Red Tagsday

Well between Irene and the start of school the past several days really got away from me!  Teacher Day was yesterday and it was great to see folks and get the ball rolling for the year, but Irene really walloped the town I work in so they decided to call off school for today. :(   I thought I'd share a few more tags I made from this set of goodies like the tags I made here.

These tags were made using dies from PTI and Sizzix.  You can't tell much from the photo, but the red base is stamped in red with BG clear Christmas stamps.  Then I had fun with a few embellies. :)

The tag base on this little fellas was from ready-made office supply tags.  The scallop shapes were made using a punch and the image/sentiment is PTI.  The tags looked a little plain so I Stickled the hat and wing on each bird- but still they needed somethin'!  DH thought I should add some buttons like the other birdie tags.  He's so good!  The buttons are clear and the flowers 'n twine give them even more umph don'cha think?

So are you getting ready for Christmas yet?  No?  How 'bout when I tell you that there are 116 days 'til the big day?  Are you itchin' yet?  :)

Don't forget since it's Tuesday to head over to Top Tip Tuesday and join in the Shabby Chic challenge fun!  Maybe you could make a few shabby chic paper crafts to use as gifts, cards, or tags and get a head start this year! :)

PTI August Blog Hop & Corgi Update

Pin It

Where has the summer gone?!?!?!  School starts on Monday for me and Tuesday for the kids.  Seems like just yesterday I was waving good-bye to my about-to-be second graders.  Geesh!  Well at least I am going to be joining in on a PTI hop before the summer is over. :)  It was a goal of mine that I am sneaking in at the 11th hour!  Oh and for all you folks who know of me from the PTI blog as the gal who missed Stamp-A-Faire because of emergency dog surgury- there is an update at the bottom of this post...

So this month we had an inspiration photo to use for working our magic.  Don't ya just want to be at that picnic!

So I took the photo a little on the literal side.  It spoke to me about a picnic so I pulled out my Vintage Picnic set/die and went to town!  The sentiment is from the Iconic Images set that folks who went to Stamp-A-Faire got.  Suzanne over at The Card Yard was so sweet to pick up my goodies and bring them back to MA for me to be able to use!  Card sets are a fav of mine to make and give.  The inspiration image had so many things in the suitcase it also made me think of sharing and a card purse is a great way to share cards! :)

Not sure you can see it well, but the card base has been stamped with one of the quoin images using Tim Holtz distress ink, worn lipstick I think.  The flower paper and wood grain paper is from Crate Paper's Restoration line.  The yummy lace is from my stash, so who knows where it came from (please share if you know).

The die cut paper 'n felt is from PTI and both were cut with PTI dies.  I've been trying to use more pattern and layers lately.  All the action that is going on here encouraged me to leave the inside blank.  These are such multifunctional cards that it seemed like this set lends itself so easily to great thank you, birthday, get well, thinking of you, or what-have-you kinda cards blank was best.

 These are the pens I used to color the flowers.  It never ceases to amaze me how many markers can be used on the smallest of images!  The Ciaos are Y11, Y15, RV13, Spica Gold, and clear Glaze.

Not sure you can even tell the clear glaze got used.  It's on the brown parts of the basket.  The idea was that the brown was leather and would have a bit of shine.  Oh well.  C'est la vie.  The Spica is on the flower center and gives it a bit of sparkle.  I adore sparkle of any kind. :)  Hope y'all like my interpretation project.  Now on to the corgi update!

This is the wagon I use to transport Cad in and out of Tufts Vet Hospital when I'm by myself.  It's just way too crazy to use his harnesses with all the doors.  I have not mastered the "corgi purse" yet. :(  The wagon also helps give him a way to rest easier in the waiting room. :)  Last Friday was his one month check-up and Dr. M says he is doing great.  We got the green light to take him to water therapy and Cad (and Tom & I) got to have a session on Tuesday.  Honestly I think the water therapy is amazing and I've already seen some (small) improvement!  The PT gave us some more home therapy techniques (have you ever tried to find a medium sized beach ball at the end of summer?!?!) and Cad was able to stand (kinda) for about 4 seconds on his own yesterday.  Wha-hoo!!!  We go back on Friday and I hope to get some pictures to share with y'all this weekend of the "corgi in a tank".  LOL!

Cad and I have wheeled over here with this project:
Papertrey Ink- August Blog Hop

Christmas Wednesday

I figured after my recent bombardment of Christmas postings I would limit the next few to Wednesday posts. :)  This yummy shot is from the peppermint cake balls that I made for last Thanksgiving/Black Friday festivities.  They are the inspiration (kinda) for these tags. :)

Here was the starting point (see my tootsies at the edge of the pic? LOL).  I gathered all my red, white, red/white punched or die cut shapes, tags, and some other whatnot that struck me.

 These were made using dies from PTI and a couple Marvy punches.  My first tags and I have already veered away from just a red/white scheme!  LOL :)

After the tags were all assembled they still looked a little plain. :(  A little Stickles to the rescue!!!  Each mini tag had snowflakes.  All the snowflake centers got a dot of sparkle to give some umph to the tag as a whole.  Whatcha think?

There are more to come, but the rains came before I could get some good pictures taken.  Hopefully the rest will have their glam shots taken soon so they can make their web debut.  :)

I've gotten my glitter on here:
It's a Very Cherry World- Rednesday 
Savvy Southern Style- Wow Us Wednesday
ABC Christmas- Q is for Quote
Totally Papercrafts- Christmas in August
Stampin for the Weekend- Holidays

 

Belated Birthday

It's Top Tip Tuesday!  This week we are challenging you to make a masculine card.  Good excuse to get a few guy cards ready for the stash.  Why is it that the stash never has the card you need when you need it???

This past weekend I had the chance to take 2 classes from Memory Box owner Dave Brethauer at my LSS so of course I had to use a Memory Box stamp for this card!  The card base is also from MB, the sentiment is Amuse and the base stamp is a long texture stamp that is also a MB (from the bugs and blooms clear set).  Copics were used (very gingerly) to color the blue birds and the brown berries.

 

Instead if lots of flowers and sparkle, this guy card uses texture and twine to catch the eye.  That way it feels like I've had a chance to play with my stamps/paints/markers/embellies and still have a card I can give to any guy I know. :)

We have 2 prizes available for folks who play along with us and make a masculine card or a crafty tip this week at Top Tip Tuesday.  Join us won't you!?!

I flew here with this card:
Cards for Men- Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts- Make it Masculine
Sentimental Sundays- Birthday
Copic Challenge Group- Winged Things

Water Time!

Here's another little mini album I made before our trip.  Emphasis on little with it only a couple of pages long, it is great for kids to put a couple pictures and notes about their favorite part of water time fun!

Surprise pockets 'n tags are a fun addition to any album, but with such a small one here this was a necessity!  The tag gives two sides of picture or notes and the pocket means you could add a little extra something too. :)

Doesn't this paper just scream relaxing time by the water?!?  The watercolor boat makes me hungry for lobsta'. :)

A little mini album is great for giving to grandparents too.  They are easy to complete and grandparents can easily show off the pics (and talent of the album maker!).  Why not make one for a loved one today!

Alternate Color Choice

Bless your hearts! You've stuck with me for yet another trapped-at-home-with-the-corgi-cleaning-out-my-stash-of-Christmas-kits post.  Boy that was a mouthful huh!

These tags were inspired by the pink, blue, and green snowflake paper used for the middle layer.  Does anyone remember who made this paper? I've completely run out, but it is a fun alternate color scheme to the typical Christmas colors. :)

The snowflake stamps are from Rubber Stamp Tapestry, the mittens are from HA (I think), the tags were cut using my Cricut, the sparkle on the mittens is from a clear spica pen, and the to/from is still anyone's guess. :)  Hope you enjoyed an alternate view of Christmas!

I tobogganed my way over here with this tags:
How Sweet The Sound- Pink Saturday

Deer Gifting

And the "Christmas later" stash explosion continues!  Got some tags today inspired by a co-worker. 

She was looking for some tags that were brown or blue.  These little babies fit the bill perfectly!

The tags are cut with my Cricut (my DH keeps calling it Cry-cut LOL).  The stars and dots are from Rubber Stamp Tapestry and the deer is Rubber Soul.  The to/from, ribbon, and paper are victims of my organizing without care for companies, so I have no idea there.

So how are your Christmas crafts coming along on this August day? ;)

Snow Business

We are predicted to have some precipitation tomorrow, but no worries it is only rain. :)  I've been on a winter/Christmas kick while the corgi has been recovering.  I'm probably going to bore y'all with my winter themed creations for the next few posts. ;)

Being that poochie has been recovering and wasn't able to move around for himself, I was kinda trapped at home for a week.  Trying to look on the bright side, I went "shopping" in my stash.  I musta made this card ages ago and had enough to make a bunch more all ready to go in a kit I made for myself to "finish later".  Well, it was "later". LOL!

The card base is Memory Box (I get to take classes from Dave this Friday and Saturday. Eeeek!), the grey is Bazzill, ink is StazOn, sentiment is Amuse, Stickles for the snow, but that is all the info I have.  The snowmen were from a 12x12 paper that was a grid of these fella I cut apart and popped with foam tape.  The snowflake stamp is from who-knows-where.  When I put a most of my cling sets in CD cases I sorted them by theme rather than company and so all my snowflakes are together. :)  Clearly this was done before I began blogging. Hee-hee!

If you know the paper or stamp company, pretty please share in my comments!  These are uber fun and easy cards and I'd love for folks to know what was used so they can make the cards too!

I've gotten out my wellies and headed over here:
Oh La La- Christmas
Totally Papercrafts- Christmas in August
Gingerloft- Make It Sparkle

Hugs to all,

For all you do

It's Top Tip Tuesday and this week your challenge is to create a "thanks" kinda card.  I've been trying to stockpile these this summer so I have them on hand during the school year to thank parents and students for gifts 'n such.

Some of my friends can't believe I give my students cards that I have made, but why not?!?  It shows the kids how much I care about what they have given me and it lets them see that I am a "real person" too. LOL!

This is a lotsa layers card!  Don't be afraid of using those layers- although I can say that sometimes I can be intimidated when it comes to using layers.  Which papers to use?  What is too much?  Which layer gets popped?  Geesh such tough decisions!  When finished these layer cards usually end up being my favorites- guess I need to make more then. :)

What kinda crafty struggle do you have?  How are you pushing through?  I'd love to hear your thoughts 'cause I'm sure they will be encouraging!  I'd love to see your entry at Top Tip Tuesday and you'll love the tutorial this week from Maggie!  It's a step card tut and it is fab!

Latest in Corgi Fashion

Doesn't he look thrilled (either "he")?!?  This is the latest in fashion accessories- The Corgi Purse.  My DH really wanted me to take this pic and post it for folks to see how we safely cart the corgi around.  He has a harness in the front and a sling for the back.  The vets showed us how to do it, although I can't manage the "purse" version without hurting myself.  Cad is more of a front duffel for me. :) The corgi really doesn't mind and has gotten to the point where he tries to help us get his sling on!  Good dog. :)

Good News Update!!!! Cad can sit up all by himself, is rolling himself over to sleep on his back like a human (he loves that!) and can move his back legs.  Last night he even scratched his nose with his front paws while he rolled on his back.  He stretches his body and moves all but one leg in his sleep. When we hold him up by his harness and the base of his tail (the vet told us to do that and reassured us that it is safe) and "walk" him (we are supposed to do this as part of his PT) he can totally move his hind legs and is trying to paddle with his front.  He can't quite get the front feet adjusted if they get turned just yet, but all of it is very encouraging. 

Thinking of others

Here's another card I made using the goody bag from the PTI convention.  I *heart* BG as much as I *heart* PTI, so it was fun to combine the two!

The BG paper parts have been sitting waiting for me to use them for like a year.  They were left over from other projects, but the colors are one of my fav combos so I couldn't bear to toss them.

Another sympathy card, so I kept it CAS.  The doily die is from MFT and I think it really gives a nice focal point for this kind of card.   Hope I don't have to use it anytime soon.

Things are going well for the corgi and I'll post an update in Cad tomorrow!