Fall colors!

My husband and I got some time alone this week, and we were totally inspired by the changing colors of fall. When everyone left for school and work this morning, I went out to my craft area and decided to see if I could re-create the look of fall.

After dripping different fall colors on alcohol ink onto glossy cardstock, I was quite pleased with how the background turned out, and it just called out for some Tim stamps!! I started stamping away and before I knew it, the time flew by, and I had another Christmas gift done!

These note cards turned out totally different that the cards I usually create, and will be a great gift! I should get away more often, it did my creative side good!

Recipe: Glossy white cardstock by SU, alcohol inks by Ranger. Stamps are from Tim Holtz's Stampers anonymous collection, stamped in black Stazon ink.

Time for our Anniversary!

I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?? Another year is upon us, and I can't even keep up with the last one. Today my DH and I celebrate our anniversary. I thought this card was appropriate since our time together really has flown by! I remember our wedding day like it was yesterday - the warm weather, the beauty of the Yosemite valley that surrounded us, and the bees flying into my bouquet.

I used the Sense of Time stamp set from Stampin' Up! stamped onto very vanilla cardstock, in not quite navy ink. I used the edge of a ruler, run through the ink pad to add a distressed look to the cardstock, inked the edges in the same color ink, and mounted them onto not quite navy cardstock. A few little metal embellishments added the masculine feel I wanted to my anniversary card.

We've moved - not really!

A friend of mine is moving to a new house, and I wanted to make her something special, something useful, something that she would not do for herself. So I decided to make her some note cards to send to her friends and family with her new address.
I used an old retired Stamp set from Stampin' Up! that is so adorable. Just right for those "Thanks for the hospitality" notes, and "We've moved! kr{e}ations. I stamped the image on water color paper and used the water color pencils to give the image a soft look. I am such the perfectionist stamper and colorer that it it hard for me to watercolor, but these little houses just called for a softer look. I love the fence punch from Martha, and cute little houses just called for a picket fence - doesn't your house? Anyway, I packed up 12 of these little notes. I hope that she enjoys them!

Candy dish

While on our trip to Creative Escape, we came across this cute pattern for a coffee table candy dish. This week while out at our LSS finishing up our CE projects, we decided to give this pattern a try. Boy did these little containers come out soooo stinkin' cute!

These paper candy dishes are so adorable! They are surprisingly durable (...well... they were created using four sheets of cardstock and two sheets of patterned paper..)

I made both of these using Halloween paper, but you could create one for any occasion. I bet my family will be seeing this adorable little container a lot over this holiday season! Shhhhh - don't tell them you saw it first!

Creative Escape!

What a fab weekend we had at Creative Escape! The projects were both challenging and rewarding. The food was delicious and who can't resist eating desert first! Yep - we had desert first on closing ceremony night. This picture is of Debbie, myself, Katherine and Cheryl on closing ceremony night - dressed in our finest creative escape dinner clothes. We had our pictures taken so many times that night in our outfits!

Taking Tim's class was one of the many highlights of our trip. We made these cute little suitcase journals that are so Tim! He is just over the top of being creative! Don't you just love our matching aprons! Katherine made them for us, along with our matching sandals - ever so clever that girl!

Iris Folding

I went shopping with a good friend on Friday to pick up ATG adhesive for our upcoming trip to Creative Escape! (Yipiee, I might add!) She she stopped to admire the origami papers that this store had. What do you use these lovely papers for I asked? Iris paper folding she replied. An idea struck me then and there for a new card. I searched for a template and located the one I used from Splitcoast stampers, and away we went!

Here is a close up of the technique. I used DSP from SU's new catty called Razzleberry lemonade. It went really well with the pumpkin pie cardstock that I had laying on my craft table from earlier.

The picture does not do the card justice, it is really stunning in person. Thanks Deb for the inspiration!

Card recipe: Pumpkin pie, rich razzleberry and white cardstock. Razzlebery lemonade DSP. Sentiment from the good friends stamp set. Flowers and bling from the pretties kit from SU, inked with pumpkin pie ink, then covered with dazzling diamonds glitter from SU. Wide oval and scallop oval punches from SU. Snail adhesive and stampin' dimensionals.

Birthday Thanks!

My birthday was this week, and my closest friends, who happen to also be my CE sisters were nice enough to celebrate with me. I just love, love, love all the GREAT friendship, and gifts from the heart they shared. You all know who you are, and without each of you my my birthday would not have been as special as it was! Thanks for your heartfelt thoughtfulness and most of all your friendship! On to CE girls!

Rest in peace little man

As many of you know this is my little male cat, named Chester. Chester and his sister Zippey were found abandoned at a local pet store when he was four days old. Since arriving at my home he had been my constant companion. He loved to select crafting embellishments, picking on his sisters (my three other female cats) and you could not leave a roll of toilet paper unattended. He would suck the pads on his paws when he was tired, which although annoying when he shares your pillow, became a nighttime ritual. Besides my family, this cat touched my heart in places that I did not know existed. I had to put Chess to sleep on Sunday. I will never know what happened to him. He came into the house on Sunday night looking for me and I knew instantly something was wrong. When we arrived at the urgent care animal hospital he was in critical condition, his lungs were filled with fluid, he was having trouble breathing. His departure has left me empty. Thanks Chess for your unconditional love, the cat talk that only we understood, the night time TP parties you had, and most of all choosing me to be your human friend. Rest comfortable little man! Until I see you again - I miss you!

4th of July Glitter Window

Using the glitter window technique, I glittered my way to completing my 4th of July cards!  I punched a square shape on some scrap paper and created a template to use to place the brilliant blue ink that created the blue flag square on some glossy white cardstock.  Then I places strips of blue painters tape over the cardstock, and ripped them in half creating a jagged edge.  Using real red ink on a dauber I colored the stripes red.  

Using both the small and large star punches I randomly punched out the stars!  All of the cards came out just a little bit different.  Some have large stripes, some have small ones but in the end they all looked just like little flag cards~!  A girl can never have enough sparkle can she! 

New Catty Swap!

With the new Stampin' Up! catty arriving July 1st, my SU friends and myself are participating in a new catty pre-order swap.  I chose to use the new Asian Artistry set, then challenged myself to come up with something that would be easy to duplicate - but invitingly different.

You can't see it very well in these photos, but the bird on the center panel is cut out and popped up using a dimensional.  I turned the polka dot grosgrain ribbon over and used the solid side.  The card is very simple, but surprisingly attractive.  I can't wait to see what swaps using the new catty products we get back in return!  I'll keep you posted!  LOL 

Fathers Day Swing Card

I get so excited when I come across a new type of fold for a card.  This card is called "flip flop or swing fold" and is soooo interactive!  Okay - so it took a little while to cut the opening for this card, and honestly it may be due to my lack of being able to understand the measurements on the cutter.  I started out way back when using my cutter upside down - and well . . .  this old scrapper isn't about to learn how to use it correct now!

The way this card is folded allowed me to stamp and image on one side, and a sentiment on the other.  I used a retired SU background stamp, and the focal image is from B-line designs, vintage auto's, and the sentiment is from the dollar bin at Michael's.

In cleaning my stamp room I came across some old polyshrink material that I had used one summer with the neighborhood kids, and couldn't resist playing with it.  I stamped the sentiment on it, and punched it out with SU scallop punch.  Tying it on with SU linen thread turned it into little embellishment! My youngest son will be so proud to see one of his treasured cars featured in my photo - you can never have enough matchbox cars in his opinion!

Off to the mailbox again to mail this little treasure to my FIL.  Happy father's day Dad!  We love you!

Pop Up Thank You!

I volunteered to make a thank you card for a special friend!  After pondering and calling on this creative lady's mojo - I came up with this!

Using the new three tier - 3-D  pop up die from Stampin' Up! look what I made!  Turning the cake upside down it creates a flower pot!  I left the longest strip a little wider than what the template called for and used the SU scallop edge punch to create a scalloped edge on the pot. 

 
To create the flower I used the daisy's #2 die from Sizzix.  Cut out in whisper white cardstock, and a baja breeze corduroy button for it's center, it looked sooooo cute stuck on the center of some leaves that I just free hand cut out and stuck down the center of the "pot" top!  I know she will totally love this card!

Tuna Can Graduation Hat!

I remembered seeing a graduation card that I knew I would want to make someday.  It looked like a graduation cap - and was all captured inside a can.  Well ... do you think I could find where I stored those precious instructions that I knew I would need someday - not!!!  So here is my interpretation based on my memory of what the card looked like.  Sorry I can't give credit to whomever created the card - this creation is all from my memory!!

Look at all the tools you need to make this card - but when you see the result it is well worth it!  The hardest part was getting the can not to smell like tuna.  After a lot of measuring, sticky tape, and finding yellow stickers - the card was complete!  

The card folds into the can and reads hats off to the grad when pulled out.  It attached to the bottom and top of the card by ribbon placed in-between the sentiment circles.

The completed card looks like a graduation cap!  Oh soo cute!

Mother's Day card

I love roses - all the different kinds, colors and the better they smell the more I like them.  My all time favorite is the double delight, and was my inspiration  for this card.  They have subtle colors in pink, yellow and white - and smell "delight"ful!   In the summer you can always find roses in the center of my dining room table! 

I used the Manhattan flower set from SU for these cards.  I stamped the image on glossy cardstock and embossed them with clear embossing powder.  I colored them using ink direct from the stamp pad on a dauber, and them cut them out!  Great fun, and in person these cards are really beautiful, all they need is the familiar rose scent!  I am sending one to my MIL for mothers day, enjoy Mom!

Recipe:  Stamps: Manhattan flower.  Cardstock:  glossy white, pink passion, pixie pink and garden green.  Ink: Pink passion, pixie pink, summer sun and real red. Misc: SU eyelet border punch, fiskers crimper, cuttlebug embossing folder, and Pixie pink ribbon from SU.

Pennant card

These cards went together so quickly!  I used the pennant XL die, and cut from the small pennant side, also covering one of the scallop circles.

Place the papers, pattern side facing each other, and run through the big shot.  Put the pennants on each side of your card (this measures 4 1/4 x 5 1/2) and secure along the sides and center with snail.  The white insert measures 4 x 5 1/4 and fits nicely inside the opening created by overlapping the pennants.  I also doodled along the sides of the white insert with coordinating ink.
I placed the scallop circle along the top of the white insert, punched it with the horizontal slot punch and tied it with ribbon.  I also used the daisy sizzlet and placed it over the 5-petal flower punch and adhered it to the second scallop circle cut from the pennant die, and added a button for the flower center.  This type of card was great for using up all those scraps that you don't know what to do with.  Now try one for yourself!

Flower Pot Card

This is my version of the flower pot card, and is one of the cards that I took to my demo meeting to swap this month.  It turned out really cute, and was very easy to make and assemble.  Ya gotta love that Big Shot!

Pull up on the flowers and hidden inside the pot is a cute little place to hide a cute little note to someone special!

Recipe:  Cardstock: SU only orange, whisper white & garden green.  Ink:  SU Apricot appeal & really rust. Sentiment from SU blooming with love set.  Misc:  SU scallop edge punch & 5 petal flower punch.  SU so saffron SAB ribbon. Buttons from my button stash! 

Watts Valley and Wild flowers

On our recent trip to visit family, we spent "our" Easter, visiting Watts Valley, a place in their local mountains.

The day was gorgeous and warm; the view was beautiful; the company fantastic.  The family put together a feast of a picnic, and this was our table.  The stream slowly moved along in-between the long green grass and glacier sized boulders made for comfortable seating.

The drive home provided us with incredible carpets of wild flowers, secretly placed along side of the winding twisty curves of the road.   Our family loves the mountains, and we were pleasantly surprised with a special Easter treat to this place called Watts Valley.  A shout out and a thank you to the family for sharing - we miss you all ~ already!

A lazy morning

A picture say's a 1000 words doesn't it?  I am preparing for a SU! party while Toby climbed up on the foo bed and took a nap!  A peaceful beginning to a week long spring break!

Spiral pop-up Birthday Card

Soon we will celebrate the first of the "kids" to turn 18 in our family this year.  I wanted to make something memorable for this occasion, and decided upon the spiral pop-up card.  You can find directions here  www.splitcoaststampers.com 

Cutting the circle into a spiral was a little challenging, but once I stopped being so picky, it actually came out really cute.  I attached numbers from the old "Family Treasures" punches, in the middle of the spiral circle so they would jump right out when the card was opened.

Here is the card opened!  I hope she likes it!  I can't believe that these two kids will be 18 soon.  Time has gone so fast.  Looking back I still remember my sister-in-law and I comparing our big bellies!  

Recipe:  Crazy for cupcakes from Stampin' Up!  Ink:  Black stazon  Markers: from SU! Cardstock:  Whisper White and Pacific Point from SU! Birthday paper from my scrap stash. Punches: Eyelet border;  1 3/4 circle and triple flower from SU; numbers from Family Treasures.  Flowers: Making Memories.  Ribbon from my ribbon stash.

Stampin' Up! promotion!!

Look what arrived in the mail today!  A promotion certificate from Stampin' up!  I have had so much fun being my own boss, letting my creative side soar and meeting so many new people along they way!  A HUGE thank you to all of my friends, (and my husband) who have supported me, and helped out along the way.   Yea!!  I am super excited.

Spring

The first day of spring has finally arrived!  Not that we have all that long winter days here in southern california!  Hee Hee.  I went to Trader Joe's yesterday and the daffodils had arrived.  I thought that in celebration of the arrival of spring I would pick up a couple of bundles and we all would celebrate.  They look so colorful on my kitchen table.

Oh will, oh will the orange tree grow?

Two years ago we totally re-landscaped our yard and created this huge beautiful side yard, and have been searching for the perfect trees to incorporate into it.  Yesterday at Costco, we found the perfect specimen - a Cara Cara Navel Orange tree!

This is where we started from. Just a nice green lawn.

We like the look of the pavers we have used in our retaining walls, planting beds and borders.  So we designed a border for the tree.  

- Oh my dwarf is right -

This poor little thing looks overwhelmed by the size of this wheelbarrow!

Chester, Grace and Isabelle come to check out any new thing that enters the back yard.  Hey - dirt - even better.  Notice Isabelle rolling in the dirt!  She loves dirt.  

The finished project.  It looks great, even if I do say so myself!  Now grow little tree grow!  Grow into a "big" little orange tree! 

Greeting Cards

Who would have thought that you could make such a cute card from one 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper!  These were the cards that we made in our Tuesday class.  After some ink and embellishments this is the finished product, all I  need to do is write my messages and mail them.  Such great fun - such a talented teacher - such fabulous women.  This class has been such a blessing to  me.  I can't wait for it each week! Well - I am off to mail my creations to some very special people!

Even the cat stamps!

As I was working on next months swaps, Chester our 10 month old - 12 pound "baby" cat wanted to make cards too!

He was so proud of himself for picking out just the right embellishment! Dimensional's.   The next morning I walked into my craft room to find that he needed some ribbon also!  Chester is a very active young man, who likes to terrorize his "sisters" and is never too far away from me.  My DH thinks it's funny that he comes running to me when I call him - well .....