Trick or Eeek!

When I was a kid I was terrified of spiders.  I know, I know, not an uncommon childhood fear.  As I have grown up (I only commit to sorta having grown up!!!), I've noticed that I kinda like them now.  I said KINDA.  I'm not running out to buy one as a pet or anything, but gosh they are helpful in getting rid of the insects I can't stand- even kinda.

This kinda like thing I noticed in the last couple of years.  I have something like 6 or 7 spider stamps like the one I used on this card.  I have the prettiest spider pin I love to wear all year, but especially this time of year and I have a giant metal daddy long legs (Fluffy) that I use as a class mascot.

Maybe it is just a self preservation kinda thing.  What with working in a school and having a large portion of my students being 7 year-old boys, you can't show fear of creepy crawlies or you'll find them in places you don't want to see them. :)  Or maybe it is just a control thing and not wanting to be afraid of something SO much smaller than me.  A couple years back a friend who was a psych major said exposure therapy is the best way to overcome fears.  That year I decided to pet the tarantula that the "animal guy" who came to the school for a PTA special was showing the kids.  Honestly I after learning about the little fuzzy arachnid, I was more afraid of hurting her when I "pet" her than anything else. 

So anywho, thought I'd share this fun and simple card with y'all today and ask you what fear have you overcome?

Two Ribbonsday

It's another great challenge day at Top Tip Tuesday!  This week is an easy week to join, especially if you haven't ever come over to TTT.

Our challenge to you this week is to use 2 ribbons on your creation, and any kind will work!  Twine, silk, novelty, you name it.  If you have a creation with ribbon, post it to your blog and link it up to win some fabulous prizes.  Gosh even if you don't win, you will meet some wonderful folks!

I bet this gal looks a little familiar to all you regular visitors.  I colored her way back in February and just couldn't bear to use her until now.  Just like that pesky memo pad I didn't know what to do with, this gal got her creation inspiration when I cleaned my table (I think there is a message in here somewhere LOL!)

Hopefully you will be inspired by the challenge at Top Tip Tuesday, or by the tutorial!  Make sure to hop over and check it out.  You could win something from the following... :)

Random.org winner will win:

Stash Books



who is offering our featured tipper an amazing book:

Lets do Quilt Remix

Crimson Cloud

Featured Tipper Prize is : 3 packs of die cuts.

Crimson Cloud is a mother/daughter venture - a way to indulge our joint passion of cardmaking and crafting. We only sell products that we have tried, tested and love using. We have developed our own exclusive range of dies cuts, digital stamps, svg files and "Make Your Own Card" kits which reflect our styles of card making - and hopefully yours too!"

I myself am planning on hitting my bed as soon as possible tonight.  We had our Open House last night and I know the late night will be catching up with me as soon as that end of the day bell rings.

Happy Tuesday and Hugs to all,

Rustic Pumpkins

Well the weather hasn't been the pumpkin picking kind around here these last few days.  I enjoy picking apples and pumpkins, but tromping through the orchard/patch in rain/mud is just not my thing. :)

I'm in a autumnal frame of mind though so I had to get out the goodies to make these...

My pictures aren't the best what with such overcast skies, so bear with me. :)  It is amazing what you can get done when you have a clean work space.  Just wait until you see my post for Tuesday!

I embossed the pumpkins with clear powder and then used my brayer to ink over them.  I wanted a rustic feel so I left the pumpkins roughly embossed so they would have a bumpy texture to pick up the ink a little.

I layer the pumpkins on to a couple more sheets of pattern papers, and after adhering them all to the card base I edged everything with fire opal gold embossing powder.  That stuff catches light even on a dreary day like today!

Hope you have a little something shiny in your day!

Big Blue

Quick post to say hey!  Gotta a simple card to share today.  Thought this was a fun anytime kinda card.  Birthday, congrats, love ya- what have you. :)  I just love the bling!

Anyone know what kind of flower this actually is?  I can kinda picture it, but can't recall the name.  Please tell me if you know, it's driving me crazy!!!!

Hello Friend

Another little gift set here.  Gosh these are fun to make although this one had me on the fence for a bit.  You ever have the idea, but can't quite get the goods on hand to do the trick?

I had these cards in bits and pieces.  The image is from Cat's Pajamas and it stamps like a dream!!!  The scallop die is from PTI.  They are fun anytime cards, I just couldn't decide how to package them...

The memo pad was lying around with just the designer paper and no "fun stuff" to make it shine.  Couldn't figure out what to do with it either.  Then I cleaned my workspace.  I swear little gremlins come in and mess it up at night- 'cause of course I clean it everyday (my DH is laughing hysterically as I type this, I think he is having some sort of attack).

Then I noticed that the colors of the cards and the memo pad actually looked great together.  The miracles that happen when you clean!  I spiffed up the memo pad and whalaa...

I used some PTI and MFT dies along with a sentiment from Memory Box.  A little kraft paper, some fun twill and flowers.  All set!  Makes for a great last minute gift- not that I am ever a last minute gal. LOL! (DH is having another snicker fit after reading that last minute thing).

I've planted this set here:
Ladybug Crafts Ink- Flowers

Die Cut Dreams- Flower Power
Papertake Weekly- Anything Goes


Hope all of you are looking towards a great weekend.  My in-laws are coming for a fun family weekend (they really are wonderful so I'm excited to have them visit!!!!).

Hugs,
 

Zooming to the chapel

Been there done that!  Two guys who work with my DH had weddings recently.  I finally got a chance to play around with the VW die I got from PTI ages ago!!!  Wasn't it so nice of those fellas to propose to their gals so I could make these cards? LOL! :)

This one uses AMuse paper, spica pens, Copics for shading, and some luscious Copic colored seam binding.  The card base is from cream card stock that I ran through my Cuttlebug with the swiss dot folder.  It is so amazing how just that one folder can bring plain white or cream cardstock to a whole new level!!!

This lil green vroom vroom used the same goodies as above, but the pattern paper is from BG (I *heart* BG!!!!).  The ribbon with this one is AMuse. :)

Hope the couples both liked their cards.  These were so much fun to make!!!  I gotta make some more in other fun colors to have on hand. :)

So what fun stuff have you been holding on to?  Get 'em out and use 'em please.  I'd love to see what you come up with after you dust those goodies off! :)

I'm diving over here with these cards:
Fresh Brewed- Use something new
Aly's Sunday Challenge- Add a bow

Quick Shout Out

My teamie Lisa made this card and has put together a fabulous tutorial on making a wiper card.  Check it out and join the fun at Top Tip Tuesday!!!

Mini Album Tut- A Revisit

So this is the tut I did this summer over at Craft Goodies and I thought with all the yucky weather we have had on the East Coast lately it was worth a revisit! :)  The pics are a wee bit tiny, so feel free to click on any picture to enlarge.

 The summer flies by so fast that this little gem is fast, easy, and a great memento of warm weather days.  Don't let the supply list scare you off though.  It looks like a lot when listed, but the photo below pretty much includes everything I used (and a few items I did not).

Supplies needed:

2- 4"x4" coasters 

(I bought mine, but I've also gotten them from TGIF's/Chili's/The 99)

4- pre-cut 4"x4"squares of pattern paper for the coaster covers inside and out

3- pre-cut 4"x4"squares of kraft cardstock

2- pre-cut 4"x4"squares of aqua cardstock

5- pre-cut 3 1/4"x3 1/4"squares of assorted pattern papers

1 yard ribbon for tie closure cut in half

1 large parcel tag

additional scraps of pattern paper and cardstock for page & cover embellishment

additional coordinating ribbons/twine in various lengths for page embellishment

assorted small beach/summer themed stamps

assorted stickers & rub-ons

coordinating dye ink pads/ chalk ink pads

1" circle punch

scallop border punch or die

acid free adhesives

scissors & paper cutter

corner rounder

Zutter or other binding machine

I'm so much like my 6 year-old students!  I was so excited to start this book that I for my first step (after deciding on which luscious papers to use), I adhered the 3 1/4" papers to the 4"X4" cardstock squares.  After assembling these I realized I had forgotten to assemble the covers!!!  Be patient, I'll get back to the covers. LOL!

This page lacked a little personality, so before I even adhered the water paper, a little lobster was stamped around the edges of the kraft paper.  Since the covers have wave pattern paper that is slightly different, the additional stamping gives this page a little more stand alone umph. ;)

My next step was to assemble the covers and the back of the pages I had just assembled.  My coasters have rounded corners, so I used my corner rounder to have the pages and cover papers echo the shape.  *Round the corners before adhering the cover papers.  If you don't have a corner rounder, then adhere on side of the cover and trim with your scissors before adhering the other side and repeating.  That way your corners will have a crisper rounded edge.

So back to the covers!  I like my scrapbooks to have a tie closure, so I attach a ribbon with double-stick tape to the inside cover and then adhere the pattern paper over the ribbon.  Then it's all about having fun with inking the edges, adding tabs/ribbon/rub-ons/stamps.

There isn't always much room for journaling in such small scrapbooks, so for this page I added labeled pocket with tag.  Easy to assemble, just edge the sides and bottom with liquid glue or extremely narrow double-stick tape.  The tag could be swapped out for a map or ticket stubs from a water park, but having the pocket labeled with the information rub-on is a great way to remind yourself to include those when/where details for future reminiscing. :)

This page has that fun stamped mini lobster page on the right.  It looks a little naked as layouts go right now, but keep in mind that on a 4"x4" page a picture can take up a great deal of space.  I had to remind myself not to get "too nuts" with embellishments because they may end up covered by pictures later.

In addition to my many addictions (Netflix, Kindle books, fuzzy slippers and tablescapes) I adore dies 'n die cutting tools.  The scalloped edge on the left side is one of my newest go-to dies (just wait to see how cute it looks on a page further down).

Scraps leftover from page one circle punched and some foam tape give these pages a little drama with only a little effort and the rub-on at the bottom anchors the page. :)

Here's that fun scalloped border again.  Isn't it cute as a faux awning for this final page?!?  A little foam tape to adhere this one and the picture can slide under the awning a wee bit to make an awesome ending to this pocket sized memento.

Hope you enjoyed this little tut and you are encouraged to give this idea a go!  Please let me know if you do- I'd love to see your creation!!!!

One Year Celebration

Today is the one year anniversary for Top Tip Tuesday's Challenge Blog!  To celebrate we are hosting a huge bash full of prizes.

You need to make and easel card or an easel topped box to qualify to win one of about 10 prizes.  I went with a card inspired by the arrival of our new neighbors in the pond.  :)  They have been with us for a couple weeks so a housewarming card seemed in order. LOL!

I raided an old scrapbooking kit for this nest.  Don't be afraid to make a card that uses "scrapping" embellishments. *gasp* They can make for a quick card and if you are really itching to stamp you can always stamp the sentiment.

For this card I used a PTI "congratulations" stamp.  Really this could be for "getting a new nest" or a congrats on some "new little chicks" card.  Right now I have a dual purpose card on hand for just when I need it- of course as I type this my DH is looking for 2 wedding cards.  Do I have any of these pre-made you ask?  Of course not!  LOL!  Well off to the drawing board.  Wish me luck finishing those wedding cards and surviving the 4 day week at school.  Oh and check out pics of Cad at water therapy here.  Don't forget to enter the challenge at Top Tip Tuesday- with so many prizes odds are great that you could win!!!!

Monday Catch-Up

Hey Gang!  Boy it has been a bit since I posted!  First Day (for students) got cancelled by Irene, so one "snow day" has been used already.  Not quite as much fun when school hasn't really begun!!

 Times Union

I am happy to report that all my friends and family in NJ, NY, NH, MA, and ME survived Irene safe and sound.  Lots of power outages and a little water in one basement- we'll take that when you consider what many folks (who live not far from my family in NH or NY) in Irene's path are going through as I write this over a week later.  This photo is from not too far from where my husband and I grew up.  My thoughts and prayers go out to them.  My undergrad is collecting supplies and I am hoping to get a package sent before the deadline. 

It wasn't just Irene and the start of school that kept me away from this ole blog this week!  Cad had some more water therapy and I finally remembered to take pictures. :)  See how thrilled he looks?  Yeah water isn't his favorite.

There is a mirror on the wall so his therapist can see if he is using his feet while she has him in the tank.  He's only motivated by treats or the possibility of me leaving!!!  That's my hand trying to tempt him with a treat.  Only trouble is when he gets close he stops using his front legs.  It's a work in progress for sure and we see are fortunate to improvement each day.

This is the other reason I haven't blogged much in the past week.  I had a birthday!!! These are the cards from family and friends.  My gram sent a package of goodies including homemade brownies.  Tom and Cad couldn't be left out.  She sent them their own little something in the package too.  :)

While we are on the subject of birthday celebrations- Top Tip Tuesday is celebrating our 1st birthday tomorrow!!!  Get that easel card ready for the competition and I'll see you tomorrow. :)