Be Inspired # 51 - Thank You card

This week wraps up Cuttlebug Challenge blog's one year birthday celebration. Each DT member chose a party theme (mine is "spa".) Let's review the birthday palooza challenges: week 1 invitations, week 2 gift bag and coordinating card, week 3 mini book, week 4 centerpiece. What better way to wrap up the celebration with thank you notes? Prepare for your next party (any theme) and link your project over at Cuttlebug Challenge blog for each of the 5 weeks to win big prizes!

I used my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder on Core'dinations whitewash card stock. I (mostly) used BasicGrey Urban Prairie papers throughout my projects and tutorials (treat bag tutorial is here), and My Favorite Things Girls Day In stamps for most projects. I also posted a cupcake tutorial here (see picture below).
Ready, set, create!

Trendy Trees Thank You

I am woefully behind on thank you notes, so I thought I'd try some mini mass production. I recently purchased this SU! Trendy Trees stamp set, but I had not assembled the stamps until now. I used a whole sheet of 12 x12 BasicGrey Mellow Deciduous paper and a 12x12 dark brown Bazzill to create 6 of these cards. The orange card base is DCWV, and the dark red Bazzill is from my scrap bag. The sentiment is Hero Arts.

I used the sketch from Get Sketchy #7.

Happy Tuesday!

I'm back from NY and feeling Wicked :)

My mom and I went to NY Friday morning and returned late last night. We went to see Mary Poppins and Wicked. The Mary Poppins set was phenomenal and somewhat different from the Disney movie. We saw that show on Friday night. I loved it. On Saturday we met some friends and saw Wicked. That is a must see. I am ready to see it again. It is so sweet, funny, and the two girls starring in it are phenomenal. Tomorrow a play called A Steady Rain starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman opens. Does it get more verile than that? Yumm-o. It makes me want to go back already :)

On Sunday my mom and I ate at Tavern on the Green. I love that restaurant. Beautiful setting and wonderful food. I love NY!

I went three whole days without computer access. Is this what life was like before the internet? :)

On to the card: I have this Stampin' Up! Wings of Friendship stamp set that I just had to have, but I had not even opened or assembled before today. I wanted to use my Nesties Labels 1 dies too. I stamped in chocolate chip ink on SU! kraft card stock. The white butterfly and sentiment are SU! rub-ons. The flower in the bottom left-hand corner was paper pierced and popped up on dimensionals. The red brad is Bazzill. and the red card base is DCWV. The ribbon is SU! chocolate chip. The decorative paper is American Crafts. I thought it needed a border, so I dry embossed a frame.

I hope your weekend was fabulous too :)

You are one in a melon!

Sketchfest continues at the 'Varks. I love Heidi and her great sketches. This has been fun for me. I have been practicing "creative avoidance" this week with these daily challenges. You see, I should be working on my tutorial for Cuttlebug Challenges coming up this Saturday morning. I am going to work on it now. I promise. Right after I finish typing this post :)

All products are BasicGrey: Lemonade papers, woolie (watermelon) and buttons!

Be Inspired # 50- Centerpiece

We are having a blast celebrating Cuttlebug Challenge blog's first birthday. The first challenge of the month was to create a party invitation, week 2 a gift bag/box and coordinating card, week 3 a coordinating mini book, and week 4 is a centerpiece! My party is a spa theme, so I included: wash cloths rolled up like a cupcake, almond hand rescue, vitamin E body butter, olive exfoliant (the scent is surprisingly nice), and hemp foot protector (I LOVE this stuff! No more dry cracked feet.)

Of course I had to add some more Cuttlebug Bloom Dots embossing on Core'dinations card stock on my paper flower...a match made in heaven! If you have not tried Core'dinations, you need this product. I would be remiss in my duty as a paper crafter if I kept fabulous products a secret. Any self-respecting crafter needs Core'dinations in her craft room :)

You are such a deer!

Today is day 4 of the Caardvarks' Sketchfest with fabulous sketches by Heidi Van Laar. No, you are not at the wrong blog. This does not look like a June Houck card, does it? Today's sketch had me out of my element. I felt it had to be a kraft card with some autumn papers/woodland critter theme. I opened up my SU! kraft card stock and some clearance papers from Michael's. The sentiment is a rub-on from October Afternoon.

Mojo Monday Mermaid

If you have followed me for a while, you may know that Julee is my sketch idol. This is week 105! I knew I had to use this Mermaid Tilda sent to me by blog friend Kristie. I used my BasicGrey Marrakesh papers for the first time. I resisted them...didn't think I needed them...who was I kidding? LOL. I also used this new Labels Nestie; love this shape :)

I think if I try this again I will try circles vs. ovals. Advice? She could use a sentiment too; any input?

LOVE Caardvarks and Heidi Van Laar

Today is Sketchfest day 3 over at the 'Varks . Today's card came together very quickly for me. I saw the top vertical rectangle in Heidi's sketch, and went in search of a vertical sentiment. I chose this "LOVE" stamp. Then I went in search of papers. I purchased a pack of papers, ribbons, brads, and stamps a few months ago with hearts/love/cupcake images. The paper has a pretty pearlescent sheen to it. I jotted down some measurements, and this occurred between 5:45am and 6am! Then it was time for me to get the girls ready for school and run an errand. When I returned I stamped and embossed the sentiment, cut all the papers and assembled. I finished in 45 minutes :)

It's a cupcake kind of day...

Today is day 2 of Caardvarks' Sketchfest. Heidi Van Laar has created all of the sketches for these challenges. The will be selecting random winners, so I hope you will click over to the 'Varks and play along too!

This is my one and only Riley Moose stamp. I have fallen in love with him, all thanks to my blog friend, Silke. I used My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow papers (polka dot and paper pieced chair). The ribbon is SU! chocolate chip and all of the card stock is Bazzill.

2 Cards 2day 4 a sketch challenge at Caardvarks

My friend and Cuttlebug Challenge DT sister, Heidi, designed a sketch for the current Caardvarks' Sketchfest challenge.

This is the first Halloween card I have made this season! I used a glittery rub-on I purchased after Halloween last year at Michael's when they were on clearance. The papers are K&Co. The border punch is Martha Stewart (I finally bought this particular punch last month.) The sentiment, "Things have not been the same since that house fell on my sister" is computer generated.

My second card is an image sent to me by blog friend, Chris Dark. I used BasicGrey June Bug papers. I colored Tilda from top to bottom. I was really happy with her top and frock until I got to her stockings. The stamped pattern was different than her sleeves, and using the red and yellow didn't look right. So I added the blue...eek! This is definitely a "less is more" situation. I decided to put the plaid BG paper on the bottom half of the card hoping to make those awful stockings less noticeable. Today I was blog surfing and saw the same Tilda on Martine's card. She colored the sleeves and stockings in one color. Yep, that's what I should have done. Oh well :)

Treat Bags

In continuation of the month long party celebration at Cuttlebug Challenge blog, I created two little party favors/ treat bags for my spa themed party. My step-by-step tutorial for both the paper purse and sour cream container can be found here. (I hope you will check it out, and leave me a comment over there as feedback.)

I love making the little purse! It only requires 1 sheet of 12"x12", two 10"ribbons, a slot punch, and adhesive. It has two pockets. I have gifted it for a set of 3"x3" cards; treats; or a 3"x3" card and a gift card. This time I put little samples of face mask, face wash, and lip balm along with a 3"x3" card (using Core'dinations card stock and my Bloom Dots embossing folder.)

The sour cream container is super easy too. I always fill it with chocolate ;)

Happy Saturday!

Udderly Moovelous

I made this quick card today. I actually needed a break from Basic Grey Urban Prairie. (Sounds like blasphemy, doesn't it?) The past two days I've been working on a tutorial for Cuttlebug Challenge blog (for Saturday) and my project for next week's Be Inspired Challenge, both using BG Urban Prairie. I love BG, but after creating the mini album and then two more projects with the same paper collection, I needed a change of pace.

This pretty paper (Tapestry) was just the change I was looking for! I layered on black card stock (ACMoore) and on SU! So Saffron.

On another note, on Tuesday I mentioned that my daughter, Kathryn, was on loose tooth #5. That night, while eating dinner, she cried out, "Oh no! I bit my fork!" Blood was gushing out of her mouth and the loose tooth was very loose. DH pulled it out and the tooth fairy came to visit for the second time in 4 days. The tooth right above #5 is now loose :)

The tooth fairy only leaves books at our house, but now she is down to only one book in her stash (she hides her stash in my craft room...shhhhh, don't tell!)

Be Inspired # 49 - Birthday Palooza Week 3

Cuttlebug Challenge blog 1st birthday celebration continues. Each DT member chose a different theme for their party, and mine is "spa." This week's challenge:

Create a matching mini album. Don't forget to use Provo Craft Cuttlebug products somewhere on your project :) On the front cover I used Cuttlebug flower dies.

There will be prizes for all those who participate each and every week with your own theme. On October 6th we will draw a GRAND PRIZE WINNER, including a chance to be published in READY, SET, CREATE MAGAZINE! from all entrants who have participated in the challenges every week in September.

Are you ready to look inside my mini album? I used BasicGrey Urban Prairie papers and My Favorite Things Girl's Day In stamps. My die cut flowers were cut from Core'dinations card stock. My chipboard album is by Cosmo Cricket. The small button (flower center) is BasicGrey. The birthday sticker is from PrintWorks. All of the ribbons are from a scrap bag sent to me from lovely blog friend, Leslie :) Eenie, Meenie, Mani, Pedi!
(See the bling on her finger? It's a Rhinestone sicker from Michael's.)
Every Girl Deserves to Feel Beautiful
You Deserve a Break
(Vellum birthday sticker is from Tiny Tales layered on Core'dinations card stock cut from my scallop square Nesties.)
Take Time for You

I created the envelope from Core'dinations card stock and ran the card stock through my Cuttlebug Bloom Dots embossing folder. I included two samples in the envelope: one body scrub and one mud mask.

Ahhhh...

Bee Hexed

Can you believe it? A day late. I made yesterday's bee card with the hexagon and today's challenge at 365 is to use a hexagon dominating


your card. I was perusing my blog reader and saw this sketch on Mercy's blog. So I pulled out my Stampendous bee and my BasicGrey Urban Prairie papers again :)

By popular demand (Deanna asked...) here is my tutorial on making a hexagon. Yes, I am a math major, but I was not going to get out my protractor to measure 60 degree angles!

1. I punched out a 1.5 inch hexagon out of a scrap of heavy vellum using my Creative Memories punch. I centered the vellum on the bee with temporary adhesive.
2. I used this narrow ruler and a pencil to create a border around the bee.
3. I cut by hand with scissors. I adhered it to black card stock, then cut again (eye balled it.)

Happy Tuesday!

Doubly Challenged - Happy Bee day

I stopped everything on my "To Do" list to play. I was inspired by this week's Get Sketchy Challenge and the inspiration challenge at BasicGrey Challenges. I used BasicGrey Urban Prairie papers (I can't seem to put them away; I've used them on my August 21st and September 2nd posts, and you will be seeing it again for my Cuttlebug post this Wednesday.) Do you do that? When I first purchased My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow, I had to put it away because I knew I would want to use it for every card :)

I apologize for my utter lack of blog commenting this month. The end of summer was so hectic preparing for school, and last week was crazy busy for the first week back. Our computer acted wonky off and on all last week, then died Friday. Ack! I have lost so many emails. Thank you for still coming by to see me; I treasure all of the lovely comments you left me! I hope I can keep up with my blog reader starting today; so you'll be reading comments from me soon.

The first week of school was fabulous. With the girls gone, I was able to take care of oodles of errands and chores (but no crafting or blog visiting). The girls have wonderful teachers this year, and both girls had a great first week of school. Friday, September 11th, was a terrific day in particular. I have 3 friends who were born on Septmber 11th...Tracy, Amy, and Jean). I enjoyed breakfast and craft time with my Design Diva friends (Deanna, Sheryl, and Chris). Then I left to have a birthday lunch with Tracy and our friend Mary. Later that evening my daughter, Julia, lost her first tooth! Her twin sister, Kathryn, has lost 4 and has had a loose tooth (#5) for at least a month. I love all the differences between these two cuties---Kathryn will have a loose tooth for MONTHS. Julia discovered her tooth was a little loose on Labor Day. She went OCD over it (I wonder who she gets that from...LOL), and four days later it's out :)

Saturday morning I went to Amy's house and wished her a belated happy birthday (I did call her on Friday, though!)

It is so good to be back in blogland...

Be Inspired # 48 - Gift Bag & Card

This is week 2 of celebrating all month long that Cuttlebug Challenge blog is one year old! To celebrate, each week of September our challenges will be a birthday theme. My birthday theme this month is spa. (There are a variety of themes chosen by the DT, so check 'em out on my sidebar or at Cuttlebug Challenge blog for great inspiration.)

I used Core'dinations cardstock. Isn't this stuff amazing? I love the dimension. The Provo Craft Cuttlebug embossing folder is "Houndstooth." My stamp set is My Favorite Things (MFT). I used SU! punches for the sentiment and SU! dimensionals for the main image panel. I colored the image using copic markers I bought last week (yep, 4 more!) The ribbon is from my stash (Michael's?). I used a scallop rectangle Nestie on the wine bottle tag, and scraps of mirror paper to paper piece the mirror.

Ready for some bubbly? Hey, it's 5 p.m. somewhere :) Just kidding, I could use a nice hot bath though. I think I will. See ya! I'm off to get squeaky clean.

3 Reasons to Celebrate!

1st: Cuttlebug Challenge blog is turning one year old, which means lots of prizes and a birthday theme for the entire month of September :)
#2: Great blog friends. Look at the royal mail I received from my sweet and uber talented blog friend, Chris Dark. She is the most talented copic marker colorer I know. She also sketches her own digital stamps...very classy!
#3: This is my furry daughter, Skeeziks. She is now 19 years old! Looks pretty good for an old lady, doesn't she?
One of my students brought me Skeeziks and her brother, Sadie in October 1990. It was love at first sight. I call them my first set of twins (if they are from the same litter, that counts as twins, right?) I took them to the vet the next day, and the vet guessed at their birthday to be ~the end of August. We chose to make their birthday September 4th (DH's b-day is Dec. 2nd, mine Oct. 7th, so the 4th is roughly in between 2 and 7.) Sadly, we had to put Sadie to sleep when they were 14 years old. He had cancer. I still miss him so much. We still have his sweet sister, and we treasure every day that she is with us. Her arthritis does bother her some, but otherwise she seems to be doing well. She has always been petite (7 lbs at her heaviest ~ age 10-12). I took her to the vet in May because I found a lump behind her ear and because she is down to about 4 lbs. Her blood work came back fine, but we keep a close eye on her.

We are going out of town for Labor Day weekend, so I will be absent from blogging. I will try to catch up next week...school starts Tuesday :)

Be Inspired # 47- Birthday Invitation Challenge

Cuttlebug Challenge blog is one year old! To celebrate, each week of September our challenges will be a birthday theme. Each DT member chose a different theme, and I chose my personal favorite: Spa. Head over to Cuttlebug Challenges to see fab inspiration for all sorts of party themes (not yet...leave me some love first; I love comments!)

I used Core'dinations cardstock (whitewash collection.) I used both sides of the pink. The Provo Craft Cuttlebug embossing folder is "Spots and Dots." My designer paper is BasicGrey Urban Prairie, and the stamp set is My Favorite Things (MFT). I used SU! punches for the sentiment and SU! dimensionals for the main image panel. I colored the image using copic markers I borrowed from my friend, Dora. I own one copic marker, E00. Time to invest in these *sigh*. I love them!

I've had two spa parties; both about 4 years ago. About time to plan another, don't you think? I have a friend who is a massage therapist; she sets up her table in my living room and gives a 20 minute massage. In my kitchen I have a Mary Kay consultant come to do their version of a facial and satin hands. In my den/family room I have a Body Shop at Home consultant come and do hot stone foot treatments. Ahhhhhh...