Owl Occasions: happy birthday

Eeeek! Another owl card! I promise something different tomorrow! :)

This is the first card I made with Owl Occasions when I met friends for a day of papercrafting at The Crafty Scrapper earlier this week. I used the Clean and Simple FTL #199 sketch for this, always a great place to go to get your mojo moving!

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

Recipe

Stamps: Owl Occasions.

Cardstock: Crumb Cake.

Ink: Midnight Muse, Raspberry Ripple, Gumball Green, Staz-on On Brown.

Accessories: Raspberry Ripple Dahlia.

Clean & Simple FTL198: Happy Birthday Friend

Happy Thursday and almost Friday!

Here's the last card I made during my stamp-a-thon last Sunday with Cindy. This was the first challenge we tried and we used the Clean and Simple FTL#198. You can't go wrong with a sketch from the Clean and Simple blog to jump start your creativity! You can see Cindy's adorable card here, she used the new Reason to Smile set!

I proposed like 40 minutes for this challenge, and I used the Blue Ribbon set and started out trying a 5 1/4" square card. It wasn't working, ugh, so I dug through my kraft cardstock scrap file and found a 4 1/4" square card that had some stitching and a bench image using the Have a Seat stamp set. I ripped that image off, and no, it wasn't a clean tear, some white cardstock remained. That forced me to crumple up my new Baja Breeze patterned paper piece and adhere it "loosely" so you couldn't tell there was old cardstock remnants below, lol! Anyway, I went a little over on time for our challenge, but I like how it came together finally. Do you ever do that, recycle old rejected cards or card parts? That would be a fun bloggy link up party!

Okay, that's enough talk for today. I'm *steeling* myself up for a dreaded annual check-up this afternoon, I think you know what I'm talking about. Maybe I'll go out for *pancakes* when I'm done. Get it?! lol!

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

Recipe

Stamps: Blue Ribbon and Family Reunion.

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral, Midnight Muse, Whisper White, Twitterpated DSP. 

Ink: Midnight Muse.

Accessories: Scallop & 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Ticket Duo Punch, Calypso Coral brads, Corner Rounder, Stampin' Dimensionals, sewing machine & thread.

Embellish Felt Color Challenge & CAS FTL 110!

Happy Sunday evening! Got back from my weekend paper-crafting retreat earlier this afternoon, exhausted, but happy, and shocked at how little paper-crafting I got done! lol! It might have had something to do with the massage, or the naps, or the talking, or the movies, or the 5 hour shopping trip to Longview, but it's all good, right?!


This is the second card I made (right after my 2S4Y card for tomorrow, *wink*!) and I was so happy to play along with some more challenges! I used Ashley's Embellish Felt & Color Challenge as well as the Clean & Simple FTL #110 sketch. Fun, fun, fun!


Just finished up a little misc. grading, now a few things to get ready for school tomorrow, and hopefully off to bed *somewhat* early! Don't forget to come by tomorrow for a new sketch from Kazan over at 2S4Y!! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Cardstock: SU Chocolate Chip, My Mind's Eye Lost & Found patterned paper & die-cut.
Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, PTI Large Scallop Die, misc. cream felt, SU Linen Thread, Buttons Galore buttons.

Clean & Simple: 100th Sketch Celebration!

Happy Friday! I am super excited today to be participating in the Clean & Simple Blog's 100th Sketch Celebration! I can't believe it's already been 100 sketches for them! If you're not already aware, you can always find a great, interesting, doable sketch there to get your creativity going when you need it!


I ended up making three cards with this sketch, I just couldn't stop! I had more idea too, so you may end up seeing it again! *wink* Here are my other two cards using sketch 100:






But wait, the fun isn't over yet! (do I sound like an infomercial person?!) Clean & Simple has organized a little blog hop to celebrate, yippee! Check out this list of fabulous bloggers (click their name to go to their blog) for more inspiration with the 100th sketch!

• Becky Carafa
  
• Harriet Skelly
  
• Heather Pulvirenti
  
• Iwona Palamountain
• Jen Carter
  
• Julie Ebersole
  
• Julie Lacey
• Kelly Jo
  
• Lea Lawson
  
• Natasha Trupp
  
• Silke Ledlow
  
• Susan Raihala
  

When you're done soaking in all that inspiration, make your card and head on over to the Clean & Simple blog to upload it! I can't wait to see what you create! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Saturday Two-fer...Teacher Cards!

Happy Saturday! How is your weekend going so far?! I am off to a slow start, stayed up late last night stamping (after a long nap, ya know!) so I slept in a wee bit! Still need to get my coffee...


I got to play with my October Afternoon Report Card stamps last night, what teacher could resist these, especially one who loves vintage stuff?! I wanted to make a few cards for special people at school. The one above is for a kindergarten aide. She's the first one to school around 6:20 to get her copies made before the other teachers get there so they can use the copier. Then yesterday morning she was sweeping and cleaning the main hallway because our amazing cleaning lady Lupe had been off on Thursday and she didn't want her to come back to such a mess. I don't know her well, but I am very impressed by her thoughtfulness and dedication.


Thank you to the Clean & Simple blog girls for the layout on the card above! I love their layouts! Even though I didn't stick to the *scrolly* look at the right, their FTL77 made this card come together super fast!


The second card is for the ESL teacher who comes in and helps me everyday. Boy, was I blessed to get her help this year! She is an amazing teacher and does so much for the kids as well as for me! Her husband, along with her help, runs a non-profit organization that helps refugees coming to Dallas. They are so inspiring. She'll be gone in two weeks on a trip, so I wanted to make her a card that shows how much I appreciate her and will miss her!



Schwooo, that's a long post this morning! Well, it's no longer morning, I guess, oops! I'm off to work on a few top secret projects, hmmmmmm. I'm even going to have to turn off the tv and devote my entire creative concentration to them, intrigued?! lol!


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


Recipe Card 1
Finished size: 6 1/2" x 3 1/4"
Stamps: Report Card by October Afternoon, SU You Make Me Happy sentiment.
Cardstock: Whisper White, October Afternoon Report Card stripe paper.
Ink: SU Ruby Red, Staz-On Black.
Accessories: SU Kiwi Kiss cordury brad, Foof-a-La buttons, May Arts ribbon, stapler.


Recipe Card 2
Finished size: 4 1/4" x 4 1/4"
Stamps: Report Card by October Afternoon, Stamper's Anonymous sentiment
Cardstock: Whisper White.
Ink: SU Ruby Red, Staz-On Black.
Accessories: May Arts ribbon, Foof-a-La button.

Let It Snow!

Happy Sunday! I know some of you lucky peeps have snow right now, but not us in Texas! It's taking me a little while to unwind and start getting creative since school let out Friday, but I think I'm feeling it now! lol!


I loved the colors in the challenge for Embellish Magazine this week, so yummy! As I just went back to link up, I noticed the challenge was also to use snowflakes...well, I got lucky there because I hadn't read that little detail in the fine print, but just happily happened to use a snowflake! Schwooo! I guess it was meant to be! I also used the FTL 71 from the Clean & Simple blog. I love their sketches and cards!


Are you all ready for the holidays?! I'm afraid I'm not quite there yet, but I don't seem to be doing anything about it either, yikes! Wish me luck this week!


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


Recipe
Cardstock: SU Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry; October Afternoon Report card check papaer.
Accessories: SU Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Linen Thread & Snowflake; American Crafts flair; Cuttlebug, Swiss Dot & Snowflake Embossing Folders.

Clean & Simple FTL #41: Owl Together Now

Happy Friday! Can you say TGIF?! I decided, after some rest, to stamp a little something around 11:30 last night...what is wrong with me?! I seriously need someone to come and hit me over the head with a club and knock me out and put me to bed at a decent hour! lol!


Since I was getting a late start, I decided to go with the Clean and Simple look and went with the fabulous Fall-to-Layout #41. I flipped it to make room for my three little owls. Seeing this card finished just further convinced me that I should never attempt watercoloring! lol!


Okay, need to get to bed! Must get up soon! Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!


Recipe
Stamps: Owl Together Now
Cardstock: Almost Amethyst, Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Regal Rose, Apricot, Patterns DSP in Pretty in Pink, Apricot, Amethyst, and Regal Rose.
Ink: Staz-On Brown, markers in Chocolate Chip, Almost Amethyst, Regal Rose, Apricot.
Accessories: Chocolate Chip 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon, 1 1/4" & 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Aquapainter, Dimensionals.

Clean & Simple FTL #38: Friends 24-7

Happy Tuesday! Hope everyone had a good Monday! I came home and scored and assembled 70 little books of 3rd grade math problems, and that seriously cut into my stamping time! lol! So I stayed up way too late, of course, because I really *had* to stamp something. You've been there, right?!



So I turned to the Clean and Simple blog for the Fall to Layout #38, it's a great sketch! In my mind it was going to be very sharp and clean and contemporary, but then I found that blue plaid Sassafrass scrap laying on my desk, then I remembered I hadn't used some yummy new Maya Road pom pom trim I bought at The Crafty Scrapper, etc....so before you knew it, I was going in a totally different direction! It's not quite as *clean and simple* as I was hoping for, but it sufficed for the evening!



And I didn't get any stamping done Sunday night because after cleaning the house I remembered I had to cut out 250+ little laminated cards of math problems! Ugh! At least I had the Amazing Race and some movies to watch on the DVR while I did it! I'll be so glad after the TAKs testing is over next week! By the way, I tried to fool the kids with these problems on brightly colored laminated cardstock, it only worked for about 2 minutes! hee! hee! I had to throw in a prize incentive too!


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


Recipe
Stamps: Friends 24-7
Cardstock: Kraft, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla, Sassafrass Lass patterned paper.
Ink: Not Quite Navy, Chocolate Chip.
Accessories: Latte Button, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Cutter Tool Kit, Maya Road Pom Pom Trim.

Clean & Simple FTL #32: Be Hoppy

Happy Wednesday! 3 Days to Go! Whoo! Hooo!

Here's a quicky...no time to stamp last night...but woke up this morning at 4:30 and couldn't fall back asleep, so whipped this one up quickly. I used the Clean and Simple FTL #32 Sketch. (That stands for "fall to layout"...I had to look it up too, hee! hee!

I used some Sassafrass Lass...yup, actually cut into some paper! Even used some precious pink Thickers! The "hoppy" is that Big Shot Billboard strip die...it's turning into a "fall to" item for me too!

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

Clean and Simple #31 Challenge

Happy Sunday! Here's a card I created and photographed at my scrapbooking retreat at the beautiful Lake Whitney! I even went outside to take the pictuure...and I think we all know I'm not an outside girl! lol!

The design is based on the Clean and Simple layout #31. It's a great layout, you should try it! So easy, yet very striking. I used the new SU Good Morning Sunshine DSP and a Loop to Loop rub-on from the Level 3 hostess set bundle.

Okay, off to more scrapbooking. I've completed six pages and two cards...not the most productive weekend (like Beverly's 29 pages so far, ugh!), but I've had a heck of a good time!

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

Recipe
Stamps: none.
Cardstock: So Saffron, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White.
Ink: none.
Accessories: Loop to Loop Rub-On, 5/8" So Saffron Grosgrain Ribbon (from SAB catalog), Dimensionals.