Sunday, November 30, 2008

A Twig Wreath and A Class at The Papertree

I got another Christmas card done today - Yippee!! I actually made 10 of these - I try to do 10 at a time so I'll have enough for mailing (which will be soon - won't it!!)

Todays card was made for the Featured Stamper challenge on Split Coast. Dawn (flowergirl36) was honored today. I chose this pretty Frosty Twigs card of her's to case.

I changed the stamp to a twigy wreath by PSX rather than a twiggy snowman and changed the location of the ribbon due to the size of my stamp - and I added a sentiment by Papertrey Ink. I loved her idea of the glitter background stamping and used that with a different background stamp (Pine Needles & Cones - Cornish Heritage Farms). I stamped the image using my Palette Stamp & Stick Glue Pad - then covered it with glitter.

Stamps: Wreath: PSX, Sentiment: Holiday Wishes: PTI, bg Pine Needles and cones: Cornish Heritage Farms
Paper: cranberry crisp, baja breeze: SU, white: PTI
Ink: Dark Chocolate: PTI
Accessories: Prismacolor marker: sky blue light, sheer dotted ribbon: Michaels, glitter: JoAnn's, oval punch: SU, foam dimensionals, Palette Stamp & Stick Glue Pad


Before I was able to stamp tonight - I spent the afternoon teaching a class at The Papertree, in Manchester, NH which is about 1 hour from where I live in MA. Michelle is the owner up there (Hey Michelle!!) and she has the most wonderful stamping shop! I teach a class there about once a month and always do a lot of shopping before I leave!

Today we made a double pocket bag (tutorial here on Split Coast) and an apron recipe card holder (tutorial here on my blog) for holiday gift giving. We used several stamps from Just Rite Stampers and one from Amuse. I also gave everyone a packet of Swiss Miss Cocoa and 2 home made biscotti since that was the recipe they put on the card tucked into the apron. This apron can slip into the double pocket card - or it also fits in a regular size envelope for mailing.

I'll be posting my biscotti recipe tomorrow morning (12/1) with my H&M Stamps Creative Gift Wrapping blog hop - so be sure to check it out!


And a big shout out to Linda, Debbie, Lisa and Maddy my fun classmates today!

It was snowing in NH so that really put me in the holiday mood - unfortunately - it was just rain at home!

Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to come by and say hello!!






Saturday, November 29, 2008

Wrapping a Tree

Today's fun Inspiration Challenge on Split Coast was a web site of wrapping papers - here is the paper I was inspired by:

And here is the Christmas card I created from the inspiration.

I used the sweet winter tree from 'A Tree for All Seasons' retired Stampin Up set and punched circles with my hole punch to decorate it with. I added some shimmer to the circles, snow and snowman with my silver Spica pen. I cuttled the background with the Swiss Dots folder and used my Spellbinders ribbon tag die for the Papertrey Ink sentiment. The pink threaded ribbon is by Amuse. The image and sentiment are both up on foam dimensionals. This is a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 card.

Thanks Anne (itsapassion) for guest hosting today and also for the wonderful inspirations!! Another Christmas card done!
Just a little toot of my own horn: if any of you get the Stampers Sampler magazine - one of my cards was published in the Dec/Jan 2009 Issue on page 55. 'Health and Longevity' It was chosen as a sample of using grid blocks on your card.

Hope you all have a great weekend - thanks for stopping by today!


Stamps: A tree for all Seasons: SU, Sentiment: Silent Night: PTI
Paper: Kiwi Kiss, cranberry crisp, pretty in pink, bordering blue: SU, White: PTI
Ink: Onyx black versafine
Accessories: pink stitched ribbon: Amuse, foam dimensionals, cuttlebug, swiss dots folder, prismacolor markers, silver spica, spellbinders ribbon tag, hole punch

Thursday, November 27, 2008

A Thankful Orange and A Thank You Card

I always bring a craft to family holiday gatherings for my sister, nieces, son's fiance and myself to make after our dinners when the men are sleeping on the sofa!! This year at Thanksgiving it was just my sister, brother-in-law, my DH and myself gathering - but I still brought a project!The project was oranges and whole cloves so we could make a pomander ball - remember making these when you were a kid??? I just love the smell of them - it reminds me so much of Christmas and the wonderful baking smells in the kitchen that lead up to Christmas day!

Before we left for my sister's house this morning - I saw Julia's Way's to Use It challenge on Split Coast to make a thank you card or thank you gift - something to let someone know that you are thankful for them. So when I got home - I wrapped this felt ribbon around the orange, added a star, folded satin ribbon and stick pin at the top to hold the felt ribbon on and this sentiment tag with a heart brad.

This pomander ball will be going to my 93 year old mother in law who felt she couldn't make the trip with us today to my sisters home. This will be to let her know that we love her and that she is an important part of our lives. And it will add the wonderful Christmas smell to her room where she lives in assisted living.

Stamps: Best Blossoms: SU
Paper: Ripe avocado, Vintage Cream: PTI, Ruby Red: SU
Ink: Dark Chocolate: PTI
Accessories: star and small rectangle nestabilities, cuttlebug, red twine: SU, pure poppy satin ribbon: PTI, pearlized stick pin: Dritz, red eyelet, red heart brad, cropadile, Ribbon Original Alpine: SU

I also have a Thank You card to share with you today - I made this for the color challenge on Split Coast - to use Really Rust, Going Grey and Very Vanilla.
And I CASEd this card from the Stampin Up catalogue per instructions of Michelle (sf9erfan on Split Coast) for the Double Dare Challenge I do each week with a group of SCS friends. The card I CASEd is on page 98 of the current catalogue.

You can see the other cards for this challenge here.

And these Thank You's are also for all of you who come here to check out my stamped craft offerings - I can't fully express how much it means to me to know you are stopping by. You are all just the greatest!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes: SU
Paper: really rust, going grey, very vanilla, DP: SU
Ink: Really Rust
Accessories: circle punch, hole punch, silver brad: Making Memories

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Happy Birthday Heather! H&M Birthday Blog Hop!

It's our fearless leader Heather's Birthday today - and the H&M Design Team members all wanted to celebrate by making her cards - using her wonderful stamps - and having a blog hop so everyone could share in the fun!

I used images from the set Old English Accessories that is actually a companion set for Old English which is the set the sentiment comes from.

I finally cracked open my package of Fabriano Watercolor note cards - these are 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 square, have wonderful distressed edges and they are super to watercolor on! I have had them for quite some time but have not used them because I was afraid I'd make a mistake and ruin the paper. I stamped directly on the card with Onyx Black Versafine Ink - then watercolored the images using re-inkers and my aquabrush. And - yes - I did ruin my first attempt - I didn't stamp cleanly and had to throw out a card! But I learned from that experience!

This is the Old English Accessories stamp set. Look at all the great images it has!


On the inside of Heather's card I used another sentiment from Old English and the Happy Birthday from the "All About Birthday's" sentiment set.


Here is the Old English stamp set - don't you love these cottages! and look at all the wonderful sentiments included!

And if you just have to have this cute stamp set - come take a look here!

And please check out all the birthday card ideas from the rest of the Design Team!
Carolina

Cindy

Dawn

We wish you a very Happy Birthday Heather!!!
and thanks to you all for stopping by today - I hope you enjoy all the b'day cards we've shared with you!!

Stamps: H&M Stamps - Bridge, Path: Old English Accessories, just down the garden path, Tranquility is waiting: Old English, Happy Birthday: All About Birthday's
Paper: Fabriano Card
Ink: Reinkers: Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, River Rock: SU, Onyx Black Versafine
Accessories: Ocean Tides Satin Ribbon: Papertrey Ink, aqua brush

Monday, November 24, 2008

A Gift Card so You Can Buy Coffee

Here is a fun pop up gift card holder that I made for the Try a new Technique challenge on Split Coast. You can see the instructions on making this here in the forums
Basically it's a 4 x 12 piece of paper that you score at 4" and 8" along the 12" side. Fold and crease the scores. Then you fold the middle square in half (that creates the center piece inside) You cut a slit in that fold to slip your gift card into and adhere the 3 edges (not the side with the slit). Then you adhere it to a 4 1/4" square.

I used this fun coffee themed stamp set from Artful INKables called Warm Drinks for Cold Days for my Starbucks Gift card included in the slot inside.I used a word window punch to punch the slot for the card instead of just making a slit with an exacto knife as it instructs in the tutorial. I also added ribbon around it so it could be tied shut - something you might want to omit or at least leave untied if you were mailing it! (too bulky!)This is a really easy and quick gift card holder - perfect for any gift giving event!

If you love this Warm drinks for cold days stamp set - use this code when you order to get 10% off your entire Artful INKables order: save10JA Kristin also sells ribbons by May Arts and fun charms too.

Who do you need to make a gift card holder for??!! I hope you try this out!

I appreciate your coming by today!

Stamps: Warm drinks for cold days: Artful INKables
Paper: Polly Red: PTI, Baja Breeze: SU, DP: Lil Davis Designs-Endless summer
Ink: Dark Chocolate: PTI, Baja Breeze
Accessories: sponge, oval & rectangle nestabilities, prismacolor makers, Silver pen: Creative Memories, foam dimensionals, word window punch, scalloped circle punch, key tag punch: SU, Ribbon Originals Alpine: SU

Sailing into Thanksgiving!

Aren't these just the cutest little Mayflower Boats???!!! Qbee has posted her wonderful templates here in the forums over on Split Coast Stampers. I stamped my boats with a woodgrain stamp from All Night Media. She didn't include a sail - so I just drew one from a picture of the Mayflower I found when I Googled it. Of course the real one had many sails - but you get the idea!! I distressed and sponged the edges of the sail and curved it a little to give the feeling of the wind filling it - I attached the top and bottom edges to the mast with super tacky tape. You need strong adhesive because when you curve the sail - there is a little tension and the sail wants to pop off the mast!

I stamped the names using my Just Rite 2 5/16 round wooden stamper and the Brayton 50 point font letters.
I will be sailing these ships to my sister's for Thanksgiving to use as place names on her dinner table.
I've filled them with yummy sugar spiced nuts (well, not quite filled - I have to make another batch! Somehow the nuts kept disappearing as I was making these boats ?!?!!)Peanutbee (Denise) has a wonderful recipe for these on her blog (tell her I sent you over to find it!)
I hope you try these for your Thanksgiving table!
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!
Stamps: wood grain background stamp: All Night Media, Just Rite Stampers Brayton Font 50 point
Paper: Naturals Ivory, caramel: SU
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine, Butterscotch: Adirondack
Accessories: super tacky tape, sponge

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Frosty Mugs & Cozy Wishes

I made this card for the Featured Stamper Challenge on Split Coast.

I chose this Merci card from Featured Stamper, ebethneu, to CASE I used different stamps and a different color scheme but I used her nice sketch.


These cute mug-hatted snowmen are from an Artful INKables set called Frosty Mug Mates and the beautiful big snowflake is from a set called Paper Snowflakes. I used the non-traditional snow flake colors in my designer paper to decide what colors to use on my images. I used re-inkers and an aquabrush to color them. I went over a lot of areas with my Spica gold pen for a little sparkle!


You can get 10% off your total Artful INKables order by using this code: save10JA - so jump right over there and get your order in!


thanks for stopping by today!!


Stamps: Artful INKables: Frosty Mug Mates & Paper Snowflakes
Paper: water color paper, Baja Breeze, Ruby Red, Naturals Ivory: SU, DP: Imaginesce - Snowy Jo
Ink: Kiwi Kiss, Ruby Red, Soft Sky: SU, onyx Black versafine
Accessories: sponge, aquabrush, snowflake brad, gold Spica Pen, snowflake punch: Martha Stewart, foam dimensionals

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Inspired by Mad Men for Thanksgiving

This was one of the pictures shown to us by Stef on Split Coast for our inspiration challenge this week - pictures of characters on the TV show Mad Men - do you watch it? I do not but I guess it's set in the 60's? about an office? I was inspired by the colors of the ladies outfits and the gold chain necklaces several of them are wearing - and I made this Thanksgiving card!

I cuttled the panels with the Argyle, Distressed Stripes and Swiss Dots folders and tied two gold ribbons around the panels. I sponged the sentiment edges with Papertrey Ripe Avocado ink and added gold rhinestones and a leaf brad.
I used the sketch from the Nov Fan Club challenge on Split Coast and I'm entering this card in the Caardvarks photograph challenge. We were to be inspired by a picture of several ears of Indian Corn.
It was cold, cold, cold here in New England today! In the 20's and windy! I like it though - kind of brisk and invigorating - I'm ready for the winter change of season - I guess that's why I like living here!!
I'm so glad you came by today!
Stamps: Holidays & Wishes: SU
Paper: naturals ivory, choc chip, close to cocoa, tangerine tango, purely pomegranate: SU, Ripe avocado: PTI
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado: PTI
Accessories: gold ribbons: PTI, cuttlebug, argyle, weathered stripes, Swiss Dots folders, hole punch, leaf brad, gold rhinestone stickers, foam dimensionals, curley label punch, Key tag punch: SU, sponge

Friday, November 21, 2008

All You Need in Life

Here is my project for the Limited Supplies challenge over on Split Coast today where you had to use chocolate some way on your card - the color, or candy stamps, or something chocolate themed. It was so difficult doing this challenge today - I mean how many people really like chocolate - let's be honest...... (HA!) ok - so we all LOVE chocolate..... I decided to decorate a small gable box from Papertrey Ink with chocolate chip card stock, a chocolate and pink designer paper and chocolate ribbon! And isn't this stamp from Inkadinkado just terrific for this theme today?!?!

I added jeweled flowers and punched butterflies. And, of course, I had to ADD chocolate for my box! The Avery labels on the Nuggets were stamped with a label stamp from Papertrey Ink set called Limitless Labels. The set came out last year and it's the first time I've used it! That's one of the reasons I love the Split Coast Challenges - it makes me use my stamps!

I colored in some of the flowers on the labels with my Prismacolor marker to coordinate with the designer paper I used. There were several more nuggets in the pile as I was making this project - I wonder where they went???!!!?!?!

Hope you have a great weekend everyone! I'm going to the Cinema to see Twilight sometime in the next few days - I was so addicted to the books and I just can't wait to see the movie!! I've already got the sound track and keep playing it over and over (Yikes - am I reverting to being a teenager again??!!)

Thanks so much for coming by!

Stamps: All you need: Inkadinkado, Label: Limitless Labels: PTI
Paper: Choc Chip, Naturals Ivory, DP: SU
Ink: Dark Chocolate: PTI
Accessories: butterfly punch: Martha Stewart, Ribbon: Dark Chocolate Satin: PTI, jeweled flowers: Petaloo, Hershey Nuggets, Avery Labels 8460, foam dimensionals

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Two Color Challenges and a Sketch

Here is my card for the Split Coast sketch challenge. I also used the colors for Kristina's KwernerDesign challenge .

The required colors were pumpkin pie, close to cocoa, so saffron, elegant eggplant and white - and I used them all! A great fall color combination don't you think? I made my card 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 - my favorite card size lately!

I used my new embossed button punch by Martha Stewart that I've had for a while but hadn't used yet - this card was the perfect time to get it out! I clear embossed the spool and sentiment which are both from Papertrey Ink. The spool is colored with Copics. I knotted hemp through the button holes. The buttons and spool image are popped up on foam dimensionals.

Stamps: Quilters Sampler: PTI
Paper: pumpkin pie, so saffron, choc chip, elegant eggplant: SU, White PTI
Ink: onyx black versafine, so saffron: SU
Accessories: sponge, clear Ep, hot gun, purple hemp, foam dimensionals, button embossed punch: Martha Stewart. Copics

My next card was made for the color challenge on Split Coast this week - to use Real Red, Basic Black and Kraft.
I used this cute Fairy Tales stamp set by H&M Stamps. I just love the 3 different sizes of mushrooms and the cute butterfly with the flight trail. They stamp really clear and precise - I'm afraid my picture doesn't show that today. (The trials of photographing at night in a photobox!)


I used my clear spica pen to add glitter to the images. I punched the corners and tucked the red panel into the cut. The sentiments and kraft mushrooms are up on foam dimensionals. This is aother 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 inch card so the sentiment coming off the edge will still fit into the envelope.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Leave me a comment so I can come by and see what you have been doing!


Stamps: Fairy Tales: H&M Stamps
Paper: real red, basic black, kraft: SU
Ink: Onyx black versafine, real red: SU
Accessories: sponge, oval punch, key tag punch (trimmed down), hole punch, sticky jewels, lacey corner punch, small oval punch, foam dimensionals, spica clear pen

Monday, November 17, 2008

A Triangle Medallion Cat and a Shimmery Silver Deer

Oh, my gosh - I am so glad I got this finished! I had a little trouble figuring out how to get this triangle fold medallion together - and I can't tell you how I finally got it done but here it is!!

Phew! and if you would like to give it a try - look here in the Try a New Technique Forum on Split Coast. I used this fun stamp set called The Cats Meow from H & M Stamps and after I attached the cat's head to the center of the triangle folds - I thought it kind of looked like a lion's mane! (sorry the pics not real clear - I couldn't get a good shot of it tonight for some reason).

I used my Nestability Labels One dies for the framing and did a little paper piercing. I used a black Spica pen on kitties nose for a little contrast and shimmer. The ribbon is Papertrey Ink.

I think if I tried this Triangle fold again - right now - I could probably do it faster now that I've done it once! Tomorrow - maybe not!!??

Stamps: The Cats Meow: H&M Stamps
Paper: real red and DP: SU, vintage cream PTI,
Ink: onyx black versafine, real red: SU
Accessories: black Spica pen, paper piercer, grid and mat: SU, nestabilities Labels One, cuttlebug, ribbon: Swiss dots satin Pure Poppy: PTI, foam dimensionals
Techniques: tiangle fold medallion, paper piercing

This second card was made for two challenges - the weekly double dare that I do with some SCS friends and the Our Creative Corner Saturday challenge. Turns out both challenges this week were similar - the Double Dare challenge from Charlene (LilLuvsStampin) was to use Razzle Dazzle on a card - and the OCC was to use a silhouette stamp and some sparkle.So I used this deer silhouette stamp and tree outline stamp - both from Artful INKables - and I used silver embossing powder on the deer and Dazzling Diamonds on the tree and along the ground.

The pretty silver ribbon is from Papertrey Ink and the note card is Amuse.

I think all this shimmer made for a pretty Christmas card - don't you? If you'd like to see the other Double Dare cards look here. and to see the other Our Creative Corner cards look here.

If you want to order any Artful INKable stamps, charms or ribbon today - remember to use the code save10JA and you will save 10% on your total order!!

Thank you so much for coming by today!

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes & Frosty Mug Mates: Artful INKables
Paper: Amuse note card - blue raspberry
Ink: Onyx Black Versafine
Accessories: silver ep, hot gun, dazzling diamonds: SU, perfect medium brush: Ranger, silver ribbon: PTI




Sunday, November 16, 2008

Amuse Class and A Thanksgiving Wagon

As promised yesterday - here are more pictures of the Amuse Cupcakes Card Class that I took at the Papertree Store in Manchester, NH on Saturday.This is Linda, owner of Amuse Art Stamps, and Michelle, owner of the Papertree Store, and Julie Ebersole, designer and instructor for Amuse. The theme was cupcakes for my class and Michelle's friend Gayle made these delicious cupcakes for all to enjoy (seeing AND eating!). Aren't they just gorgeous!?!? They had a cream cheese frosting on them!And here are the 5 cute cupcake cards we made all from one Amuse clear cupcake stamp set.

Here is a close up picture of the LL Bean bags that I made for Linda and Julie using the cute holiday VW Amuse stamp as well as an Amuse Christmas sentiment. I filled the bags with delicious sugar & spiced nuts. I got this wonderful easy and delicious recipe from my blogging friend Denise (peanutbee on SCS).

Here's me again with the girls.And here they are instructing the class. They ran three classes that day but I could only stay for one (sigh).

So - with Amuse stamps on my mind - I used another one for the Featured Stamper challenge on Split Coast today.

Kendra was the featured stamper and I chose this pretty card from her gallery to CASE. I needed to make some Thanksgiving cards and thought her card/sketch would work well.I used a different stamp and different colors but the same design as Kendra. This is a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 card. I like this size card more and more as you don't have to put a lot on it to fill up the space on it! Good for when you are making multiples and are trying to get them done quickly!
The designer paper is Basic Grey Mellow Deciduous - which is just perfect for the 'over the river and through the woods' theme of Thanksgiving don't you think?! The cute turkey wagon is by Amuse and the sentiment is Hero Arts. Inside I stamped "May our hearts be full of thanks today and always" which is an AiP's ViP's stamp.
Stamps: Turkey Wagon: Amuse, Happy Thanksgiving: Hero Arts
Paper: Spring Moss, Lemon Tart: PTI, Choc Chip: Su, DP: Basic Grey Mellow- Deciduous
Ink: onyx black versafine
Accessories: Prismacolor markers, oval nestabilities, cuttlebug, ribbon: Ripe Avocado - PTI, foam dimensionals

Saturday, November 15, 2008

H&M Sketch Baby, an Inspired Scarf and Amuse

Well ladies - it's Saturday and that means Heather from H&M Stamps has another sketch/color challenge for us! You can join in and win a gift from Heather here.
Here is the card I made from the challenge. I used the sketch as well as the colors but you can do one or the other or both! and you don't have to use H&M Stamps but if you have them - please do!


On my card today - I used a wonderful 23 piece baby stamp set called Miracle from Above that you can see here.

I used my rectangle nestability for the BABY sentiment and circle punches for the images. I colored the images with copics. I think with this color mix you could use it for either a boy or girl baby!

Stamps: Miracle from Above: H&M Stamps
Paper: Vintage Cream: PTI, DP Amuse
Ink: Dark Chocolate
Accessories: copics, circle punches: SU, rectangle Nestabilities, foam dimensionals


Todays inspiration challenge from Stef on Split Coast was a wonderful web site called Felted Garden. I was inspired by the colors and patterns on this set
and here is the card I created.I used a new (to me) Martha Stewart flower punch that just punches the outline so it's dimensional - and then punched around the flower with a circle punch. I sponged the edges with Kiwi Kiss Ink and mounted it to the card with foam dimensionals. I used my hole punch to make the centers of the flowers using Chocolate Chip Card Stock. I also used this Amy Butler designer paper - both to give the illusion of the holes on some of the scarves.

The sentiment is from a set called A Time of Caring by H&M Stamps and you can find it here:

This card will be going postal to a fellow Split Coast Stamper who is having some surgery this week. Thanks for another wonderful inspiration challenge Stef!

Stamps: H&M A time of Caring (sentiment set)
Paper: Vintage Cream, Spring Moss: PTI, Choc Chip: SU, DP - K&Co Amy Butler
Ink: Kiwi Kiss: SU, Dark Chocolate: PTI
Accessories: Flower Punch: Martha Stewart, circle punch & Curly label punch: SU, ribbon: Amuse, foam dimensionals, sponge


And a parting shot - today I attended an Amuse Cupcake Card Stamping Class at the Papertree Store in Manchester, NH - run by not only the owner of Amuse - Linda (on the right below) - but also the wild and crazy Julie Ebersole (on the left below) who many of you know from Split Coast as well as for her work as an Amuse card designer and instructor. What a fun class we had - I'll have more pics to share with you tomorrow!

I (that's me in the middle!) made each of them a little paper LL Bean Bag decorated with the Amuse Christmas VW stamp as a thank you for coming to NH and running the class. KathyC (from Split Coast) was also attending (hey Kathy!)

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Two Little Coaster Albums

Who's 3??????
Those of you visiting me the last few days know I went to my God daughters 3rd birthday party this past weekend. I made this coaster book for Eden as part of her gift - and it was most gratifying that she grabbed it and absolutely loved it when I brought it to her! Of course - it's all about her and that is a three year old's world!! but she wouldn't let it out of her hand for about an hour.

So now I share it with you - as you can tell from her pictures - she is completely adorable - and I can tell you in real life she is also a bubbly chatterbox and just as sweet as her pictures!

I am so blessed that her mother, Kelley, asked me to be Eden's God Mother. Kelley is actually just a few years older than my own son and I have known her through our church since she was young. We became good friends when we took the Alpha Course together about 6 years ago.


I used Papertrey Ink Pink Patterns Collection for the papers on her book. It is made with medium weight coasters and my Bind It All machine.

Eat cake and So Cute are the sentiments on these pictures.
"Each and every day you grow - you just become more fun to know" perfect sentiment for Eden's book! Her hair looks just like Shirley Temple (for those of you who remember her!) - and it bounces when she runs around - which is pretty much all the time!

And this sentiment is another perfect one for how I feel about Eden!

This is me and Eden - I gave her this cute little hand puppet - that is a tree with 3 baby woodpeckers inside that you can wiggle with your fingers - it also makes the noise of the woodpecker pecking on the tree - and the bigger mother woodpecker is also a finger puppet and can be perched on the outside of the trunk with velcro. Eden goes on nature walks with her mother every week at the local Audobon Society so I thought this would be a good gift for her and she seemed to like it!

Eden's older brother, Destin, turned 7 this past July - so I also made this coaster photo book for him to remember his day too (better late than never!). Destin is 'the good son' quieter than Eden (who is a whirlwind around him!) and the one who always behaves! He suffers his little sister very bravely and always takes her hand and watches out for her!
I used the Just Rite Stampers on the covers of both books. To make Destin's more masculine - I used a Harley Davidson print as well as silver coils on the book.
Unfortunately, Destin is allergic to just about all foods so he actually couldn't eat his fun soccer cake - but his mum made him special cupcakes that he could eat at his party.
Kent and I gave him this fun musical keyboard pad. He opened each card and read the verse completely outloud before going onto the gift. (very gratifying for us card stampers!)
And his favorite gift was this fun scooter from his grandparents.
Thanks so much for indulging me in sharing my love for these two cute kids with you!

Stamps: Eden's Book: Eat Cake & It's Your Birthday: SU, Just Rite Stampers, You Make me Smile: Inkadinkado, So Cute & You're so Sweet: See D's Friends Word Search Destin's Book: Rock Star: Michaels, Go for icing & One B'day worth 10: Inkadinkado

Paper: Eden's book: 5 4" medium weight coasters, Pink Patterns Collection & berry sorbet & vintage cream: PTI, Destin's book: 4 4" medium weight coasters, EK Success Harley Davidson, Cosmo Cricket Mr. Campy, Chatterbox: Scrapbook walls.

Ink: Eden's book: Onyx Black Versafine, Berry Sorbet PTI Destin's book: Onyx Black versafine

Supplies: Eden's book: corner rounder punch, Just Rite Stamper, jeweled flowers: Petaloo.com, Labels One Nestabilities, butterfly punch: Martha Stewart, Circle nestabilities, rectangle nestabilities, word window punch: SU, 3/4" white coil, bind it all. Destin's Book:Just Rite Stampers Rectangular Set, Braydon Font, corner rounder, word window punch: SU, circle nestabilities, 5/8" silver coil, Bind It all.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Frosty Mug Mates Tree Box

What a fun new technique challenge this week on Split Coast! A Christmas Tree Box. Look here for the template and tutorial.
I used two new sets from Artful INKables to decorate my tree box: Frosty Mug Mates and Paper Snow Flakes and you can get 10% off these stamps and everything else you purchase on Kristin's site by using the code save10JA so be sure to hop over there and save some money while buying those stamps you just have to have!!
This little box actually opens up and you could put some little candy treats inside or some rolled up cash!! It's about 3" tall
I also used bleach on the snowman and tree for my weekly Double Dare Challenge that I do with some SCS friends - Francie G was the hostess this week and using bleach on a card was her challenge to us. The way you do that is first you emboss the image - that sort of 'seals' the edges of the image. I embossed these images using black embossing powder. Then you use a small paint brush and dip it in bleach and 'paint' over the image and it will 'bleach' out the color of the card stock. Be sure to rinse out the brush as soon as you are done so the bleach doesn't eat the bristles! The bleach turned the card stock brown on the Hunter green tree and turned it white on the Baja breeze snowman.

You can see the other bleached challenge cards here.

I used some pretty silver ribbon from Papertrey Ink for my hanger. And I added red dew drops for a touch of color. The images are up on foam dimensionals. Instead of stars on the top (as per the tutorial) - I used showflakes that I cut out. This side view shows how the flakes are attached to each other to form a circle - I put 3 together and just slipped them down the ribbon onto the top of the tree - you have to move them up to open the box.

I hope you try one of these - they are really easy and fun to make!

thanks for coming by to visit today!!

Stamps: Frosty Mug Mates, Paper Snow Flakes: Artful INKables
Paper: Baja breeze, handsome Hunter: SU
Ink: Pacific point: SU
Accessories: bleach, paint brush, versamark embossing pad, not gun black detail EP, dew drops, foam dimensionals, glue dots