Out of the Zone

Wow, talk about working out of your comfort zone. This definitely doesn't look like a card I would do. I saw a sketch like this, but can't for the life of me remember where I saw it, so if someone knows and wants credit to go to them, go ahead and let me know. I'm usually pretty good at writing stuff like that down for future reference. Not sure what happened this time. Guess it was just another flake out minute for me. I'm real good at that! Ok, so what happened here is I was playing with my Guide Lines set again. And I was going thru my patterned paper and just happened to notice that Nichole used the same design in the paper for one of the stamps. I swear, that woman is the queen of coordination. Just amazing. So, I put the paper and the stamp together, and this is what I got. Yeah, Darien doesn't like this one, either. Oh, well. I'm sure my mommy will like it. Right, mom? Ok, well she's out of town this week, but I'm sure she'll love it when she gets back.

Stamps: Guide Lines, Boxes, Bags & Tags and Out on a Limb (all Papertrey), Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Paper: White, Aqua Mist, Everyday Blessings patterned paper (Papertrey), Basic Black (SU!), Accessories: oval punches (SU!), scallop punches (Marvy), Turquoise Baubles (Stamping Bella)

Chocolate Guide Lines

Ok, let's just get this out of the way. Darien doesn't like this card. But it was funny, cuz when she saw it, the first thing she said was, wow, that doesn't look like a card you would make. And that's exactly what I thought when I finished it. I mean, in a way, it does, cuz I have used this layout and these colors to death. Plus, you guys know I love me some Chocolate Chip ribbon. But there's just something else about it that seems unlike me. Whatever that is, isn't coming to me just now, but, whatever. I still like it.

Now I feel the need to discuss the set I used here. If you haven't seen the actual set, click here. This is Guide Lines by Papertrey. It's so cool. And when I saw Nichole use it, I thought, I have to have it! I was so excited. Then I got it, (gently) ripped it open, and wouldn't you know it, I'm broken. Yeah, you read that right. It's me. I can't get the actual grid part to line up to save my life. I don't believe it's a problem with the stamp, cuz I've seen a gagillion people (okay, like 12) use it quite successfully. I'm just a dork...guide line challenged, if you will. And I'm ok with that. Cuz I finally learned how to get the little designs to go how I want even without the grid. It's so fun to play with. Take this card, for example. See that lone design-y stamp up in the corner? Turn it just a smidge, stamp it over & over, and you get the bottom half of the card. Yep, same stamp. And I'm not usually one to point out my flaws, like you all can't spot them yourselves, but I have to do it here. Look at how wibbly-wobbly the dots are in the bottom half. {Come on, mom, squint.} And that was me using the grid! Yeah, sad, I know. You can't see the lines cuz I thought I'd be clever and stamp it in Very Vanilla, so you wouldn't see them. Yeah, I could see them and still got this. Oh, well. What can I say? I'm a work in progress.

Stamps: Guide Lines & Out on a Limb (Papertrey), Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU!), Paper: Papertrey white, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Accessories: CC ribbon (SU!)

Lavender Glamour

Georgina Glamourpuss. I did not make that up. That is her name and she can be found at Stamping Bella. I don't even know what it is about her that I love, I just know I do. I don't know anyone that foofoo-chichi (at least I don't think I do), but she sure is a lot of fun. I'm just glad that I found the time to ink her up at all. I've been surprisingly crazy busy with the girls out of school. I thought I'd have more nothing time, without all the running back & forth to schools. What was I thinking? It's harder to keep a house clean (well, my version of clean) with 3 people going everywhere you just cleaned. How did I do it when they were younger? Oh, yeah. I didn't start stamping until they were all in school. Yes, I do believe that's when the housecleaning started to slide, becoming less of a necessity. That's when it became more of a...uugghhh, didn't I just vacuum last month?! What the heck?! Dinner? Didn't you have a big lunch? Of course I'm kidding. I do have to say that the girls are getting older and they are really quite helpful. They are pretty good about cleaning up after themselves and know their way around the kitchen pretty well. And it's a good thing, too, cuz somebody's gotta do the stamping!

Stamps: Georgina Glamourpuss (Stamping Bella), Sentiment (Pink Cat Studio), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Paper: White, Lavender Moon & Lemon Tart (Papertrey), Accessories: Copics, Star Dust Stickles (Ranger), Swiss Dots cuttlebug folder, Lavender Moon ribbon (Papertrey)

Wild About It

Man, am I slow! I just realized last week how much I love Wild Wasabi. It was such a blecchhy green that did nothing for me for a whole year, and now that it's about to go bye-bye, I love it. Love it! Plus, it matches my green copic (G24 - Willow, fyi) that colored this fairy so pretty like. I'm gonna need some more paper that matches the marker I love so much. And maybe the ribbon. And the reinker, cuz you never know...

So, I thought, for fun, I would ask Shawn what he thought about my card. He's such a great guy and he's really good for humoring me when nobody else is here to ask. Yeah, it's summer and they're ALL here, but he was standing there, so I thought I'd ask. He said:

"Well, it's really green. And I like the touch of pink, that's nice. I see how the pink here (pointing to the ribbon) goes with the pink here (pointing to the cake). Except, what I would've done is, maybe, made the bow on her dress pink...or maybe here (her collar)...or the bow on her hat...maybe made those pink. But, it's beautiful." Well, knock me over with a feather. He's actually been paying attention. Isn't he cute?

Stamps: Limitless Labels (Papertrey), Patricia Birthdaycake (Stamping Bella), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Berry Sorbet (Papertrey), Paper: White, Sweet Blush & Berry Sorbet (Papertrey), Wild Wasabi (SU!), Accessories: Circle & flower punch (SU!), Sweet Blush ribbon (Papertrey), Copics, corner punch

Surprise?

Hey now. Why, yes that is yet another guy card I've got there. And, yes, I was just complaining about these darn things, and no, I didn't just whip another one out. I actually made this 2 weeks ago and I've just been sitting on it. I've been waiting for the recipient to finally get it, and I'm hoping that today's the day. Gee, I sure hope my aunt doesn't read this before she gets her mail. See, my cousin is finally all done with high school and my mom wanted to send him a card, so she asked me to make one, instead of just getting him some lame, totally impersonal, cheap, store bought card. And it's a surprise. So, Aunt Brenda, if you're reading this before you get Michael's card (cuz I just couldn't wait another day), uh, SURPRISE! Gee, wasn't that fun? Yeah, we'll have to do that again real soon!

Stamps: Lexicon of Love (SU!), Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Paper: Papertrey white, Brilliant Blue, Wild Wasabi (SU!), Making Memories DP, Accessories: Bashful Blue ribbon (SU!)

Father's Day Stuff

Ok, you guys know how I really hate making guy cards cuz they're just difficult? Well, shopping for my husband is equally nightmarish. He's that guy that can want things, but he has to research them to death and suck all the fun out of spontaneous shopping. He's gotta read reviews and compare brands and look into it from every possible angle, whatever it is, for no less than a week. He has researched things for months. Now, this can be an admirable thing, I guess, but it also makes it impossible to just run out & buy him something. So I was forced to make him something. Thank goodness for Heather Nichols! I saw this and knew I was gonna make it through another year!

She's got a tutorial of how to put this together on her blog, but if you're just too lazy to click over, this is 3 5 1/4" square envelopes stuck together. I covered the envelopes with DP, stamped 3 different sentiments from Father Knows Best with the treetop (also from that set), mounted those on coordinating cardstock and slapped all those on the envelopes. The little tabs you see poking out are the tabs that pull out the picture panels in the last picture.

This is an overhead shot just so you get a better idea of what's going on here. It's kinda like those cards that keep opening up, just made from envelopes, which is even easier.

The tabs that were poking out up there were attached to these. I just found pictures of all 3 girls, printed them out and mounted them onto cardstock. Soooo easy. Yes, I covered the back side of the envelopes, too. The top picture shows one of the outside panels. It's just reversed coordinating paper of the ones I used on the inside. Then I punched out the same paper and put it behind a clear button, so I could tuck the last flap under it to keep the "book" closed. Since I don't explain these things very well, it probably sounds a lot more difficult than it is. It was actually pretty easy, and if you want to try it, I'd follow really Heather's instructions.

Hope everyone had a great Father's Day!

Stamps: Father Knows Best (Papertrey), Ink: Close to Cocoa, Wild Wasabi (SU!), Paper: Very Vanilla, Close to Cocoa, Wild Wasabi, CC & WW DSP, white 5 1/4" square envelopes (all SU!), Accessories: tab punch & clear button (SU!), pictures of my beautiful babies =)

P.S. Stephanie: no, those weren't the new in-colors in the fairy card. That was Papertrey's Sweet Blush and 2 of my copic markers that just happen to go together really well. Pretty cool, huh? I'll let you know when I get those new colors.

Meet Eloise

Ok, seriously. How cute is this? (Oh, just tilt your head). This is Eloise Greengrass. I found her over at Stamping Bella and fell in love immediately. The perfect line of fairy stamps made just for me. I have to say that I've never really been a fan of the Bellas (not sure why), but now that I have a new love of coloring, I also have a new addiction. Yeah, I bought a couple of these beauties. And then once I bought them (showing some serious restraint, by the way), I found a whole new bunch of stamps over there that I had to have. Yeah, I've got a list! I haven't ordered them yet, but know this will not be the end of my Bella purchases. I will say I had to have this stamp because she's so very fairy-y and girly and the look on her face is just priceless. She was sooo much fun to color and, of course, I had to add some sparkle (those arre stickles on her wings). I waited almost 2 weeks for this stamp to arrive (they're in Canada) and it was well worth the wait.

Stamps: Eloise Greengrass & Sentiment (Stamping Bella), Ink: Sweet Blush (Papertrey), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Paper: White & Sweet Blush (Papertrey), Accessories: Sweet Blush ribbon (Papertrey), Doodlebug brad, paper piercer, Star Dust Stickles, Copics (yay!)

Father's Day, Check

Woohoo! I am done with my Father's Day cards and I am soooo relieved. I have so much stuff going on this week, there's no way I would have time to do these cards now. I actually finished them on Saturday, but I've been busy doing other stuff, too. Some extra last minute tins for people that were overlooked (Darien's teachers) and other cards for other stuff coming up. Plus, I got some new toys this weekend and I am over the moon with excitement. Do people still say that? Sheesh, how old am I? At least I'm not Darien, who walks around saying "shenanigans". How she says it is pure hilarity. She'll be talking about the kids at school and say, "I'm tired of these kids and their shenanigans." Yep, sounds like a future teacher to me. If you see her, ask her to say it. Anyway, you're gonna have to wait to see my new stuff...a girl's gotta pace herself. I can say that this is one of my favorite stamp purchases - ever. And I never thought I would do it. Ha! Well, now that my mom's on the edge of her seat, I'm gonna leave you hangin' and go play! Have a fabulous week.

Stamps: Father Knows Best (Papertrey), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Always Artichoke (SU!), Paper: Le Jardin DSP, Very Vanilla CS, Always Artichoke CS (SU!), Accessories: Copics

Done!

Ok, I'm finally all the way done with my teacher stuff. Wow, you didn't really think I was gonna do all the cards & tins in just one color, did you? Silly, silly. So, there's the purple (in the post below), pink and there's also a Cool Caribbean version. If I weren't so challenged at taking pictures (trust me, this one took me forfrrreakin'ever), I'd put it up. Oh, alright. But just this once.

I'm not sure why they're crooked, but let's be glad I got the flash thing figured out. I figure, I spend enough time on my projects. Taking pictures is just a headache for me. If you want things to look straight, you can always just tilt your head. That's what I do. K, now I've really got to get to work on my Father's Day cards. No, really! Ok, right after I have some ice cream...

Stamps: Flower Girl (Elzybells), Beautiful Blooms, Faux Ribbon & Wedding Day (Papertrey), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Sweet Blush & Aqua Mist (Papertrey), Regal Rose & Cool Caribbean (SU!), Paper: Papertrey white, Sweet Blush & Aqua Mist (Papertrey), Regal Rose & Cool Caribbean (SU!), Accessories: Avery labels, tins, Dew Drops (Robin's Nest) & Baubles (Stamping Bella), Marvy punches, Stickles, Copics, Hershey's nuggets

Teacher Thanks

Ok, so I'm making progress. I've finally got something finished. This is one of my thank you cards for my girls' teachers. Each of the 2 girls in elementary have 2 teachers, so that's 4. Then, their kindergarten teacher is retiring, and you've got the office staff, which I love...Well, the hardest part for me was the layout, and that's done, so now I just need to get all of them done and then I only have the gift part. *sigh* I'm thinking tins. I bought more of the ones that I used at Christmas, cuz those were really popular. Yeah, I bought my Christmas tins in April. I like to be prepared. But I was afraid there would be a crazy run on them like last year. Well, the company accidentally sent me an extra case of tins and told me to just go ahead and keep them, so I'm ok with parting with a few throughout the year. But just a few. I'm also a hoarder. I haven't decided on what to put in them yet, though. I thought I'd ask the girls what they thought for each teacher. Candles, soap, gift cards, chocolate. We'll see. And when I get those done, I'll be sure to post for your viewing pleasure. Phew. Is it summer yet?

Oh, yeah. Just a side note about the card. I discovered something neato. Yeah, I said it. Anyway, in the scallops, I used my fabulous (I mean Fab-u-lous!) Inkssentials white pen to make a dot and then went over the dot with my Star Dust Stickles. In real life, it looks like shiny little rhinestones. It's beautiful. No, really. So, if anybody is looking for a white pen that really writes white, this is the one for you. No need to thank me, it's my good deed for the day. My work here is done.

Stamps: Flower Girl (Elzybells), Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac (SU!), Paper: Papertrey white, Lavender Lace, Lovely Lilac (SU!), Accessories: Copics, Dew Drops (Robin's Nest), Marvy punches, Inkssentials white pen, Stickles

Happy June

Yeah, I know. I had mentioned to a few people that my post would be up yesterday. Not that it's all that exciting, but still, it's what I said. But then, I was having computer problems. My picture was in the computer somewhere, but darned if I could get blogger to find it. Thank goodness for Shawn. Ok, so here it is. My niece graduated from middle school and our family was having a thing for her, so this is what she got. Darien looked at it and said, "Green, mom?" Yeah, well, mom just got her bali breeze paper and thought the pink in it was a little bright for this particular girl. And I wanted to use it cuz I wanted to do that flower that I think goes with the paper. Sometimes I have an idea and can't do anything else until I've done the idea. I tend to obsess. I know, you're shocked. Anyway, the money inside the card totally distracted her from the fact that the card might not have been her favorite color. So there.

Stamps: Simple Little Things, Boxes, Bags & Tags (Papertrey), One of a Kind (SU!), Ink: Versfine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Old Olive (SU!), Paper: Bali Breeze DSP, Certainly Celery (SU!), Papertrey white, Accessories: 1/2" circle punch, black ribbon (SU!), Black prima, random rhinestones