SO SORRY ladies!!

Hi everyone - I promise I'm not dead - I have had an extremely busy week or so, and haven't had time to stamp or even get on the computer! That is SUPER rare for me, so don't worry, it won't be a habit. However, I am not going to be online for another several days... it's nothing serious, just planning a few days off that will keep me away from the pc, and I promised my family my time, so I gotta keep my word.

As for all of you, I would love to know how you all are, so if you want to post a comment letting me know you're still visiting despite my absence, or offering suggestions on something I can do for my come-back project, or tell me about what's crazy in your life, I'll feel a whole lot better - plus I'll have something to come home to!

Have a great week, I'll catch you either this weekend or next week for sure!

Until then - CIAO!

Fun Farm Tiles

Yep, I have always loved this set, and though it's retired, this is a project always worth making cuz the set is still cute!

I made mine using the same method I always use - stamp images in StazOn ink, color in with Stampin' Pastels (chalks), rub in with finger (I still plan on trying blender pens someday), then spraying ever-so-lightly with acrylic sealer. Four felt self-adhesive dots on each corner and the coaster is ready to go!

I have a TON of stuff to do today, so if I can squeak in some stamping, it will be a miracle, but we'll see....

later gaters~

I knew it....

I took the test, and they told me:

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

Squash Book

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Okay, so here's the deal - this is the squash book that I was having so much trouble with, but I think I'm okay with how it looks now..... I played around with glue and stuff but the result is a completed book that isn't falling apart - how's that for progress? lol

Thanks to the lovely flash on my camera, you can see how metallic the flower on the front looks - it's embossed with gold on a chipboard flower from SU!, and it's got one of our rhinestone circle brads in the middle. How fun is that?! The paper is one of our older styles, but it is such a classy one that I had to use it. The burgundy grosgrain is mixed together with a golden fiber I purchased a long time ago, but it really pulled the look together for this project. I hope you like it.

Here's how the inside looks when it's opened up (you can click it for a larger view):

Let me tell ya, I had a great time putting all these pieces together. I felt like I was 4 years old putting a puzzle together. It took some planning to get all the pieces and colors coordinated in a way that was interesting without being too visually confusing. I hope I succeeded, because believe it or not, it could have gotten ugly in there. What do you think?

Sets: Artfully Asian (and some jumbo wheel whose name escapes me right now)

Colors: Bravo Burgundy, So Saffron, Always Artichoke, Confetti White

Other: Blossoms & Basics On Board Accents, Fire rhinestone circle brad, burgundy ribbon, dimensionals, glue dots, Modge Podge, UHU Creativ, Mono adhesive... the list goes on, read myh previous post! LOL

TUTORIAL for construction of one of these babies can be found on SCS here

Until later, gaters~

Where have I been?! lol

Yep, I'm still here... it's been a busy and crazy week, but I'm finally able to post a few things today... I tried out this squash book thing (not exactly like the card I posted earlier, but this is bigger and bolder), and let me tell you what an adventure this turned out to be!

Well, first, it's taken me over 2 weeks to get my hands on these freakin' coasters I needed for this thing. Yep, that's right - two weeks, three visits to Chili's (oh, the torture - lol), two visits to party stores and craft stores, and finally I had them in my hot little hands (thanks Chili's in LITH, IL)! Oh, and if that were the only trouble I had, I'd be A-okay. It was getting this thing put together that challenged me even further!

So I'm using the Modge Podge to put paper to coaster. No prob, right? Well, friends, I discovered about 10 minutes later that the Modge Podge decided to play games with one coaster and proceeded to LIFT the "Chili's" logo off the base of the coaster, and my paper with it! AHH!! So, I tried another later of MP underneath the logo layer - NOPE. I tried glue dots - NOPE. I tried heated ultra-thick embossing powder - NOPE. I tried glue after glue and guess what - nothing was working. THEN, I remembered something!! I had recently written to Maria to get a sample of an adhesive like Mono, but they were out. Instead I received this:

Yep, UHU Creativ. It's a new-ish glue that I promised to review on my blog after receiving a sample. Well, up until now I have had it sitting around and have not had time to try it out. Well, even though this stuff is for ribbon and fabric, the way this soft-fiber cardboard and paper was working out, I thought anything was worth trying.

WELL, it WORKED!!!!!! OHMIGOSH, this stuff completely saved the day! It comes out of the tube quickly (a bit thicker than Elmer's but not as thick as Modge Podge), so you have to be careful, but man oh man, what a life saver!!!!! It didn't take all day to dry, either, which was a great thing for a project like this. I'm serious, I will definitely be keeping this stuff around on my creative table for projects like this and maybe skip the Modge Podge altogether next time. I also am looking forward to trying it out on gluing ribbon and other hard-to-glue soft items soon, because if it saved my project this time, I can only imagine what I'm in store for next time!!

Thanks to Maria soooo very much for sending this sample to me. I am sorry that it took so long to try it, but I'm so glad I did!!!!

The project is coming in my next post. Keep your eyes open!

From the Heart by Kaye

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2008

Okay, so I run this online group and I hosted a swap with my color challenge - Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Always Artichoke, and Sahara Sand. My card was my little Rhino card that I posted on my blog several days ago. Well, my friend Kaye sent in this card, and I just love it so much I had to show it to all of you, because good artwork should never go unseen!

Didn't she do such an awesome job? And the little blue flowers in the corners are heat embossed with Bashful Blue craft ink and clear embossing powder. What a neat touch. And with all that paper piercing, I just went crazy in love!

SO, now that I've shared, take a moment and visit her blog. She's still working on it, but her work is great, so check it out!

Thanks Kaye for a great card - what a great contribution to the swap! Woo hoo!

Simple Tag

Oh my, I got tagged and I was super suprised!! Thanks Julie for thinking of me!

Okay, so at least this one was simple, so I have no problem offering it up:

7 Random Things About Me:

1. I want to move to California really badly
2. I have wanted to be an singer and actress since I was 3 (I remember the day I decided it - it's TRUE!)
3. I sell Cookie Lee jewelry in addition to SU!
4. I can speak Spanish (somewhat)
5. If I could redecorate my home, it would have a CLEAN Asian theme
6. I don't mind doing laundry, but I HATE HATE HATE cleaning the shower!!
7. My parents have been married for 43 years and still love each other!

Now I'm going to tag:

Kimmie - http://kraftinkimmieskorner.blogspot.com/
Sarah - http://twinklebella.blogspot.com/
Sher - http://sherristampingspot.blogspot.com/
Kenzie - http://scrapinkenz.blogspot.com/
Angel- http://angelosity.blogspot.com/
Kyla - http://swdkylamaestas.blogspot.com/
Jana - http://stampwithjana.blogspot.com/

Whew! I'm done~

Invite In Color

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2008

So, here's a sneak peek if you're going to my workshop this Sunday - so look at your own risk! It's a little squash card that was featured in a newsletter from SCS. Here's a link directly to the directions for this card - TAKE ME THERE! The only major change I made with this one is adding circle clips instead of using ribbon to keep it closed. I did this because my hostess HATES to tie ribbon, and if she's going to make a bunch of these I couldn't do that to her.

I have said it before and I'll say it again, I LOVE the In Color COLORS THIS YEAR!! Last year there were a couple that I could take or leave, but this year I'm totally excited (can you tell?!) and am having a BLAST playing with them. This card also uses the new InColor patterned paper. I only purchased the Soft Sky one so far, but I can definitely see myself getting more of them soon, cuz they're really fun to play with and I really like the patterns too. Not a junker in the bunch!

Oh, so here's the way the card looks opened up:

I didn't stamp anything on the inside because at this point I have nothing current that I can use for an invitation, which is what the hostess requested, so I'm leaving it blank and letting her know she can put her information in there with whatever she wants later.

Sets: Baroque Motifs, Sincere Salutations

Colors: Blue Bayou, Soft Sky

Other: Patterned Paper (Soft Sky), circle clips (non SU!)

I hope you like it! Now go make one yourself - this little card only looks complicated. You'll be surprised how easy it is to make!

Have fun!

Celebrate "Before"

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

This card is soon to be modified a bit because it isn't working for me, so consider this as the "before" pic. Later it's going to be more dazzling, and the background is going to be re-vamped and refreshed. Get ready, cuz next week you'll get to see the "after"!

Sets: Big Pieces, Canvas BG, Wonderful Words
Colors: Groovy Guava, Barely Banana, Wild Wasabi
Other: On Board, Fire "bling" brad, dimensionals, paper piercing kit

Monday Ritual...I need one!

Okay, so I work on Mondays, but I desperately want to share something cool with you EVERY day, so I have decided to come up with a "feature post" that you can look forward to. Sound good? Now I have to spend a bit of time to come up with it, but if you have any great ideas, you let me know. I'm thinking a fun YouTube video maybe, or perhaps I'll share a blog for you to visit, or maybe a tutorial, or maybe a sale, or a joke, or a blogthing or a quiz or a quote.... UGH! So many ideas, so little blog! lol

I'll be back~

Cherish

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2008

OMG - can you just tell I'm in LOVE with this new card size (4.25 x 4.25)? I'm having sooo much fun with it, I can't STOP! lol

I am also so in love with this Baroque Motifs stamp set!! This is the first card I've done using it, and I think you're all gonna get sick of looking at my upcoming projects, because I'll probably be using this one a lot. Hope you don't mind! lol

Sets: Baroque Motifs, Warm Words
Colors: Purely Pomegranite, River Rock, Very Vanilla
Other: Burgundy grosgrain, dimensional

Meanwhile, I'm stamping today because they're STILL here working on my patio today... and I just can't take all the running around anymore, so I'm staying HOME (until lunch, then I'm on errand run again) to play with my new stuff some more, plan my party for next weekend, and let my daughter play with her cousin who slept over at our house last night. That means a content daughter, which also means quiet time for me to stamp - FINALLY!!!

I hope you all are having a wonderful Saturday, and that you're keeping cool, wherever you are - it's HOT here today! Great day for stamping in a basement, don't you think?! ; )

Later gaters~

First Chipboard

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Yep, I finally broke down and ordered chipboard... and though it was a scary prospect for me, I dug it out and dove in. I hope you'll understand that the scan sorta washed out the color, but that happens sometimes, so just know that it doesn't look so weird in person...

Anyway, with trembling fingers, I ventured into the new colors, new paper, new chipboard, new stamp set and new embellishments all in one shot! My nerves are shot. lol j/j - I'm ready to do more! For this card, I decided less was more, so I went with a simple design that wouldn't be over-powered by the chipboard flower. How did I do?

I think the next chipboard piece I do will be colored directly on the board itself, rather than attempting to stick cardstock over the top. Lemme tell ya, cutting that cardstock around it was a pain in the neck - I am sure designer paper would have looked good, too, but as previously mentioned, this was a first attempt.

Okay, enough rambling, here's the details:

Sets: Pick a Petal, Baroque Motifs (word)
Colors: Soft Sky Designer Paper, River rock
Other: Fire bling rhinestone brads, dimensionals, flower punch

Have a great day~

Sparkle

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

Yep, it's a Happy 4th of July to all my American friends! WOO HOO!! This is one of my favorite holidays, because it's Summer and I love love LOVE fireworks...and barbecues... so it's pretty much a perfect day for me. Oh, and then there's that little thing about celebrating the birth of our country. I'm just kidding, patriots - it's a BIG deal, and I completely appreciate where I live and how it got to be like this. It's a great time of the year.

As for the card, I had to try for something a little traditional mixed with a non-traditional look. I can never be plain! I thought this little zebra made a perfect pallette for a patriotic theme, even if he wasn't expecting it. lol

The zebra layer was covered in versamark and heat embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder. Gives it an overall glittery look, which is perfect for the sparkly fireworks he'll be watching later today.

Sets: Little Pieces, Zoofari, Warm Words
Colors: Red, White and Blue!
Other: 1/2" punch, silver brads, iridescent ice embossing powder, paper piercing template & tool

Have a wonderful and safe holiday, friends!

Matchbook Measurements

The Matchbook I posted a few days ago got some attention and after some requests for measurements I finally went and figured it all out again so I could share:

First, the width of the piece is 3.25"

Now, measurements from the top (front flap) to the bottom (staple flap) are:

3.25", .25"" (binding if your notepad is .25" thick), 3.75", .75"

The next layer (the cool carribbean layer in my sample) is 3" x 2.75"

The Amethyst layer is 2.75" x 2.5"

If you need further measurements, please email me and let me know. That should get you started, though.

Have fun!

Rhino Wild

images (c) Stampin' Up!, 1990-2007

FINALLY - I was able to open up that Zoofari set! I decided to play around a bit with a square card, and I love love love it!! This was so much fun, I think I'm gonna have to make more!

This was also a color challenge, too - I played with 4 pre-chosen colors and I thought it was a fresh and fun combo. I hope you like it too!

Sets: Zoofari, Wild About You (words), Canvas BG
Colors: Sahara Sand, Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue

Last year's card

yep, i'm waaaaay behind on posting.

First of all, this card is a sloppy mess, but the stripes were done with the small plaid template we used to sell at SU! a while back... you can sponge your way through those things, but the ink doesn't always do what it's supposed to, does it? AHH!! Anyway, this year's card will be better if I ever get one completed before tomorrow! Meanwhile, this post was meant to at least be "in the spirit" of the holiday....hope you'll excuse the sloppiness of it all.....

And to those of you who were waiting on measurements for that post-it note holder I posted a few days ago, I promise I have not forgotten you! As a matter of fact, I am on my way down to my crafting center and will come back later today with new creations, pics, measurements, and everything else. PROMISE!!

Keep your eyes open, it's coming.