Archive for September, 2010

The above sketch is this weeks challenge over on the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  You can see all the beautiful entries over at the website here.

Here is my interpretation of the sketch.  I challenged myself with using different stamps from Waltzingmouse.

I used Vintage Label 5 and Vintage Label 4, love these stamps.  I stamped with brown pigment ink and then used clear embossing powder.  I used TH Distressed Inks in brushed corduroy and the Thank you is a $1 Stamp from M’s.

Here is a closer view.

Love the way this card came out.

Thanks for stopping by and be sure and let me know how you like the card.

Sorry about the way the pictures lined up, somedays the blog just won’t cooperate.

I came home from work and the Roman Shade that was in my window over the sink had fallen.

The rings that held the strings and bottom part of the curtain up had deteriorated and fell apart.

I’m assuming the heat of the sun compromised the integrity of the plastic.

This is what most of the rings looked like on the curtain.

Now this is no small feat to take this down to repair it but I managed to get it all unscrewed from the frame and down.

Since the plastic rings broke I decided I would look at doing it differently.

To the hardware store and some metal washers and white spray paint should do the trick.

Here they are all white and ready to be sewn back onto the Roman Shade.

I needed them white because they are on a white background showing through the window and I didn’t want the sun reflecting of the silver washers.

If you didn’t know it, you wouldn’t realize that was a washer that had been painted.

There it is repaired and back up in the window. Whew!

The weather was so nice here today and it was great to be able to have the windows open.

Now, I made Taco Soup and it’s ready.  Thanks for stopping by!

Hi everyone!  Short post today.  I was at the State Fair of Texas yesterday and got some great pictures.  I’ll be posting some of the things over the next couple of days.

I also have a new card that I’m going to post for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge.  I decided to start doing a challenge just to get my creative mojo going.  It also gets me out of making the same type card over and over.

So stay tune.

I placed my first order with PaperTrey Ink (click on the hyperlink and scroll down to the bottom). I’m in love with their dies.  This is the calendar die that is designed to fit in a Jewel CD case, which by the way they sell also.

The little tabs that cut the card stock holds the calendar in place.

Twelve different pattern papers and the calendar is over half way made.  You can’t add a lot of embellishments to this type of calendar because it would be too thick to put in the holder.  That means it keeps you from going overboard.

This is a Christmas present I’m working on.  The embellishments for these pages will be things like Stickles, some Copic Markers and maybe a little wet and dry embossing.  Because of the limited depth of the CD case it will make this project a fast one and I won’t agonize over having to build every month.

You won’t get to see the finish product until after Christmas but I wanted to share with you a sweet idea.  This type of calender sells for around $25.00 from places like PaperSource.  Just doing the beautiful pattern paper would work and make it really simple.

My #1 Daughter found these white bracelets at Canton for a couple of $$.

These are all the rage right now.

I used an Old English Font and then kiss cut Happy Halloween out in black vinyl.

I cut it using SCAL2 (love that software program).

I’ll have to figure another element to put on the bracelet to finish it up.  This was really simple and easy.

Let me know what you think!

Oh my I’m obsessed I think!!!!!!  How can you not want this stuff and it’s only $1.

These are some rub-ons that match the 10 for $10 at M’s.

This is printed tape (super cute) also 10 for $10 at M’s.  Tim Holtz paper tape runs about $9.50 for two.  Now I’m not saying this is the same quality or cuteness but it is still pretty sweet.

The birds go along with ribbon and other things that match in the 10 for $10.

Ok, I’ll stop but they have some really cute $1 stamps out.  The paisley stamp is what I used on Mom’s B-Card you can see it here.

The “it’s all about ME and i like it that way” stamp can be used in my family for a variety of people.

Hopefully, I’ll have created another card or something to post instead of all the things I find at M’s.  I think I’m going to make a new category on the blog for 10 for $10……..what do you think?

I loved the $1 spot at M’s this time, can you tell.

These are large ceramic balls with the alphabet on them.  These were $1 a piece!  So, remember a few posts ago when I said I had gone to McKinney, Tx?   They were selling the smaller size balls like this for $2.95 each!

I bought about 23 of these (I actually bought all the M’s I was at had) and placed them in this crystal vase.

Perfect place on my mantel.

This is not where they are going to stay but until I revamp the spot they are going, they will do nicely right there.

Just think if I had bought 23 for $2.95 (which I wouldn’t) I would have had to pay $67.85 for them.  I got them for $23.00.   “Saweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet”!

Keep your eyes open ladies you will find some great things at the M’s Dollar Spot.  Also, they move the things they haven’t sold over into their clearance and you can get some bargains for $.50 over there.  Think of putting together a cute Secret Sister package for a couple of $$.

I’m participating in Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge #15.  You can find them at www.waltzingmouse.blogspot.com and see all the other creations.

The paper is from My Mind’s Eye Kraft Cardstock.  Love this paper pad.  Because this pad is all kraft papers the pattern papers look faded out with subtle patterns.

Be sure and click on the picture to get a full view.  This is one of those cards that you end up making when you can’t sleep.   The stamps and ribbon are $1 finds at M’s over the past year.  Very simple process – 1st I stamped the words and embossed them with Bronze embossing powder.  Next I found a decorative label stamp and then centered the word and stamped it and embossed with the same color of embossing powder.   I grundged the top of the tags just using my fingers to curl the edges and then I used my E31 & E33 Copic Markers to add some additional aging.

I didn’t include a sentiment because I believe the words on the card are enough.  Sweet words to live by!

I’ve been looking for something different to hold my cards when I photograph them.  The wire frame that I was using was too distracting to me.

Made a recent trip to McKinney, Texas and found this “frog” in one of the stores for about $6.50.  When I purchased it the lady said this is a frog day, we’ve sold more frogs than anything else.

I thought it looked pretty nappy, so I pulled out the old black spray paint and gave it a couple of coats.

I’m thinking they called them frogs (they are actually a flower frog) because they are down in the bottom of the vase, covered with water and they hold the flowers as you arrange them.  Just guessing……..frogs down in water???

Froggie made her debut yesterday, holding Mom’s B-card. I think she looks great with the new paint job and you will be seeing her doing her “thang” as the days go by.

I have to say I really struggled with Mom’s card for some reason.  I’ve been toying with it for a week.  Finally, I decided to cut the card down, it is 5 x 4.5 it was originally a 5.5 square.  I don’t know what it is about a size of a card but for some reason once I cut it down things started flowing.

All of the papers used are from my stash and if you look closely at the last purple mat, I embossed a paisley stamp ($1 from M’s) and then used Dusty Concord Distressed ink and inked the entire mat.  I took a baby wipe and wiped off the excess.  It makes a subtle background.

The butterfly is acrylic (about 1/8″ thick).  The butterfly was flat and I took my embossing gun and a pencil and started manipulating the acrylic as the heat gun softened it.

This gave the wings a curve.  I used alcohol inks to give it color and freehanded the lines and blinged it up with some pearls and glitter.   I used my black Copic Marker to do the center and edge it.  The antennae are wire.  I have a 3-D glue dot holding it in place.

I stamped using Waltzingmouse  stamps the Victorian Frippery set.  I use Memento Paris Dusk and embossed it with Zing Embossing power in purple.  I added some purple Stickles to dress it up a bit.  These stamps are designed to use with Nestibilities.

Layered the mats using Nestibilities scalloped circles and regular standard circles.  I added some piercing and a little bling.  You can click on the picture to get a closer look.

I took a couple of white Prisma flowers and colored them using the Memento Paris Dusk.  The little rose is my homemade flower and you can see how to do them here.

I added the ribbon and then just tied a knot in the gingham check, lavender and green sheer ribbon to give it some layers.  With the rest of the card being so ornate the simple ribbon with knots works perfectly.

This card is very dimensional and I’m going to put it on top of her gift, not making an envelope for it.

As you can see there is a border of pattern paper that runs behind the Happy Birthday medallion.

The doily that it is sitting on is one my Mom crocheted.

The inside is pretty simple; pulled some of the same papers I used on the outside and the sentiment is computer generated.  Oh yeah…more bling.

A little Stickles on various dots on the side and three little rhinestones after my name.

I have such a big surprise for her.  Besides this beautiful card, I got my Mom an Epic Embossing Machine.  Thank you Hobby Lobby for the 40% off coupon.  I went through my Embossing Folders and some dies and I’m sharing them with Mom so she’ll have something to use in her new machine!

Happy 82nd Birthday Mom!