Bird and Punch Pennant

Happy Monday! I never got time to stamp this weekend (boo! hoo!), but here's a quick little card I made over spring break. It's 4 1/4" square, and I sliced off some of the front edge to attach the little pennant border. I just cut triangles out freehand, stuck them on the bottom edge, then sewed them down. It was a little tricky getting a photo of the card standing so you could see how it opens. Here's another view of it laying flat:


I hope you enjoyed your weekend! I'm super happy that this is a 4-day work week with Good Friday! I have to say things are going great with our new Smart Board in the classroom! The kids LOVE it and are SO engaged! The main danger...teacher stays up too late finding/making things to do with it! lol!


Oh, and here's my favorite student thing from last week, during the middle of the social studies lesson about government when we were learning about elected officials (president, mayor, governor), one girl raises her hand and asks, "Why you no straighten your hair?" ha! Maybe she wasn't so engaged after all!


Okay, it's off to school I go...thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Tiny Tags
Cardstock: Bermuda Breeze, Old Olive, Good Neighbor DSP.
Ink: Old Olive.
Accessories: So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread, Medium Jewelry Punch, Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, Old Olive Designer Button, Mini Glue Dot, Janome Sew Mini.

Go To Sketches!

Happy Sunday! Hope your weekend is going well! I've spent oodles of time on lesson planning and grading, but now I'm free for some surfing and stamping! wheeee!


I was so excited to receive my copy of Go To Sketches in the mail last Thursday! I submitted five cards to this last fall, and they picked up four of them, so I was excited beyond belief, of course! lol! I love using sketches to make cards, it's kind of like cheating in a way, because the layout has already been decided for you, and you get to do the fun part...working with the yummy parts that make it pretty! This whole issue is FULL of amazing samples and sketches, I know I will use it again and again. If you can't find it in a store near you, it's available online here.


Well, I'm off...maybe *thinking* about cooking tonight, dh has worked hard pulling weeds in the yard all weekend. Have a great rest of your weekend, what little bit is left, lol! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Sketch For You To Try: U R Sew Sweet

Happy Saturday! I'm back with another sketch from the fabulous Jen at SFYTT! It's my last week for being the Guest Designer of the Month, boo! hoo! I used lots of yummy new Material Girl from Cosmo Cricket this week. Since my mom does quilting, this card will be perfect for her!


Be sure and check out what the rest of the design team has come up with this for this sketch:

Amber Height
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Jenn Dierks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

Would you like to be the guest designer for one of the upcoming months? Then all you have to do is play along...Jen is choosing from the current participants, so why not give it a go?!


I hope you have a super Saturday! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Hello Again Collection

Happy Friday! What a week, schwooo! I didn't think I was going to make it...getting some of the kids *broken in* (getting used to the rules again!) and going from 9 hours of sleep last week to 5 - 6 this week, it was killer! lol! So a BIG happy Friday!


Here's a collection...it started out as a trio, but then I made a fourth...of cards using the Hello Again stamp set. We received this at Convention last year and I hadn't used it yet, so after seeing another blog break it out the other day (I have to look up who it was!), I decided to break it out too! These are all little 4 1/4 x 4 1/4" square cards, and you can see that I was fixated on things coming off the right edge, ha! Hope you enjoy!










Hope you have a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

THANK u!

Happy Wednesday! Hope your week is going well!


Here's a little card I made awhile back, I think it was a rejected pub call from Paper Crafts several times back! ha! I loved the combination, though, Crushed Curry with the gray and a tad of that yummy blue. Lots of contraband here, a little October Afternoon, American Crafts, and a Jenni Bowlin ticket, I love those!


Okay, gotta dash! They installed the Smart Board software on my computer yesterday, so now it's officially up and running! I need to get there early and start figuring out how to use it! hee!


Have a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

ABC: Back to School

Happy Monday...evening! I meant to post this morning before school, but got busy unloading the dishwasher and folding laundry. Crazy, I know, but I'm always so tired after school, things don't always get done if I wait! It's probably, just me, right?!


Anywhooo, I thought I better share this card today since it's "Back to School"...and I won't have another back to school until next August! This was one of my recent submissions to the Paper Crafts Sept/Oct issue that didn't get picked up. However, I did get one card picked up, so I'll take that! ha! This was for the sketch challenge, you can see I flipped it. I thought I was *clever* since I cut out the "Back to School" piece from the packaging paper, it was on the cover of the 8x8 paper pad, from Report Card by October Afternoon. I hope you're not too sick of seeing that stuff!


It was a good day, but the kids weren't quite as tired as I had hoped! *wink* They were super excited to see the new Smart Board installed, although it won't work until they install the software on my computer sometime this week...trying to wait patiently!


Okay, I better sign off. Didn't get home until 6:30, then we had to watch The Amazing Race on DVR after eating (couldn't interfere with dh's fantasy baseball draft last night, here we go again with baseball season, sigh!), so I'm way behind schedule! See, good thing I got that dishwasher unloaded and laundry folded already! ha!


Thanks SO much for stopping by, you don't know how much I love hearing from you! Hugs and happy stamping!

Curtain Call Color Challenge: Act #22

Happy Sunday! Can't believe this is my last day of spring break, boo hoo! Actually, I'm kind of missing the kiddos and looking forward to seeing them tomorrow, shhh, don't tell!



I love Stacey and her artwork over at Stacey's Stamping Stage, so I thought I'd give this challenge a try today. I was trying to channel Dawn McVey, because she always rocks these vibrant, intense colors, but I'm afraid I fell short. Oh well! I have lots more Stampin' Up! samples to share this week...I dug out several *mostly untouched* sets and used them to make trios and quartets of cards! I've gotten so lazy about making *scrappy* cards, I thought I'd better see if I could still stamp! ha! I did all this even though I have brand new Cosmo Material Girl and Garden Variety sitting here tempting me! lol!


So, here's what we woke up to this morning, on the back deck:


And the tree in the front yard:


Crazy weather, huh? It's mostly melted away now, but it was pretty. This year has been the most snow we've ever seen in all our years in Dallas. Maybe spring will really come now...


Okay, peeps, that's it for today! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Kazan's Sketch #48: F is for Friends

Happy Saturday night! I squeezed in a card for Kazan's Sketch #48 from 2S4Y! I already had the Kraft card base with the blue paper sewed on it, a reject from a previous project, so it was pretty easy to slap the darling October Afternoon alphabet card on it. Don't you love that vintage look?


How is your weekend going? I should have left the house earlier, I'm going a little stir crazy tonight, ugh! Wish I had gone to a crop or something! hee! Guess I'll go see if I can squeeze another challenge in, I haven't tried Cath's Moxie Fab Doilies & Lace challenge yet.


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Cardstock: Kraft, October Afternoon Report Card patterned paper.
Accessories: SU Old Olive Striped Ribbon & Linen Thread, October Afternoon Report Card Alphabet Card, Foof-a-La buttons, Janome Sew Mini.

Sketch For You To Try: Happy New Home!

Happy Saturday! It's time for another one of Jen's fabulous sketches from Sketch For You To Try! I am having such a great time being the Guest Designer of the Month for March!


I looked at this sketch for a long time, trying to think of something different to do with the three bars, and this is what I came up with, finally! I love for a sketch to push me like this, great job, Jen! I had made the little circle piece with ribbon behind it last week for a card, but didn't end up using it, so voila, here it is! Save everything! ha!


Be sure and head over to SFYTT and check out Jen's card and play along! Remember, she's choosing future guest designers of the month from the sketch participants! Get some more inspiration from the rest of the design team:

Amber Height
Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Jenn Dierks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

Hope you have a great Saturday! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes.
Cardstock: Old Olive, The Write Stuff & Good Neighbor DSP.
Ink: Melon Mambo, Old Olive.
Accessories: Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon, Linen Thread, Maya Road chipboard house, Foof-a-La buttons, Little Yellow Bicycle Cardstock Stickers, Janome Sew Mini.

Happy Spring!

Happy Thursday! Goodness, this week is going by SO fast!


Here's the other little chicky card that I was going to share yesterday. See why I love this little chick! When I started making this card the other night, I had Kraft cardstock out, as usual, ha! But then I decided no! Try another color! So I rooted around and found this piece mixed in with my Soft Subtles, I think it's Cool Caribbean, right? I love it! I'm fishing some of those old In Colors out.


Okay, better dash, I'm meeting up with old (well, I'm the oldest, ha!) friends to check out their babies, have lunch at The Dove's Nest, and maybe a bit of shopping and cropping at The Crafty Scrapper. Fun!


Hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

EBTKS: Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy Wednesday and Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hope you are having a great week! I had a card all set to post today, but then I got up and remembered it was St. Patrick's Day, so I did a quick improv and made this little ditty using the Everything But the Kitchen Sink sketch challenge. Don't tell anyone, but I *may* tear off that sentiment and change it to a "Happy Easter" or "Happy Spring" and send it to my grandparents! They aren't computerized, so I think I'll be safe! *wink*


Do you love this little chick?! Be still my heart, I sure do! I found him at Red Lead Paperworks, he's unmounted red rubber on cling, kind of like the new Stampin' Up unmounted. He doesn't come in a neat case like Stampin' Up!, but I can probably find something. The patterned paper and brads are Basic Grey. I like those brads, but now they seem to kind of get lost on there, probably should have chosen something more eye-catching. Oh well, there's always another card tomorrow! ha!


Oh, by the way, that movie I saw yesterday, An Education...I can't say I recommend it. It was well written and had superb acting, etc, but to see that girl making bad choices and throwing her life away, ACK! It was torture! lol! I can't imagine how parents (not hers, they were lame) go through that, I really admire all of you parents out there for taking that on!


So, today's plan (Yes, every day needs a plan, if there is no plan with a self-imposed deadline and pressure, I fall apart!) is to finish school work...lesson plans, grading, prepping materials, etc. I put things off until the last day of Christmas break, and I swore I wouldn't do that again. However, I cleaned my stamping room last night, rearranged, made room, made certain things (like stamps!) easier to get to, etc and it sure looks awfully tempting...


Hmmm, the movie Matilda just came on Starz, that must be a sign to do school work! Speaking of which, oh my gosh, I don't think I've told y'all yet...I'm getting a Smart Board installed in my classroom this week! I still have to get the software on my computer next week, but check this out:








Okay, I guess that's it for me, Chatty Cathy, this morning! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: SU Teeny Tiny Wishes, A Hello Friend Story by Red Lead Paperworks.
Ink: SU Crushed Curry, Staz-On Black.
Cardstock: Kraft, Wild Wasabi, Crushed Curry, Whisper White; Basic Grey Nook & Pantry patterned paper.
Accessories: Crushed Curry Polka Dot Ribbon, Basic Grey Stitched Brads, Janome Sew Mini.

Oval All: fabulous friend

Happy Tuesday! Have I mentioned that spring break is wonderful?! hee! hee!


I spent Saturday and Sunday working on cards for the latest Paper Crafts submission. I don't think I was the only one either, because my browser kept crashing around midnight when I (or WE!) we were all trying to upload our submissions! lol! I have cards in 3 upcoming issues/publications, and I've decided I like receiving the checks as well as seeing my cards in print! ha! Gotta support the habit, ya know!


Anywhooo, I made this quick little card with some leftover parts. Don't you love that green chevron print?! It's from Basic Grey Nook & Pantry. It's hard to tell, but the oval scallop piece is one of the Stampin' Up! wood sheets. The little tree is from Forest Friends, I decided I needed to bring that one out for some spring and Easter cards.


Okay, better get moving. I started the neglected housework this morning, sigh. Later, though, I'm heading to the movies with my peep, Jenni. I am SO behind at the movies! We're going to see An Education, Jenni clued me in on it. Anyone seen it? Liked it?


Ta Ta for now! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Oval All, Forest Forest Friends.
Cardstock: Kraft, Tall Tales DSP, Wood Sheet, Basic Grey Nook & Pantry.
Ink: Staz-On Brown, Ruby Red, Chocolate Chip, Garden Green.
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, Wild Wasabi ribbon (retired), Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Dimensionals.

Embellish Challenge: rabbit

Happy Sunday! Hope you are having a wonderful weekend! The weather in Dallas is unbelievable! What a way to kick off spring break!


I decided to play with Ashley's Embellish color challenge with fabric this afternoon, I loved these colors! I used some dyed wool that I had saved from my rug-hooking days. I may have to break down and get the PTI scallop dies so I can use them on wool in my Big Shot. I did these cuts by hand, bet you couldn't tell, ha! It's a funny thing this card, I worked on one for HOURS and ended up hating it, then made this one in 10 minutes and loved it! Trying too hard, I guess...


I should go out and get some sunlight (to help that Vitamin D deficiency!), but I'm just not an outdoors girl. You might have caught my update on Facebook, I was outside for hours cleaning out the garage yesterday with dh! Yikes, was that a job, but I love the end result. Now we've had a steady stream of traffic pilfering through our embarassingly HUGE trash pile out front! ha!


Enjoy the remains of your weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Red Lead Paperworks.
Cardstock: Kraft, Basic Grey Nook & Pantry patterned paper.
Ink: Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: SU Linen Thread, Foof-a-La Buttons, Glue Dot, wool fabric.

Sketch For You To Try: so happy for you!

Happy Saturday! I'm so excited to have another Sketch For You To Try (SFYTT) card to share as Designer of the Month over at Jen's {i Heart to Stamp}! She has another great sketch with lots of possibilites, as you can tell from the way I flipped it!


I used a mix of goodies that have a vintage feel, love the vintage. I was lucky to receive a box of goodies from Cath at Moxie Fab, including some Basic Grey goodies, so that's mostly what I used. The cutey pie winking gal is Cosmo Cricket, the little label is October Afternoon, the fabby hand-made crochet flower is one of Cloud's originals, and the little bling on top of the flower is a vintage earring from my secret *stash*. Yummm!


Need some more inspiration? Check out the awesome samples from Jen's Design Team:

Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Jenn Dierks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

Be sure and head over to SFYTT and give this sketch a go! Remember, you may be chosen as a future Designer of the Month too! I can't wait to see what you come up with!


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Happy Birthday, little monster!

It's Friday! It's Friday! It's really, really Friday! Can you hear me singing?! That means Spring Break is just hours away! I can't wait to get my stamps out and play! I've been very *scrappy* lately because it's quick and easy, so I'm really looking forward to getting the stamps out again.


So, here's one quick little card I made at a crop awhile back. Super easy little card with that little Sassafrass monster, that line is so cute!


Hope you have a great Friday! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Surviving Formal Education...

Happy Thursday! Two more days 'til Spring Break! Thank goodness, this week is killing me! lol! Between the getting ready for next week (it would be so nice to have all my school work finished before leaving Friday!), feeling a burst of spring cleaning (at school, not home!) and the kids' excitement, schwooo! What a week!


Here's a quick card I made awhile back, and since I've been spending SO much time at school this week, it seem appropriate to show it now! Ha! It's mostly October Afternoon Report Card goodies, love that stuff! Pretty simple little card, I think the sentiment is great!


Okay, better dash! Hope you are having a great week! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Chocolate Bunny Artisan Swap

Happy Monday! I just realized I never got around to posting my Scrapbook Sunday yesterday, oops! I think I say it every week, but I don't know how the weekend goes by so quickly. I'm counting down, 5 days until Spring Break!


I didn't get much stamping done this weekend, but I do have this little Chocolate Bunny, or I guess I should say a White Chocolate Bunny, card that I made for an Artisan Swap with the other Stampin' Up! Artistan Award winners. I haven't got the swaps back yet, I can hardly wait. These girls make some fabulous cards! I can't tell you how many versions of this card I worked through before I found this one acceptable. It's a high pressure group for me! ha!


A few details...for the background shape, I ran the Sweet Pea patterned paper through the Big Shot with the Oval Scallop die. I used the inside piece to stamp the bunny in Versamark then emboss with White Embossing Powder, then I cut him out with scissors. Next, I cut small pieces of the green polka dot paper and the yellow floral paper and laid them on top of the Oval Scallop die, placing the edges together, making sure I had enough to cover the whole oval shape, then ran it through the Big Shot too. They came out two separate pieces, then I glued them down inside the blue Oval Scallop frame. Hope that makes sense, let me know if you have any questions!


Okay, better get a move on, busy day today. Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Chocolate Bunny, Teeny Tiny Wishes.
Cardstock: Kraft, Sweet Pea & Razzleberry Lemonade DSP.
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versarmark.
Accessories: Big Shot, Oval Scallop Die, Heat Tool, White Embossing Powder, Rich Razzleberry Polka Dot Ribbon, Butterfly Punch, So Saffron Designer Series Button, Linen Thread, Janome Sew Mini.

Kazan's Sketch #47: Hoppy Easter

Here I am back for a second time on Saturday! Shocking, I know!


I wanted to play along with Kazan's Sketch #47 over at 2S4Y, so I took a little break from grading papers. I used a little more of my new Prima goodies, and a little Sassafrass Lass bunny. Now, I just have to remember to send this to someone for Easter! lol! Hope you are having a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes. Cardstock: Not Quite Navy, Cameo Coral, Prima Umbrella patterned paper, vintage book paper. Ink: Basic Black. Accessories: Prima Umbrella Flower, Sassafrass Lass Chipboard bunny, American Crafts Thickers, Big Shot, Ovals Dies, Janome Sew Mini.

Sketch For You To Try: Cheer Up!

Happy Saturday! I'm so excited to share that the fabulous Jen del Muro from i {heart} to stamp has invited me to the March Designer of the Month with her super popular Sketch For You To Try challenges! I've loved Jen ever since stamping with her several years ago at a Splitcoast Shoebox Swap. She used to be a teacher, you know, and I was just starting out so I really picked her brain! Her sketches and artwork are amazing, so be sure and go check it out!


Would you like to be a Designer of the Month too?! Well come play along! She'll be choosing the future Designers of the Month from the participants in the challenges! I played along last month, that's how I got the gig! *wink*


Be sure and check out the amazing samples the design team has prepared also:

Amy Rohl
Amy Sheffer
Jenn Dierks
Kelly Lunceford
Leigh O'Brien
Megan Lock
Susan Liles

For my card, I used some new Prima Umbrella goodies that I was lucky enough to win from the Paper Crafts blog, pinch me! Maybe I got a little carried away with that big bow, but I've been saving that ribbon for awhile now, and it is so utterly yummy!


Now, I can't wait to see what you come up with for the sketch! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Cardstock: SU Red Riding Hood (retired), Prima Umbrella patterned paper, Pink Paislee woodgrain paper.
Accessories: Prima Umbrella Chipboard & Flower, Basic Grey Chipboard Letters, Jenni Bowlin Vintage Brown Stickers, May Arts Sheer 1 1/2" Ribbon.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

Happy Thursday! And Happy Birthday to my darling niece, Emma! She is the cutest, sweetest, funniest, smartest, and most creative little girl ever!


Hope your week is going great! Might I mention, counting today there are 7 more school days until Spring Break?!


Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Fox & Friends: whoo-la-la!

Happy Tuesday! How did your week start off? I had pretty good day, especially considering I'd only had 4 hours of sleep. Sometimes those days don't go well! ha!


I made this card Sunday for the Embellish challenge. I just went back to link it and noticed it said it had to have borders! Schwooo! I just happen to have one. I must start reading better! lol! I wanted to play because the colors really grabbed me, so springy and fresh! I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one out there who is ready for spring! Don't you love that green crochet flower?! I finally broke down and used one of my precious hand-crocheted flower from Clouds. Love that girl, thank you!! Oh, and that circle wood grain piece came was leftover from this card. Waste not, want not, right?!


Okay, better head out. I need to stop and get some yams. Bet ya don't hear that every day?! We are reading an African folktale and it has yams in it. I'm pretty sure the kids won't know what yams are...


Hope you have a great day! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Fox & Friends, Woodgrain, Owl Together Now (sentiment).
Cardstock: So Saffron, Whisper White, Wood sheet, Sweet Pea DSP, Making Memories peach polka dot, green check (can't remember!).
Ink: Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip.
Accessories: Scallop Edge Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, So Saffron 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, Big Shot, Pennant Die, So Saffron Flower Brad.

Animal Stories: Splitcoast VSN Winter Olympics

Happy Monday! It's raining cats and dogs here...can't even get my dog to go outside in it!


I had a chance to make one more card for the Splitcoast VSN Winter Olympics...this one is for On the Waterfront...you had to incorporate something to do with water. After I made the card, I could not decide on a greeting. It looked kind of babyish, but the red is so bright, I wasn't sure. I decided to go with it anyway. I asked dh for advice on a sentiment and this was his suggestion: Congratulations on your pregnancy...you look like a whale. Nice! But I think I want to keep my pregnant friends! lol!


Hope you have a great day!


Recipe
Stamps: Animal Stories.
Cardstock: Basic Gray, Whisper White, Bashful Blue Textured.
Ink: Basic Gray.
Accessories: Real Red Polka Dot Ribbon, Bashful Blue Designer Button, 1 1/4" Circle Punch (to make the waves), Dimensionals, Martha Stewart red/white twine, MLS mini alphabet stickers.