Play Time

I had a little time to play yesterday since DS was sick and was listless instead of his usually rambunctious self! Oh yeah, and he willingly took a nap!! So after I picked up my jaw from the floor I got busy! I had this idea in my head after I did the Smooshed Cuttlebug awhile back. Instead of using a spectrum pad I just used a white CRAFT pad. I'm not sure if this constitutes a morph of the technique or not, I'm just proud that I was able to think a little outside the box! I did notice that I had a couple of spots on the embossing folder that didn't take ink as well as the rest. I'm hoping that if I clean it up real well that it will work better, perhaps there was just some type of oil from my fingers. I really liked how this turned out! I like that it is simple to do, but doesn't have that "I didn't know what else to do" look. I also like the feel of the embossed layer. I just may do this card for my Christmas cards this year! Wouldn't that be a hoot, to use my first Christmas card of the season?

Any ideas to dress it up a little bit more? I was thinking of using a corner punch (ticket perhaps?). But then I'd have to add some brads (Night of Navy or Brocade Blue perhaps?) Any ideas anyone? :D
Stamps: Frosty, Holiday Tag Team; Ink: CRAFT White, Silver Encore; Paper: Night of Navy, Silver, Brocade Blue; Accessories: CB embossing folder.

Just a quick share of my sick little boy. He NEVER wants to take a nap, so when he vonunteered to take a nap during quiet time I KNEW he really didn't feel well, (just in case the 103 temp wasn't enough!) Thankfully he is feeling better this afternoon. He missed two days of preK and has tomorrow off too so he should be FULL of energy on Thursday for his teacher!

Zee Fun is in Z Fold!

I decided to play along with Beate's week-end Sketch Challenge #25. The sketch is quite straightforward, the Challenge was that it had to be a Z Fold card. Beate's challenge can be found here. The sketch is here.

Now you might be wondering about my card. Well. . . . . . I made two! No I'm not an overachiever! (I don't think so anyway!) A friend/neighbor had her baby on Thursday (so she couldn't attend my monthly class - what an excuse, right!?) So I decided to make one of the cards for her and her family.

Stamps: A New Little Someone, Ink: Staz-On Black, various SU Markers; Paper: Regal Rose (inside), Rose Red, Pallet O'Prints, Old World Mat Stack (DCWV - purple DS).

This card I am planning on sending to my Distance Stampers Group. Yes, I have a few more of these to make! So I had better get started! LOL! Now, when I scanned this card, some of the Old Olive color washed out of the designer paper (left side), so it does coordinate better IRL.

Stamps: True Friend, Ink: Staz-On Black, Old Olive & Really Rust Markers, Paper: Old Olive (inside) Really Rust, Apple Cider DP. Accessories: Rhinestone Brads Ice.

In case you are wondering, I found the Z fold tutorial on the subscriber pages of Technique Junkies.

My Just One Card

I told you that I would post my Just One card that I swapped with Diane. Just One is a program that pairs up Technique Junkies for a one-on-one swap. You know how fun it is when you open up a grag bag to see what you got? Well, that is what it is like with the Just One card swap. You send off your card to your partner and see what you get in return. You don't know what technique you will be amazed at!

I had purchased some Opalite pads quite a while ago; I hadn't even removed the plastic wrap! I decided it was past time to use them! So I searched through the technique archives for a technique to use and found the Transparent Opalites. Because the Floral background stamp is so detailed I chose not to do any coloring on the back of the transparency and used the Opalites to provide all the color. I really like this technique because I feel it lends itself to a elegant card. Without further ado here is the card:

Click on the picture and you can get a closer look. You can almost see the shimmer from the Opalites. I think I really NEED some more of these Opalites!

Stamps: Floral, Warm Words; Ink: Staz-On Black, CRAFT Basic Black, OPALITES Orchid Ice, Glacier Blue, Cypress Frost; Paper: Garden Green, Ballet Blue, Basic Black; Accessories: Black Grosgrain Ribbon, Cuttlebug die, transparency, spray fixative.

If you haven't signed my guest book at the bottom please do! I love to "see" where everyone is visiting from! Thanks for visiting!

October's Class

My monthly class is tomorrow evening. I have one person attending, so for all of you not showing up on my doorstep here are a couple of pictures of the projects I have in store for her. I am using the Boho wheel on both projects. I love the idea of tying projects together to show versatility. These items would be great as a little thank you gift!

Here are both projects:

Yes, those are yummy nuggets of chocolate!! I love how the SU wheels fit so well on the regular Avery mailing labels. Decorating these nuggets is so easy! If I was having a Halloween party it would be easy to use a spooky wheel to decorate some and put in a bowl for consumption. Now, I probably wouldn't do a project like this to just drop into all those bags that come on Halloween evening! LOL! I do have a coffee group meeting that I am hosting in January and I think these nuggets just may be on the menu! ;)

Here is the card:
I was inspired by tbiryds' card on SCS. I just love Wild Wasabi!! I think I could use it on nearly every card I make! I have tried to restrain myself and used other colors, but you can count on the fact that I did lay down some Wild Wasabi just to see if it would work! LOL!

Check back tomorrow, I plan on posting the card I sent my Just One partner. She should have received her card by then so it should be safe to post it here. I'll share with you that I used the Transparent Opalites technique from June/July 2007's newsletter!

Playing with Attachment Sizes And Soldier Spanish Gold

I am trying to figure out how to make my attached photos a medium size so that when you click on them you can see the detail but not have to scroll a lot to see the entire card. Unfortunately, to do this I have to publish the posting and those that have subscribed will be notified by email. Well, I don't want to waste an e-mail or a posting so I thought I'd share a card I made for my sister using the Spanish Gold technqiue from Technique Junkies. It looks a lot like my other Spanish Gold picture (which is why I didn't post it before.)

Here is the picture saved at 75%:


Here is the picture saved at 50%:

ETA: I think I prefer the smaller version since I can see it without scrolling yet I can still see plenty of detail. I am using Firefox so I don't know if other browsers view it the same. Feel free to let me know which you prefer (and why). Thanks!

If you have read my blog you may already know that my sister is stationed in S. Korea. I am so very proud of her! She joined the Army as an "older" recruit in her mid 30's and made it through basic training and AIT (advanced training) even with a hip injury. Her husband and two children are here in the states while she serves at her first duty station. I can now say that my entire family is/are vets! My parents met while serving in the Navy. Although I am the eldest both my brothers joined the Army before I did. One on active duty the other in the National Guard. I joined first the Reserves while I went through ROTC and then was on active duty for over six years. Now Cori has joined! Yes, I am very proud of our family's military service.

Okay, enough blathering about my family!!!! I found the Soldier stamp at Hobby Lobby made by a company called Paper Inspirations. The mosaic background is from Starving Artists. The Spanish Gold technique is from the most recent TJ newsletters.

Diane's Just One Card

Each month Technique Junkies sign up for a "Just One"swap. You are paired up with someone and send them a card using one of the many Techniques from the TJ newsletters. This month I was paired with Diane and I received her card today!

Can you say "Wow!" She used two different techniques on her card. The flower uses the Marker Wash and the background uses the Cuttlebug Pearls technique. I love how she uses so many layers to add dimension. This is such a lovely card! Thank you so much Diane!

ETA: I changed the attachment so that it was a little smaller. When you click on the picture it should be larger but not fill the screen so much that you have to scroll across to see the entire picture. I hope this is better!

Ladybug Birthday

Well, we are going to a friend's daughter's birthday party this afternoon. Clancy and Troy are friends and play together when we visit Joe's Crab Shack every Tuesday for lunch. Clancy is turning three and likes ladybugs. She isn't a total girly-girl yet but does love purses and Dora. Anywho, this is the card I "whipped up" ( in about 1.5 hours) today! Sorry for that line along the top, my scanner put it there for some reason so just ignore it.


I searched and searched through all my (few) current stamp sets and all my (many) retired stamp sets for a particular ladybug. I guess that was one of the retiring stamp sets that I didn't buy! *eyeroll* I did find this little lady from the Very Punny Sell-A-Bration set and decided to omit the "bug me anytime" on the bottom of the stamp. I had intended to use OMS to blend my Pure Color pencils but then realized that I used my Basic Black marker so I could omit the words and I was afraid that the OMS would cause the ink to bleed. *sigh* I just keep telling myself that she is just three and won't criticize the card, (if she even looks at it!) I drew the dotted line to help fill some of the white space and give a sense of motion to help draw the eye down to the sentiment. I added the ribbon just to give it some foo-foo; don't all girls love ribbon???

Can you believe I have this done an HOUR before the party???? *beams* See, I didn't procrastinate AT ALL! ;)

Stamps: Very Punny; Ink: Basic Black marker, Rose Red; Paper: Rose Red, Regal Rose, Shimmery White; Accessories: Pink gingham ribbon, rectangle punch; Pure Color Pencils.

Make A Wish

Woo-hoo! Look at what I won from Sharon! If you haven't read her blog, you really must! She is a wonderful artist and super sweet gal! She was giving away a GinaK Make A Wish stamp set. I have wanted this stamp set, I just LOVE that wishing well!

She sent me this cute card with the stamp set. She just makes simple look soooo easy! I know I it would have taken me ages to come up with this design!

This is the card that I made up and sent her to thank her. I used my Pure Color Pencils and OMS. I used some of my Ranger Distress Inks around the well to age the cardstock. I used GinaK's technique of using two scalloped squares together to make a rectangle. (I used the Giga size and the well fit perfectly on two!)

Sharon, thank you so much for your generosity! I am sooo loving this stamp set! And GinaK, thanks for designing such a versatile stamp set!

Spanish Gold Sympathy

Yesterday we found out that a business acquaintance's wife died Saturday from breast cancer. We have known Chuck since 1999 when we moved and he became our property manager for our house in VA. David noticed an article on CNN that Congresswoman JoAnn Davis had passed away. I knew I needed to make a card for him. He has been such a wonderful property manager for us. His wife has visited soldiers overseas and was a wonderful person. My heart goes out to him. I can not begin to know the pain he must feel having lost his wife of 33 years. It is comforting to know that she is now free of the cancer and is resting with Christ now.

Since I needed a masculine card I decided to try a new technique from my Technique Junkies Newsletter called Spanish Gold. Personally, I think this card turned out awesome! I wanted simple and elegantly masculine and I think this fits the bill. It will be in the mail to Chuck tomorrow. I hope he will find some small comfort in knowing that people care.


Stamps: Lovely as a Tree; Ink: Basic Brown, Old Olive marker, various Distress Inks (Ranger), Brown & Gold acrylic paint; Paper: Basic Black, Copper, Whisper White; Accessories: sponges, stipple brush, copper brads (antiqued with Staz-On).

TJ Cuttlebug Pearls

Well, the new Technique Junkies newsletter has been unleashed upon the crafting world! Wow, what a great newsletter! I'm so glad that I FORCED myself to purchase that Cuttlebug (CB) a while back! I'm saving myself $$ now (since I already have it!) ;)

This card uses the Cuttlebug Pearls technique. The only stamping is the center flower from True Friend. If you are interested in this technique hop over to the TJ website and check out how you can get this incredible newsletter!

Stamps: True Friend; Ink: Staz-On Black; Paper: Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black; Accessories: Acetate, Pearl-Ex, Cuttlebug w/folder, Xyron.