Monochomatic Challenge

If any of you are Stampin Up! customers, this was a card I made only with things they are discontinueing. Ya, I got a weee bit mixed up and used a floral set they disc. last year but oh well!

I was looking for something simple, but elegant. Hope this works!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Joy of Using Friends Stamps!

Well, it seems my ability to continue posting has dwindled a wee bit lately! Between painting our home and dealing with some lingering issues from last years knee injury I've not been crafting much!

On a personal note, I went to see my surgeon this morning and ended up in the hospital to have some emergency ultrasounds. After 30 minutes of bruising my leg from my hip, down my inner thigh to my ankle, they were able to conclude that I did not have any blood clots!!! Well, as great as that is, I still don't know why my leg and foot are swelling like a watermelon, with my foot turning purple by the evening. Sooo, back to the doctors tomorrow and hopefully we will figure something else out!

Anyway, I made this card while a friend was over. Pollen dust, and a couple of Paper Tray sets and my mind was spinning with what I could come up with quickly while I had access to them! Thanks Sherrie!

Swap's - Look what I got!!!

I joined a little swap group and this is the first card I received!!! It is such a cool idea! You pull the ribbon on the top and it slides up. It is all Tres Jolie cardstock, paper piecing on the Bella and primas!!!

All the cards I've received are wonderful but I wanted to show you this one because it is such a cool way to make a card. I'm tempted to pull it apart just to be able to put it back together!!! (Don't worry Sarah! In case you read this, I promise I won't!!!)

I've started pasting the cards I receive on the walls and shelves of my craft space. I love them so much! Thanks to all who have sent me creative beauties!!!

Completed!

Here is the final look! What a change from dark brown! Now, we have to paint the crown molding, replace the baseboards, find a new fan, save more money for wood blinds and save even more money for new carpets!!! It never ends!

It feels great for now and we will see how long it takes to save more $$$!

Our BIG project!!!

This has been my life for the last week or so! I've not been a very good blogger due to the fact the when my DH & I get an idea we are all consumed with it sometimes!!!

This is all our living room contents piled up in the middle of the room. All our walls were 5 different shades of browns. To make a long story short, we bought a new piece of furniture that looked COMPLETLY different in our home than in the store and made the browns look more pukey green than chocolate!

This is our poor dog Allie banned from the space, sleeping on the top stair. The closest she was allowed to get to us while the walls were still wet!

My daughter having a blast being able to help!

And my sister wishing she didn't offer to help! hehehe (Really, Pam you were amazing! And thanks for bringing Laura too!!!)

As I am typing this I realized I never took an after shot! It's too dark to get a nice photo now but I will tomorrow and add it! I LOVE IT!

From numerous shades of brown/green to buttery/creamy soft yellow & brick red! It even makes the space look so much larger being a light color! So, if you have to itch to paint, GO FOR IT! It is a bit of work but so worth it in the end!

Bella Class tonight!

Paper piecing!!! Wow! Does that ever take patience, BUT it sure looks fabulous! I've really stayed with easy layouts to be able to focus our time on cutting. Added a few tips on shadow stamping, primas, glitter pens & ribbons and hopefully they will be happy with the results.

All the papers are Polar Bear Press & Prism cardstock!

Looking forward to a fun night!

Joy

I've been playing with stamping on pp more these days. Have enjoyed the simplicity of it yet sometimes you do have to think through what stamps work with the paper a bit.

This is another Basic Grey 6x6 pack cut to make a 3x6 card. Used a couple SU! stamps, a little coloring, glaze and ribbon. Both stamps are embossed so they pop out and shine a bit IRL.

Hope you enjoy it!

Happy Mother's Day

Last weekend I found out my mom had just bought herself exactly what I had already purchased for her!!! Yikes! I didn't have much time to come up with something else. There isn't really anything she needs, so it can be a little tricky sometimes.

Thankfully, the owner at Urban Trends had a great idea for me! Using 8 sheets of 12 x 12, double sided patterned cardstock and 4 matching solid sheets, 2 pieces of cardboard, a few embellies, some elastic cord and voila!

(If you are interested in her class please give her a call. 604.855.7757)

It is a wonderful little photo album! Finished size is 6 X 6. Each page is a pocket to hold a trimed 4x6 photo with a little tab to pull it up!

This is one of the pages, to show you how I also took all the photos. I just couldn't find enough photos that I thought would work, so I took my girls out to our backyard... 40 shots later we had 12 AMAZING photos! 4 together and 4 each on their own!

I took many of them offside, like this, so even when just flipping through the book you could see who it is. (Their faces aren't always hidding in the pocket)

This last is just to show you how the photo pulls out of the pocket! This really is a fabulous, fairly easy project. I've gotta make more of these!

Stamping on PP!

This is another sheet from my 6 x 6 Scarlet's Letter (Basic Grey) pad. I stamped the flourish, sentiment, red flower & butterfly.

I used am exacto knife to cut around the butterfly wings to give a wee bit of dimention, then glazed them to hold the curl.

A little jewel and dragonfly brad to balance the space.

Also, it is an odd size, 3 x 6. This way I could use the pp to its fullest!

Sending you happiness today!

Birds, birds, birds!

I gave into tempation and bought something Martha. I really wasn't much of a fan, by first glance, as the prices scarred me off a bit, but the more I look, I'm finding a few little nuggets. I wanted one bird, but thanks to strategic packaging I was forced to buy and 2-pack!

I used a soft pink and cool caribbean. Stamped the background stamp "weathered" on the pink, cuttlebugged the cc with the textile and sponged close to cocoa ink over top. I didn't feel like coloring the bird so I just glazed it!

Hope you find some JOY in your day today!

Sketch Inspiration

I found a sketch challenge yesterday on Two Peas In A Bucket, it was my day off work and I needed some inspiration (other than Kleenex boxes on my shelf! lol!!!)

So, I wanted to start with a Basic Grey, Scarlet's Letter, 6 X 6 paper pack. Added the flowers, as per the sketch, and just stamped the sentiment directly on the paper!

Way tooo easy! But nice for something quick!

Where is your inspiration from today?

Ya, you know you don't get out enough when you are inspired by the Kleenex box on your shelf!?!?!?! Found a ribbon with the color and flower shape the same as the box, matched up some paper, stamps and always add a flourish (right Sherrie?) and there you go: a kleenex box in the shape of a card!

Edited to add: Great idea Sherrie! I didn't think of adding the kleenex box, or should I say Puff's box! hehehe

It's pretty simple and flat but nice to have something different once in a while!

Hmmm, I promise to find "cooler" inspiration to share next time!

(SU! & Rhonna Ferrar stamps, versa mark & white craft ink, Marvy punch, misc brads, jewels & ribbon)

My cheerful daughter Kassandra :)

My dear, sweet daughter Kassandra (aka Kassie) has crossed one of those moments of maturity that is soooo cool to see as a parent! She has been a kid to keep most things inside and burried and we have really been working at pulling her out her feelings and learning how to manage them rather than mask them.

Well, this last week or so she has had a light go on and realized that it does feel so much better to be cheerful on the outside and make positive choices in her attitude!

You have no idea how this has changed our household atmosphere! She is so wonderful, we always knew it but just didn't get to see it all the time!!!

I decided to make a post in honor of her today and share a couple of the things I've made for her the last while. Someone gave me a wonderful idea to give my girls cards! Who would have thought!?!??! So, I've giving giving them notes/cards in the lunches for some love while I can't be with them. They LOVE it!!!

This first card was one of those just because kind of cards and the second was encouraging her on her birthday, you can't really see all the stamps, but they are words describing her like sweet etc.

Here's to finding ways to encourage our kids!

In Honor of my Sister!

My sister Pam, the dental hygenist, FINALLY got the confirmation of her move-in date into her brand spankin' new condo!!! Boy, she has waited over a year with 3 delays! Talk about learning patience!
I made these cards for her at Christmas, I put them in her stocking with promises of more. Haven't made any more yet, but its looking like I'm going to make some "Welcome to my new home" party invites sooner than we thought! YIPPEEEE!

These cards are watercolored with SU! crayons and an aqua painter. Started with the ribbon I wanted to use for color and tried to create a soft hallo around them.

I had fun and she liked them so it all worked out! Happy house Pam!

Feeling like I'm back in kindergarten...

I've fought this one long and hard! COLORING!!! It is sooo time consuming that I really needed a GOOD reason to get started. Well, then comes the bellas and yes, I'm in love hook, line and sinker!

Last night I played with watercolor pencils and odorless solvent. After about 3 hours this is what I got done!

Whew!

Not a Single STAMP!?!?!?

Now, I know I love patterned paper but this is getting out of control!! (hehehe) I had total intentions to use a bride bella, forget her name right now, but ended up with no place to put her! Such a crime!

(I still like it)

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Patterned paper, primas & flowers!

This is another sheet from that stack-o-paper I bought a little while ago on 70% off. Thought the swirl in the paper was a good match with the swirl in the flower stamp but how to bring them together?

After searching madly for a ribbon with orange and green (I just plain felt like using orange, go figure!), watercoloring the image and choosing some primas, I am happy with the simplicity of the card.

It seems I'm finding odd colors appealing these days! I wonder what color will end up on my walls next! lol!!!

Tag, I'm It!

Funny stuff, all this tagging going on! So, ok Sherrie, I won't be a party pooper this time! I'm supposed to list 7 random facts or habits:

1) I am totally addicted to travelling! Those who know me well probably have figured this out already, but almost all of our extra money goes to the next holiday or to pay off the last one! I've been to Palm Springs, California (3 times), Oregon (2 times), numerous weekend trips into Washington, Florida, New York, Montreal and 3 cruises in the Carribean! We are heading to eastern BC, Montana & Idaho this summer and are in the beginning stages of planning a trip to Thailand in a couple of years! Yahoooooo!


2) I was thought to be my daughters sister when she was in kindergarten. Yes, I had a weee bit of late blooming rebelion and really didn't look much like a mom!


3) I crack my nuckles way too much! But it feels good and I don't want to stop! hehehe


4) My craft space has become my personal therapist. Therefore, considering what I would pay to go see a therapist I think I am saving us money by purchasing stamps and supplies!!!


5) I have an amazing family! Hubby, going on 15 years, loves, adores and takes care of me. Daughters, 12 & 7, going up way to fast, full of humor and so easy to love!


6) I also live with my parents. We have purchased a home together and they live on 1 of the 3 floors. We are so thankful to have them in our lives, to care for each other and be wonderful grandparents to my daughters!


7) Last, but the most important, I have found true JOY in Jesus! Unconditional love, saving grace and the perfect example of who I want to be!


Blessings to you all and don't forget to look for some JOY in your day!

Cuttlebug MANIA!!!

I bought a Cuttlebug from a friend a while ago but realized pretty quickly that the real investment is buying all the cuts and folders that I'd like!!!

Fortunatly for me, she has been out of town this last week and has let me borrow her boxful of cuts and folders!!! I have been coming up with all kinds of ideas to use paper I hadn't been using and making them into something new!

This one is positively my fav!!! The textile folder. Here I used it over the stamped background Filigree. It is stamped with white craft ink on blush paper. I need a couple wedding cards, wanted to show off the paper and put together this simple layout. The velvet ribbon gives it just another touch of richness. The stamp is from Micheal's 1.50 bin and I glazed over the church.

Enjoy!

{Patterned Paper}

*** Note to self: when uploading images, end with the one you want to see first!!!

Ya, it took me a little longer than the usual to upload these photos because I had to delete them and do it a second time. But, I think it was worth it! I really wanted to make sure you could see my paper cutting on the petals. I layered matching red paper behind the cuts to sort of give the feel of another layer on the petals.

I started with one the papers I bought the other day and just couldn't stay away any longer! This is one of those really big patterns on a 12 x 12 which takes the longest to figure out how to best use the whole sheet. But let's face it! I only really wanted to use the 3 flowers and cut exactly where I wanted to.

Yes, it pains me to feel like I've waisted such amazing paper, but trust me, I'm sure I will find something to use the scraps ons!!!

(Basic Grey pp, misc red cardstock, jewels from a decorative cd sticker/cover thingy, Micheals $1.50 stamp, precision scissors & glaze)

What FUN I had!!!

These are 3 of the 4 cards we did in my last class! What a fun group of women I had the pleasure of being with!

Each card featured a different technique: stamping, paper piercing, distressing and layering (the card not shown here).

I am having so much fun planning, preparing and presenting these classes!

Anyway, it was a great way to demonstrate some very different looks with the same patterned paper. Great fun!!!

(3 Bugs in a Rug & Prism paper, primas, brads, buckle punch, edge scrapping tool, piercer, SU! & Amuse stamps and jewels)

{Flowers & Flourishes}

More often, than I want to admit, my cards end completely different then I had seen it in my head when I started. This is one of these times! I started with a patterened ribbon that I decided doesn't really match at all. So, I changed the ribbon, changed the primas and now that I look at it, totally forgot to bring in the green mat into the flowers somewhere! Hahaha!

Looks like I might have to adjust it again!!!

(Bazzill & SU! cardstock, Rhonna Ferrar Elegant Flourishes, SU! Big Blossom, versamark, white craft ink, primas & flower brads - hmmm, maybe I will see if I have green ones!!!)

I Did It!!!

A card with NO patterned paper! This is for you Sherrie! (I've got a couple more done too!!!)

Lately, it seems I have not been able to make cards without using patterned paper. I guess you could say I've been stuck in a rut. But I've got to say, being in a patterned paper rut isn't a bad place to be stuck! I LOVE the stuff, and can't get enough of it.

Unfortunatly, my amazing selection of stamps gets neglected then! So, I made sure I did not look in my pp drawers and forced myself past it. I did have to at least start with a patterned ribbon though! Is that cheating?!?!?!

(Bazzill cardstock, Rhonna Ferrar Elegant Flourishes, Autumn Leaves Botanicals, ribbon from Micheal's, SU! sentiment, Marvy file punch and misc. brads from Joanns)

Have you run the blog trail?

It's funny sometimes....
I spent 6 months this last year stuck at home, healing from an accident, very thankful for my laptop and cruising around too many blogs to remember. But it took until today to find a string of them from girls I graduated High School with!
So weird! I left a comment only on a couple of them (the ones I thought would remember me) but thoroughly enjoyed seeing pics of their fams, their interests and all kinds of things!
Who knows, maybe I'll leave more comments saying hello or at least I'll be thinking about them and holding them up in my prayers for the day!
Now I'm off to my next project.....

I've got the Barbella (a special request from a friend) & new flourishes stamps that I NEED to get dirty and that wack-o-paper that is calling me to cut into it from my shopping the other day! Enough surfing for today!
Blessings to you all!

What Have I DONE?!?!?

Today, I went shopping with a friend to purchased supplies for wedding invitations she was asked to make. Well, let's just say I fell for the good ol' 70% off sale!!!
Yes! All "Christmas" paper was marked down. Thankfully, Basic Grey has a ton of paper that is called Christmas yet is so versatile for just about anything! 55 sheets later..... I HAD to add a set of Rhonna Ferrar Elegant Flourishes!!!
We had a great time, found all her things and came home looking forward to all the ideas my head is spinning with drooling over this paper!!!
I hope your day was filled with drool too!

Stylin' Bellas

Oh these bellas are the bomb!!! So fun to work with, so easy to use, so many different ways to show them off etc. etc. etc.

This one is another sample for a class I'm teaching. The emphasis being to learn some ideas to use them without feeling like you need to be good at watercoloring. I am teaching these classes in a fairly new shop and working really hard at using the products she has available. So I'm a wee bit limited. I'm finding her pp wonderful, primas are always great on cards but I'm wondering what are your favorite things to use on your cards?

The shop owner is looking forward to her store growing and I would love to be able to suggest some popular embellisments!
Looking forward to your ideas!!!

(Prism cardstock & Polar Bear Express pp, I love the diagonal stripe and tried to emphisize it with the sentiment)

Poor Bella!!!

This poor dear bella sure looks the part! I've been finding that I can spend sooo much time coloring that I don't get many cards done, so I've been trying to color a focus area and with this poor sickie I thought having it a little on the dull side would probably also work.

(Cool Carribean & Blush SU! cardstock, Blush, Basic Grey pp, Canson watercolor paper, watercolor pencil crayons & a blender pen to color, Marcy file and flower punches, Ranger ink to sponge all around!)

My first Swap

I've been looking for new ways to use my creativity in making cards. I found teaching classes and now I'm trying a swap.

The focus was to make a pop-up card. Seen a few different ways to make one but ended up with a self-standing version.

I used some Asparagus paper given to me as a trade for cleaning/organizing a friends stamping room. (Still have more to do!) I left space to write a note, used brads to add primas and will send it to the person I've been given. We are sending the cards blank for them to use if they want to.

Also, for mailing is folds down and hopefully it will pop back up when needed!!!

Watercoloring Bellas!!!

Oh, am I a sucker for these amazing stamps!!! I've bought a bunch from Stamping Bella but if you live in Abbotsford or anywhere near they are also being sold at Urban Trends Scrapbook Co.

And now.....

I've got the great pleasure of teaching a couple of Bella classes!!! In my first one, April 23rd, we will be watercoloring, using wonderful Basic Grey papers, and a few embellies to pull it all together.

These two cards are showing a wee little sample of 2 different coloring styles. In Getwellabella, I used a soft yellow to create a shadow around the image then used one color to focus on the flowers on the quilt.

In Cakabella, I colored the whole image keeping a light source in mind also to show a shadow effect but a different way.

Either way, these are so fun to make!!!

For the Love of Roses!

I'm soooo pleased my mom knew exactly what I wanted for my birthday!!! (Thanks to me purchasing it for her:) I've had these wonderful stamps for a month now and I'm finally getting to use them.
They are pretty simple but I hope they speak for themselves! I had some fun doodling dots to match the pp!
(All SU! pp, cardstock, punch & stamps, ribbon & brads from Micheal's)