Hello…is it me you're looking for?

 I used my Simon Says Stamp "hello" die and these pretty MME papers with difficult-to-photograph gold for the current challenge at Cut It Up:  Inspired by a book, movie or song.  Lionel Richie is singing "Hello" in my head…and now yours too, right?  You're welcome!

This one says, "dream imagine create."  I'm hearing John Lennon's "Imagine" in my head…card design inspired by Lucy Abrams.

Below are even more cards that I created using my October card kit from Simon Says Stamp (not necessarily inspired by a book, movie, or song):

 Inspired by Nichol Magourik.

 Inspired by Wanda Guess.

 Inspired by Sarah Moerman.

 Inspired by Sarah Moerman.

Insired by Yana Smakula.

Only nine cards out of this kit so far, but I need to move on and play with my November Simon Says Stamp card kit.  Thank you, Cut It Up for the inspiration!

Happy Saturday!

Echo Park stickers + papers = quick cards

My baby girl card stash is low, so I pulled out my Echo Park "Bundle of Joy" 12x12 collection in search of stickers and coordinating papers to create a couple of quick cards.  For the owl card I added machine stitching, and the card below I added sequins.  Quick and easy!

I hope you find these cards inspiring.

Happy Wednesday!

Masculine/Nautical Cards- Simon Says Stamp July 2015 card kit

A few weeks ago I finally demolished my July card kit.  I am in need of masculine cards, so this was a perfect opportunity to build up my stash.

 This first set of three were inspired by Yana's card (#5 in the Simon Says Stamp gallery.)  I made my own changes, of course!  The red dot strip was left over from my stash, and actually was not part of the kit.  I fussy cut the life preservers and popped them up.

 These wonderful metal anchors and twine were part of the kit (top two cards.)  They were inspired by Debbie's card (#104 in the SSS kit gallery.)  I loved her life preservers, but I wanted to use those anchors.  The bottom two cards were inspired by scraps and the pretty patterned paper in the corner of one of the 6x6 papers (both white tags.)

 The top left card (actually there are two there) was inspired by that pretty paisley paper and how wonderfully it coordinates with that aqua card stock (also in the kit).  The other three were inspired by scraps.  (The navy paper with stars on the bottom two cards actually came from my Echo Park 6x6 Scoot pad.)

And my final use of scraps…I added these two buttons from my stash.  Fourteen cards in all!

For the past few weeks when I have had time to create I have alternately been playing with the August, September, and October kits.  I have made several cards from each kit so far, but not quite demolished any one kit yet.  Hopefully this post may inspire another Simon Says Stamp card kit fan or someone who owns Authentique's Seaside papers.

Happy Sunday!

SPOOK-tacular teacher treats/Using 6x6 no scraps TUTORIAL

If you know me well, you know I make use of scraps that most (normal) people toss in the bin.  I designed this tag to not have ANY pretty paper scraps.

For these pocket tags (I made 28 total) I needed a little more than half of a 6x6 pad of paper (Echo Park Apothecary Emporium), I used up two rolls of ribbon (and then used ribbons from my scrap bin to complete), Doodlebug twine, and SRM stickers.

I also love making little treats for teachers, but since my two children have so many teachers, teacher assistants, and therapists, there are a lot of people to recognize.  In order to keep my spending costs down, I am challenging myself to use my craft room stash and not purchase anything new for the entire school year.

I created 27 trail mix packages at the start of school, and all I purchased was one large bag of trail mix.  This time I purchased only one Hershey snack-size bag of candy…everything else came from my stash!

Tutorial:

• Cut black card stock at 7 1/4" x 3 1/4".  (I got three out of a sheet of 8 1/2" x 11"…yes, there will be scraps.)
• Scallop the short end using a border punch.
• Notch the other two corners to look like a tag (I used a Stampin' Up! corner punch.)
• To create the "pocket" score at 2 1/4" from the scalloped end.

Decorate:  I used 6x6 paper, leaving no scraps (*almost*)

• Cut a 3"x3" square from patterned paper, notching to top corners.  Adhere to black card stock. *I got exactly four from a sheet of 6x6…no scraps!
• Using strong adhesive, tape up the two sides to create your pocket.
• Cut a 2"x3" rectangle from a coordinating patterned paper to decorate the pocket.  Adhere to outside of pocket.*I got exactly six from a sheet of 6x6…no scraps!
• Embellish as desired.*I used some extra to punch circles for the stickers, so I did crete a few scraps…

Happy Tuesday!

The Challenge - A Sketch!

You're pretty fantastic

 It's been a while since I have been in bloggie-land.  I have still been creating, just not able to take the time to take pictures and post.  I was looking for some inspiration to play with the triangles and floral background paper strips/scraps, and then I saw Lesley's sketch:

I took some liberties with the sketch, but the elements are there; my middle strip is just really skinny and the circle element is my die cut journaling card.

 I also made it into an easel card!

I hope you are inspired as I was…there is still time to play along at The Challenge.  Link up by Sunday!

Happy Thursday!

Happy Trails Teacher Gifts

 Last week my twin girls started 8th grade.  There are more teachers, teacher assistants, and other personnel than in elementary school.  I've given a few bags away to the bus drivers and the bus driver assistants, but here is what I will take to school today:

I made 27 in all.  I did make an extra in case I forgot someone!

When I was teaching I had so many parents who were wonderfully supportive and thoughtful, and it is my turn to pay it forward for my children's teachers.

I used up these fun K&Co. 3D leaf/tree stickers that I purchased years ago.  I just had to have them, but I don't think I ever used them.  And there were exactly 27, so they were meant to be on this project to hide one of the staples.  My Cricut Campin' Critters die covers the other staple (cut at 3.25").  I used snack-size Ziploc baggies.  I also used up some really old stash of Sharon Ann papers (from Michaels) for the toppers (cut @6.5"x5").

Now to plan for the Halloween gifts...any ideas?

Happy Wednesday!

Sports Die Cut Challenge @ Cut It Up

Echo Park's "Lucky You" isn't just for St. Patrick's Day projects!  I really like it as the background for this soccer layout I made for my friend.  (Her daughter is #12!)

I Cricut cut an 11" circle in white card stock, then the 11" layer in black card stock.  I moved the pictures underneath to figure out the placement I wanted.  Then I placed the black hexagon cut out pieces back in.  I picked up one hexagon piece and photo…careful not to move the position of the photo, and trimmed the photo to the hexagon shape.

This ties in perfectly for the current challenge at Cut It Up: Sports

 Enter your sports-themed card, layout, or project by September 16th at Cut It Up for a chance to win a $15 gift certificate to One Happy Cut:

Happy Friday!