2 Sketches 4 You: Kazan's Sketch #60

Happy Monday! It's time for a new sketch over at 2S4Y! I loved this sketch of Kazan's, it was so easy to work with! So easy, in fact, I made two cards...even if I did *square* them up a bit!



Our sponsor this week is Paper Makeup Stamps, and they sent us some super fun stamps to work with! (The ribbons are from Craft Brulee!) Don't you love that turquoise lace? I know a lot of gardeners I could use this stamp for! And check out this divine, lacy flower below, such vintage goodness, along with this fabby chick:

Make sure you head over to 2S4Y and check out the rest of the rockin' design team samples and play along with us!


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

Apple Blossoms: 4U

Happy Sunday! Hope everyone is having a great weekend! I've been working like a maniac trying to get caught up and get ahead on school stuff, sigh. We had a great first week, though. I think I have an awesome group of kids this year, super excited!


I gave this little card to one of the 2nd grade teachers on our team this week. I only learned at 4:00 it was her birthday, so the next day I had this and some Reese's Halloween pumpkins for her, yummmmm! I wish I had some right now actually!


Gotta keep moving...if I sit down for more than 5 minutes at a time, I find it seriously impairs my productivity! ha! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!



Recipe
Stamps: Apple Blossoms.
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, Whisper White, Poppy Parade Print Patterns, Melissa Philips lavender dot.
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Poppy Parade.
Accessories: Basic Black Brad-Library Clip-Grosgrain Ribbon, Curly Label Punch.

Happy Birthday, Laura!!

The fabulous Laura from 2S4Y is celebrating her birthday today!


To help her celebrate, the 2S4Y design team is kicking off a Happy Birthday to Laura Blog Hop!


Here's the line-up:

Angie (you are here)

Courtney
Kazan
Kelly Marie
Regina
Rosemarie
Stacey

Start hopping and leave Laura some love!


We love you, Laura, and hope you have a super, fabulous day!

2010-2011 School Year Kick-Off!

Happy Wednesday! Day 3 and I'm dying already, ha!


Here's a couple of quick picks of my room!


Favorite moment so far:
End of Day 2 and little MB raises his hand and says, "I'm so happy!" SO. SWEET.


Worst moment so far:
Little AV looks at a picture of me taken four years ago and says, "Is that when you were young?" Yes. Before I started teaching.



How do you like the vinyl wall decor from Stampin' Up!? "Do good. Be kind." Love it.


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

2 Sketches 4 You: Laura's Sketch #59

Happy Monday!


It's time to play with Laura's Sketch #59 over at 2 Sketches 4 You!


This week's Card of the Week winner will get a special prize: guest designer spot at 2S4Y!! Cool, huh?!


Check out the sketch, the rest of the design team samples, and upload your card over at 2S4Y!


As you read this at 8:00 am, I'm welcoming my students to the first day of 2nd grade! Sweet!


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

Teacher Thanks

Happy Saturday! It's the weekend! Whoo! Hoo!


Here's a card I made a few weeks ago and seems appropriate since I've been *living* at the school! ha! The base is SU Bordering Blue, which retired, but I've always loved it.


I'm finishing up a project here at home and heading back to school...still some more details to finalize. My room actually looks pretty good, but there's still more I can do. I'm going to try and make myself stay away tomorrow. I get so obsessive-compulsive, it sucks! I probably wasted two plus hours yesterday obsessively scrubbing the desks and trying to remove every last stain and bit of tape residue. Don't even ask how many Mr. Clean bars I used! ha! The day before it was the walls, baseboards, door trim, etc. It smells good in there at least!


Here's a pic of my library I took with my iphone last night and facebooked. I got that rug last year (you may remember, hee!) and it was pretty stained by the end of the year. Well, it cleaned up great with that Spot Shot cleaner. I've avoided pillows in the past because of lice, but we haven't had any cases for the last 3 years, and this pillow and case were so dang cute at Target, on sale for $7.49 each, I couldn't resist!




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

Aren't You Sweet

Happy Thursday!


I played with some of my Unity stamps a couple of weeks ago! I had this fabric swatch in one of my old Scarlet Lime kits, then I found this sentiment in one of my Unity Stamp kits and it matched so perfectly! I know so many people who are sweet and deserve this card...who shall I send it to?! hee! hee!


Tonight is Meet the Teacher night at school from 6:00-7:30, can't wait to get a look at which of last year's first graders will be mine! *wink* Hopefully I'll have some pics of my classroom to share soon. I changed a few things this year and I'm loving it!! Our new building is half-way done now, but we won't be moving in until next school year. It's okay with me, my room is huge and I love the 125 year old church building. We even got air purifiers in every classroom this year, so maybe that will help make this my healthiest year ever! ha!


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

Thanks...with a zig zag

Happy Wednesday! Hope you're having a great week! I'm working frantically in back-to-school mode and this old girl is hurting! I'll try to take some pictures soon...


Here's a quick share...another card with the Thanks stamp. I cut out a zig zag from this paper (I forget what it's called!) and sewed around it, easy peasy!


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

2 Sketches 4 You: Kazan's Sketch #59

Happy Monday!


Time for Kazan's Sketch #59 at 2S4Y! It's a good one!


This week the design team got to use some FUN digital stamps from AI Factory! Isn't this little birdy darling?! I took the "Wishing you a tweet day" sentiment and made it into the background piece.


Be sure and head over to 2S4Y, check out the other samples from Kazan and the design team, and upload your project based on the sketch! Can't wait to see!


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


Recipe
Stamps: AI Factory.
Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, The Girls' Paperie patterned paper, beak/feet SU retired scraps.
Accessories: Pink Paislee ribbon, Buttons Galore button, SU Linen Thread, mini glue dot, dimensionals.

Scrapbook Sunday #27: Thanks page

Happy Sunday! I hope you're having a great weekend! I had one more SU Convention page to share using the Thanks stamp set with my lovely friend Asha and her daughter again. She had another baby recently and shared more photos, so that's good news for me and my scrapbooking for events! I made up the journaling myself, but I'm pretty sure Asha would agree with it.



This page is about as *simple* as they could possibly come. I used the new In Color Blushing Bride, LOVE it! I stamped the Thanks stamp in Basic Gray ink, but I stamped off on scratch paper first, then stamped on the cardstock, so it's lighter. Then I stamped the Thanks stamp again on another piece of cardstock in full strength Basic Gray and punched out parts of the words with the Three Hearts punch and laid them over the text on the page using Mini Glue Dots. I also attached some small hearts punched out of the plain, unstamped cardstock. That was probably way too wordy when you already had it figured out anyway! If so, sorry!


Well, off to do some errands then get ready for my friend Lori's wedding tonight! SO happy for her!


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


Recipe
Stamps: Thanks.
Cardstock: Blushing Bride, Basic Gray.
Ink: Basic Gray, Basic Black marker for journaling.
Accessories: Three Hearts punch (I forget its *legal* name!)

Paisley Prints: Christmas tree celebrate

Happy Friday! I'm back to having great reasons to celebrate the weekend! Whoo! Hoo!


In case you were getting tired of the "Thanks" stamp, here's a change of pace with a new set called Paisley Prints. It's from the Holiday Mini and will be available to order September 1. I love the little paisley tree from this set best.


This one's super simple...I used the matching paisley wheel for the Crumb Cake strip and wrapped it with a HUGE amount of Linen Thread...I was taking deep breaths to use so much! ha! For the folded green strip, I curled it up a lot, back and forth, breaking down the fibers in the paper, then pulled it apart gently so you can see the "inside" of the cardstock. It gives you a little different texture, that "suede" look.


I'll be back tomorrow and I'll be catching up on my Google Reader too, it's amazing how behind you can get in just a couple of days! Yikes! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Paisley Prints.
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Whisper White, Crumb Cake, Poppy Parade, Wild Wasabi.
Ink: Wild Wasabi, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso.
Accessories: Linen Thread, Mini Library Clip, dimensionals.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Happy Thursday! And Happy Birthday to my dad!


As I was sitting in my stamp room Tuesday afternoon, I had this sudden feeling like "I'm forgetting something!" Then I always go to "What month is it? Whose birthday is it?" Does anyone else do this?! Luckily I had time to whip this little card up, run to Lowe's for a gift card, and get it mailed in time! Schwooo!


I used the retired stamp set It's Your Birthday, still one of my fave birthday sets, and the Play Date designer series paper. I picked the part of the paper starting with high numbers, just to be ornery, he's not really close to 89, heh! heh! I was inspired by this teacher card by Charity Hassel I saw for Sketch #179 over at CPS. I am totally nuts over her card!


So I survived the first day back to school yesterday, although I've gotten a little *soft* over the summer! It officially started at noon, but I worked in my room all morning and got a lot done. I think it's going to be a great year!


Hope your week is going well! It's almost Friday! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: It's Your Birthday.
Cardstock: Pear Pizazz, Not Quite Navy, Play Date DSP.
Ink: Early Espresso.
Accessories: Early Espresso Button, Linen Thread, 3/4" square punch.

Thanks...

Happy Wednesday! Hope you're having a great week!


Here's another Thanks card for the SU Convention, hope you're not getting tired of these yet, I still have more to go. I stamped the image in Old Olive first in the middle, then in Real Red, and Pacific Point. It was a little plain, so I jazzed it up with some stitching since I didn't have many accessories to work with. This could work well for a masculine thanks, something that can be kind of tricky for us girly girls! ha!

And so it begins...the 2010 school year...I'm off to In-service, sigh. I'm actually ready to get back to school, I think...


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


Recipe
Stamps: Thanks.
Cardstock: Basic Black, Pacific Point, Whisper White.
Ink: Pacific Point, Real Red, Old Olive.
Accessories: Mini Library Clip, sewing machine, dimensionals.

Thanks...star peek a boo

Happy Tuesday!


Here's another card using the Thanks stamp I made for the SU Convention. I was trying to think of something different for it, so I used the star punch and made the "thanks" as a peek-a-boo underneath. Don't you love the deep red of that the new Cherry Cobbler?!


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


Recipe
Stamps: Thanks, Tiny Tags.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso.
Ink: Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso.
Accessories: Star Punch, Modern Label Punch, Jewelry Tag,Natural Hemp, dimensionals.

2 Sketches 4 You: Laura's Sketch #58

Happy Monday!


It's time for 2 Sketches 4 You with Laura's Sketch #58! This week our sponsor is The Character Cafe who makes all kinds of fun digi stamps. The winner of Card of the Week will be receiving a $15 gift certificate!


Here's my card using this sweet little fairy and Laura's fabulous sketch:





Head on over to 2S4Y to see what the rest of the design team has come up with and load up your card!


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

Jolly Old Saint Nick!

Happy Saturday! I'm back early with a challenge card! I've been working on some projects but decided I needed a fun card, just for the heck of it! Plus, I received some new SU Holiday Mini catalog pre-order items this week, so how could I not play with them a little bit?! I promise not to go crazy and start showing you Christmas things every day in August, but believe me, it would be so easy with these new Holiday Mini items!


On to the card...I used the great colors from the Play Date Color Cafe Challenge #41 as well as Jen's SFYTT from today. What a fabby sketch! This one came together very quickly! But now, time for true confessions from a lunkhead stamper...the card started out as a one-layer card with those embossed dots on it. Then, when I decided in a genius moment to sew that folded paper down with the scrunched up lace...I sewed the card shut. Yes, I really did. So remember, when sewing things down the front of your card, open it up first. Ugh! I couldn't waste it, though, so I just trimmed it down and stuck it to a new card base. Remember, boys and girls, there's always a solution for mistakes in paper-crafting!


Okay, I'm outta here. I've had stinkin' migraines the past two night and it's trying to creep back on me now, that little {insert expletive}. I hope you have a great weekend! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Jolly Old St. Nick (Holiday Mini).
Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Candy Cane Christmas DSP (Holiday Mini).
Ink: Staz-On Brown, Cherry Cobbler, Blush Blossom.
Accessories: So Saffron ribbon, Aquapainters, Cherry Cobbler Big Button (Holiday Mini), Big Shot, Sizzix Winter Set embossing folder, vintage lace, Janome Sew mini.

Baby...sweet sunshine

Happy Friday!


Here's a little pub call reject card from a few weeks ago, but I still like it! *grin*


A little mix of Little Yellow Bicycle Fresh Print Clothesline, a little October Afternoon and American Crafts Flair, plus a little Big Shot texture and alphabet. Oh yes, and a Jenni Bowlin ticket, love those!


I'm recovering this evening...yes, I had to work a half day today...human resources benefits enrollment stuff. Then I ran some errands, so schwooo, I am wiped out! heh! heh!


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

THANKS to you

And for something completely different...


The new Thanks stamp. Yes, just a stamp, not a set.


When I first got this to make Convention samples with, I panicked a little...how to make 5 cards, 2 three-D projects, and a scrapbook page with one lonely stamp. But I love anything with text-related, so I jumped right in and attacked these projects first, and they were probably the easiest for me.


I hope you're having a great week, it's almost Friday! I'm feeling a little bit like the grasshopper who enjoyed my summer and didn't gather food for winter like the ant did, so now I'm doomed. Doh!


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


Recipe
Finished card size: 6 1/2" x 3 1/4"
Stamps: Thanks, Fabulous Phrases.
Cardstock: Poppy Parade, So Safron, Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizazz.
Ink: Pear Pizazz, Poppy Parade.
Accessories: Big Shot, Simple Alphabet Dies, 1/2" Circle Punch, Linen Thread, Tempting Turquoise Button, Dimensionals.

Just Believe: 3D!

Happy Wednesday! How about a little 3-D action with the Just Believe stamp set?! A little gift box with removable lid.


I don't remember too much about it, sigh. I had saved the sheet with measurements for awhile, but then I cleaned up and it seems to be gone. It's one of those simple boxes with the lid made just a tiny bit larger than the box. I decided the edges needed more detail later, so I added strips with the scallop edges on top. Now that I see it photographed from above, it really doesn't look very good! I should have disguised that better with some cool blanket stitching or something.


Anywhooo, let me know if you have any questions about this. Which reminds me, dh asked me not to say "anywhooo." Isn't that odd? For the most part, he thinks I do no wrong (it's true, I told you he was a saint!), but this bothers him. Now I find it very hard not to say it ALL the time! (Insert evil grin here!)


Actually, maybe I just think he thinks I do no wrong, because the other day we were talking and he was saying some seriously funny stuff. Then he noticed me writing on a piece of paper...


DH: What are you doing?
Me: Writing this down.
DH: Why?
Me: So I can remember it and put it on my blog.
DH: I don't wanna be on your blog. (Think of Jerry Seinfeld saying "But I don't wanna be a pirate!)


Now, where's that paper...


Oh yes, found it. Remember this chair I bought for $5 awhile back? It was supposed to go in my craft room. I wheeled it in late that night and left it in the living room. Well, it looks dang good in the living room! I know, crazy! But our living is all brown and cream and believe me, it just works. So here's how this conversation went:

DH: Did you put that chair in your office? (I think "office" indiciates that the activities performed in there could possibly result in income some day.)
Me: No, I'm leaving it in the living room.
DH: But it's an office chair.
Me: I know, but it looks good.
DH: But it's an office chair.
Me: I know, but it's amazing how it's brought new life into that tired, old room.
DH: Here's what's amazing, how the monstrous cliches roll out of you.


Isn't he funny?! See why I wrote that down? Now let's just hope he doesn't read the blog anytime soon and keeps on thinking I do no wrong. *grin*


Thanks so much for stopping by...and putting up with my ramblings! Hugs and happy stamping!

Just Believe...with real embossing!

Happy Tuesday, people! Hope your week is going well!


Here's a quick share...my last SU convention card sample with Just Believe. I whipped out the big guns for this one...yes, my heat embossing gun! Y'all know I'm a lazy stamper! Since I was obviously too lazy to color in this image with my markers (I've seen some other beautiful samples where this was done, never even occurred to me!), I gave it some overall color by stamping in Versamark then heat embossing with white embossing powder. White embossing is my fave, the results are always so dramatic!


Okay, gotta roll. Every precious moment counts on my last week off! lol! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Just Believe
Cardstock: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Greenhouse Gala designer series paper.
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Versamark.
Accessories: White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, White Satin Ribbon, Border Punch, Linen Thread, Big Shot, Lots of Tags SU Sizzlits die, Linen Thread, Buttons (Old Olive, So Saffron, Whisper White).

2 Sketches 4 You: Home Sweet Home

Happy Monday! I'm so excited to share my first sketch card as a design team member over at 2 Sketches 4 You! I've been playing along with me since the very beginning, since Laura and Kazan are so talented and crazy nice and have the best sketches. I noticed the other day you can click on Sketches By 2S4U at the top of their website and have access to ALL of their weekly sketches and card samples. What a great resource!



This week's sponsor for Kazan's Sketch #58 is Tiffany Doodles and they have an amazing selection of digital stamps! When I saw this darling "couch" image, it called out to the old interior designer in me, and I knew it would work perfectly with a very literal translation of this week's sketch. I even splurged and used one of the antique keys that I've been hoarding! ha! (Of course, it's not out of the house yet...) Be sure and check out the amazing samples the rest of the design team came up with, I was blown away!



I can't wait to check out your creations with this week's sketch! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!



Recipe
Stamps: Digital "Couch" from Tiffany Doodles.
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, The Girls' Paperie.
Accessories: Making Memories crochet trim, clock from The Girls' Paperie, velvet ribbon uknown, vintage key, "Home Sweet Home" from All My Memories, Janome Sew Mini.

Scrapbook Sunday #26: Paisley Prints Maya

Happy Sunday! Hope you're having a great weekend!


I'm back with another scrapbook page, one from the SU Convention display samples. Again, it's my friend Asha's beautiful little girl. Maybe if I had kids this cute (or kids at all!), I'd be inspired to scrapbook more! In the meantime, I'll just keep borrowing!


I think the page is Sahara Sand. I was supposed to use the new Paisley Prints stamp and matching wheel (coming out in Holiday Mini available September 1), which I did, I just kept it very simple. The picture was so cute, every time I tried to add more, it took away from the picture. Plus, we didn't have many accessories to work with since the new catalog with new accessories wasn't out yet and they asked us not to use retired accessories. Good thing I like simple anyway!


I stamped the pumpkin and cut it out. Then I ran the wheel on the Melon Mambo cardstock and cut out the little "flags" and the little rectangles to stamp the words on. That new Fabulous Phrases set is a really good word set, lots of fun combinations you can make in a really pretty, fun script. Oh, to make the flags somewhat consistent, I used the 3/4" square punch to punch squares, then I cut the squares in half. I attached them with mini glue dots to give a little dimension.


Okay, back to projects! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Paisley Prints, Fabulous Phrases.
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie.
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Staz-On Black.
Accessories: 3/4" Square Punch, Janome Sew Mini.