PPA 233

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!  It's been so long since I've posted.  I've been too busy to get to my craft room.  We had a fun Christmas!  I'm looking forward to New Years Day.  We are hosting my husband's family since we weren't able to get together for Christmas.

I have not been able to do any challenges for quite a while!  I went up to my stamp room today and cleaned up quite a bit.  I filled my Stamp n Storage ink pad holder.  I need another one already! Some day I will reorganize my room so that I can fit everything and be able to move.

I was really stumped with this sketch for the Pals Paper Arts Challenge at first.  I had some leftover pieces on my craft desk and I made myself use or put them away.  I had these stars sitting there so I decided to make a birthday card for a future date.  I don't know why, but I tend to go for the masculine cards.  Let me know what you think!

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Click here to shop

I absolutely love the Chalk Talk Framelits above and also the "Be the Star" stamp set.  I may have to cave for the "Oh My Goodies" stamp set!

I have no idea where the time is going lately...oh, besides Christmas shopping, wrapping, baking, babysitting and being sick.  I swear I will catch up soon.  My room is getting dusty!  I have so many new toys to use!  I am on vacation until January 4th.  I WILL make it into my dusty room to play.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year!

Snuggles and Smooches

I could sure use some snuggles and smooches right about now.  I hope to be posting some projects soon, I just haven't had a lot of play time lately.

Check out this adorable new photopolymer stamp set called Snuggles and Smooches.  This is one of the "while supplies last" sets so hurry up and order if you want it!  Click here.

Year End Close Outs!

Check out the amazing deals on Stampin' Up!'s annual close outs.  They're going fast!

Click here to check out the deals!!

Online Extravaganza! November 24 - December 2

Stampin' Up! is having a big Black Friday sale for a week!  There are doorbusters with items like the popular Envelope Box Punch Board and the magnetic platform for the Big Shot.

Click on the link above to check out  what's on sale!  Let me know if have any questions.  Just be sure to read the dates on each section.

Get your list ready and click on the flower to the right (or here:  SHOP) to shop starting Monday!

PPA 228

Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge 228

Don't forget your sunglasses!  This was an easy sketch for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge.  I chose one of my favorite stamp sets, Endless Wishes Birthday.  I used Blendabilities to color in the cake.  I pulled out the Sweet Sorbet dsp.  This is a BUSY pattern, but I love the colors (Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight).  I thought the white cake panel would cut down on that.  I then decided it was too white and added the dots from the Endless Wishes set.  After stamping the sentiment,  I cut out a couple of stars with the Itty Bitty Punch pack and then I added some sparkle with my Wink of Stella pen.  You probably can't see the sparkle too well.  I do love these pens!  Anyway, thanks so much for your comments!  I hope I am back to crafting by the time this is posted.  I scheduled several out before I had surgery.

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PPA 227

I love this color combo for the  Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge 227!   I used the stamp set from the October Paper Pumpkin.  Love the sayings in this little set!  The outside is hard to read from this angle but it says, "There's no such thing as too much pie."  The inside says "Holiday Calories Don't Count."  The little feathers are also from Paper Pumpkin.  I put the panel of Very Vanilla to cut down on the color, and then had to add Gorgeous Grunge with Early Espresso ink.  I just felt like it needed some brown in there.  Hope that's okay.  This will be my dad's Thanksgiving card.  Thanks for commenting!  (Sorry, coloring is way off here and I can't fix).

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PPA 226

Back to regular crafty postings...
I made several cards prior to surgery and scheduled the blog posts.  Cannot wait to have use of my right arm so that I can play in my craft room again.  Unfortunately that'll be at least a couple of weeks.  PT eval is today and dr tomorrow for staple removal.

I love this mustache framelit!  It's an easy add on to an order because it's very inexpensive.  I love that you can use it for a regular card stock or dsp mustache, a stamped mustache (Well Worded Mustache)  and also with the Santa Stache stamp set (see products below).

I made this for the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.  I truly love doing the challenges on PPA because it makes me use colors and sketches I wouldn't normally use.  I ended up liking this color combo but I would never have picked it!  This will go to our friend in Maine for his birthday.  Thanks a bunch for leaving a comment!

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PPA 225

Boy, did I struggle with this sketch for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge!  I love it, but I have this thing about everything being straight.  I got some help from my friend Marlene.  I just couldn't decide what to do with the white space. She helped me decide on this butterfly.  It's a retired SU punch.  This is how OCD I am ... after I cut my papers at an angle, I cut the angle off the strips to make it straight, and made a card with the scraps. I can't stand myself!  LOL  (see here:)

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Weekly Deals - October 21-28

Click here to check out the weekly deals!  There are some cute things here.  Love the Set Sail stamp set.

Chalk Talk Day to celebrate

I made this for my aunt's birthday.  Please see products used below.  Thanks for commenting!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

PPA 224

Ahhh, this is my kind of sketch.  I love the straight look. This is for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge 224. I used the Day of Celebration stamps and Chalk Talk framelits.  I also used the little flowers from the Itty Bitty punch pack.  Those punches are my favorite!

I used Tempting Turquoise ink and cardstock, Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie cardstock for the strips and flowers. The dsp is Sweet Taffy.  I just love the colors and patterns in these papers! I used Candy Dots for the centers.  The ribbon is retired Daffodil Delight.  Thanks for leaving me comments!

(It's funny how my flowers look crooked.  They are straight in person!  I think it is because I turned them so they weren't all the same).

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Leftover card

I've been trying to get ahead on some challenge cards so that I can schedule them to be posted after my surgery.  I won't have use of my right hand for a while and I am right handed.  I am not looking forward to the surgery (rotator), and not being able to craft, or do anything that requires two hands. Hopefully my recovery will go by fast.  I don't sit well unless I'm in my craft room!

Anyway, my OCD came out after cutting papers at an angle.  Gasp! I just couldn't put them away like that!   So I decided to turn the papers over and cut them straight.  Then I used the reverse side to make a card.  Then I thought I'd make a second one just for yucks.  I really love the colors and prints in Flower Pot designer series paper.  Hope you like them!  You will see the opposite papers coming up soon.

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Weekly deals - October 14-21

Love the mustache!  I just used it on a card.  I didn't get much craft time in this weekend because I went to Cape Cod.  It was relaxing but not great weather.  I hope to catch up this week!  Hope everyone had a nice long weekend.

PPA 223

I could not come up with anything other than Halloween for this Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.  I ended up using the Holiday Home bundle.  This is such a cute set!  It has all kinds of images for Christmas, Thanksgiving & Halloween.

I stamped the houses and elements in Basic Black on Very Vanilla. I also used some little bats from the September Paper Pumpkin kit. I colored the house and a few other things in with Blendabilities.  I went a little overboard with the windows.  It looks like the house is on fire inside!

Thanks for looking and commenting!

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Pick a pack of paper

Have you ever thought about becoming a Stampin' Up! demonstrator?  How would you like to get FREE designer paper for SIX months?!  Yes, that's right, when you sign up with Stampin' Up! by October 31st, you will get a pack of designer paper each month (November through January).  That is an awesome deal!  I am in love with Stampin' Up!'s designer paper.  Let me know if you are interested, or go here to sign up or to check it out!

Weekly Deals - Oct. 7-13

Great deals here!! (click for ordering info)

PPA 222

The number 222 reminds me of the old show, Room 222!  LOL  I know I'm dating myself here, but I was just a kid (wink).  Do any of you remember that show?

Anyway, I loved working with this color combo for the Pals Paper Arts!  I made one card and decided I liked the combo enough to try out my wonderous wreath framelits and stamps.  I started with the Hardwood background stamp.  I also used the Bitty Banner framelits on top of a framelit from the Project Life cards & labels framelit set to give it a different look.  I made this for my mom for Thanksgiving.  I need to get a jump on my cards because I won't be able to craft for a bit after my surgery.  I know I won't get to make Christmas cards and that makes me sad.  I hope to make a few special ones before the 24th because I have some new products to use!!  

Thanks for looking and taking a sec to leave me a comment. Hope you all have a great weekend!  

Stamp, Stock & Sale

Check out the awesome sale Stampin' Up! has going on between today, October 1st, and October 6th! Click here to shop:  STAMP STOCK & SAVE

Weekly Deals: Sept. 30 - Oct. 6

Check out these deals.  I love that little banner punch.  I use it constantly!  I hate to admit it, but I'm a paper hoarder.  When I have little scraps, I cut some banners for a future card!  The ticket punch is great to have as well.  Ok, I love the vintage buttons too!  I want it all!!!!!!

Pink duckie

Here is the pink card I made after the gender neutral one.  I love my Something for Baby framelits!  I wish I had made the strip of Lullaby paper in Hello Honey a little bit longer.  Does anyone else pick apart cards you've made and think of things you could have done?!!  I hate when I do that.  I need to be happy it's done and mailed out, right?!  I got my inspiration from Amy K on Pinterest.  Here is a link to her card:  Amy K

I had a great time scrapping with my friends yesterday.  I couldn't stay all day, but I did get about 6 pages done.

I am going to get in as much crafting as I can over the next month.  I will be scheduling shoulder surgery for October.  I wanted September but had to wait until my mom can take care of herself.  She just had shoulder surgery as well, only worse than mine.  Anyway, thanks for looking and for commenting!

PPA 221

Well, I know I promised not to use the Something for Baby bundle for a while, but I just found out one of my cousins and his wife are going to have their first.  Sorry!  I made this gender neutral card for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge and then found out it was a girl!!  I ended up making another but I will save that for another day.  I love this sketch by Nicole Watt!  I am a straight on kind of girl, nothing askew for me if I can help it!

I used the Lullaby dsp for this along with Coastal Cabana for the base and Sahara Sand, Hello Honey and Pistachio Pudding for the squares and ducks.  Unfortunately I don't have Sahara Sand ink (it's on the top of my list!) so I had to use Baked Brown Sugar.  Hopefully it's not too dark for this. What do you think?  I finished it off with white bakers twine.  I use this a lot!!  Isn't it funny how it appears the squares are larger on top?  It's just the angle, I promise.  Thanks for looking and commenting.

Weekly Deals - Sept. 23-29

Some great deals here!  I've seen some adorable projects using the hamburger die!

Click here:

Weekly Deals

Day of Celebration

I made this quick card using my freebie bundle.  I got this when I bought the Big Shot.  It's the Chalk Talk framelits with the Day of Celebration stamp set.  I wasn't sure how to use it.  First I inked it up with Blackberry Bliss and stamped on Hello Honey.  It was ok but not the look I wanted.  Then I decided to stamp on Whisper White and cut another tag in Hello Honey to put behind it.  I used the Moonlight dsp for the background and Hello Honey ribbon.  Easy peasy!

September Paper Pumpkin Fun

I got my September Paper Pumpkin last week and decided to sit down and play.  This kit is so cute!!  You get 6 burlap bags,   a bunch of tags, a little ink pad, cute Halloween stamps, tiny clothespins, Dimensionals, twine, and adorable Tangelo Twist sequins on a string.

Here is a picture of the directions.

I love the little burlap bags, but I wanted to make a card with the cute items in this kit.  I decided to mimic the dots on the burlap bag using my Dots & Stripes mask.  I used Crumb Cake for  my base and Memento Black ink.  I taped down the mask and used a Stampin' Up! sponge.  I dabbed in a circular motion over each dot.  I like how it came out as a background and will probably use it again for other occasions. (Sorry, I can't seem to rotate my middle photo).  I also added a circle of Tangelo Twist and a strip of Blackberry Bliss.

Here is my card and bag.  Let me know what you think!  If you'd like to try out Paper Pumpkin, click here. It's so much fun receiving the cute little red box each month.  

More Back to Black

Hi Everyone!  I have been trying to use up the pieces I've cut from cardstock and dsp.  I had this left over from my two previous cards and I decided to get to work and use it up!  I also stamped a bunch of flowers from Bloom with Hope so I grabbed one of those and colored it in with Daffodil Delight & Old Olive Blendabilities.  I do like the yellow with black.  Of course I liked the Real Red with black and the Strawberry Slush with black.  I am so happy I bought the Back to Black paper.  It goes with everything and it makes the colors pop!

I used a sketch from The Sweetest Thing blog. She is incredibly talented!  Love her sketches and style.

I thought the sentiment should be on a print so I took the dots from the Endless Wishes Birthday set and inked them in Daffodil Delight.  I used Express Yourself, a retired sentiment set.  Let me know what you think.

A two fer

I wanted to use my Back to Black dsp since I've seen so many cards using it.  I thought I would cut out a circle and put the image in that circle.  I planned on popping the dsp, but I didn't like how you could see the dimensionals.  I ended up putting it down flat so you can't really see the cut out in this picture.

I put the Back to Black circle aside for later.  I also had this pink flower sitting on my desk from another crafting session.  I thought it would look pretty on the black so I set out to make another completely different card.  I may add a gem or pearl to the center of this flower (a suggestion from one of my Pals).

I had a little extra time this week to create some cards.  My mom had shoulder surgery and I was home with her for a few days.  My aunt is helping out today and tomorrow so that I can go to work. As soon as she is able to drive, I will be having shoulder surgery as well.  I'm not sure how much time I will be away from my craft room, but I'm trying to get in as much time now as I can.

Thanks for your comments!  I can't believe the weekend is almost here!! 

PPA 220

Here is my card for the Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge 220.  I love this sketch and will definitely try it again!  Sadly, I need to get a jump on some sympathy cards.  I have an uncle who is dying.  We haven't been close for many years, but he was really close to me when I was younger.  I was the daughter he didn't have.  He eventually had his own kids and has been a great father. I thought I would have a few ready so that I don't stress about it when it gets here.  He has stopped eating and drinking so it could be any day.

Anyway, I didn't meant to have a depressing post!  I used the Bloom with Hope stamp set and colored the image with Blendabilities.  The designer series paper is from the Flower Pot  pack.  I used Old Olive and Crumb Cake for cardstock.

Thanks for looking and commenting!

I completely forgot where I was going with this post.  I want to show you what I did to save paper.  I hate throwing anything out!  I wanted to stamp the sentiment right on the dsp but ended up getting the edge of the stamp.

I turned it around.

And covered up the sentiment because I was popping the flower up and I didn't want the black to show.

After that, I put the flower circle on top and the mistake was gone!

Here are some weekly deals for you!

Weekly Deals