...

No write, no stamp, no taking photos. I don't even really have a good excuse. I have been busy getting ready for school to start back up, my kids went back last week as well. Honestly though, I just haven't felt like working on anything. I hate to let my blog sit weeks on end (I hate it when others do that! LOL) but I just dont have anything to contribute right now. Hopefully I will be back at it soon. In the meantime I hope you are enjoying the last of your summer.

I made this a month ago. I think it was for a challenge but then I never got around to posting it. All products from PTI.

My Baby Girl is 11

Hi there blog friends! I hope you will indulge me as I write up a little post for my beautiful girl who is now 11! People, I cant keep a plant alive. How did I end up with an 11 year old child? And she has turned out so lovely too; sweet, kind, and beautiful. I am lucky to be her mom. A few pictures of the birthday girl: