My Favorite Things

Friendship Card (+ a Pupdate!)

Hello there, Dearies!

Ahhh........I finally got a bit crafty today and it felt oh, so good.  Well, first let me back up a little and say that I spent the better part of the day a tad concerned about our little puppy boy.  Took him to the vet this afternoon and turns out the little guy has a bit of an eye infection....just a little virus of some sort.  SO, once I knew he was ok and we came home -- eye drops in hand -- and he sacked out in the studio, I got to work whipping up this card!

I used more fun patterned papers on this one -- they're all from Basic Grey's Hello Luscious 6x6 pad.  Isn't that green scrumptious?!  

Next, I stamped a little text background that also served as the sentiment for the card.  This "friend" definition stamp is from Hero Arts' Dictionary Greeting clear stamp set.

Lastly came that fabulous flower!  Both flower stamps as well as the pretty leaf stamp are from Hero Arts' Lotus Leaves clear stamp set.  I stamped each leaf and both the large and small flowers (in dark chocolate and ripe avocado inks) and then cut them out with paper snips.  

I added a pair of Papertrey's ripe avocado buttons that I tied together with button twine and tucked the small flower behind the buttons.  To finish things off and to add another bit of pop, I added some Hero Arts olive green gemstones to the tips of the large flower.

When you get stuck and aren't sure what to create next or you can't think of a great color scheme on your own, don't forget that you can pull out a pretty patterned paper and let that dictate the colors you use on your card!

Hope you have a great weekend!!  I'm looking forward to holing up in this house with my sweet husband and our puppy boy.  

Smooches,

P.S.  PUPDATE (That's "puppy update", and yes, I just made that up) --

For those of you that might be wondering, Win was an ANGEL in his kennel last night!!  We worked with him all of last evening on the kennel thing.  We brought the kennel out of the laundry room and right into the middle of the family room where we were hanging out watching tv.  We left the door open and let him come and go in it at will.  We fed him his dinner in the kennel and we also made a game of going to find treats (cheerios) in the kennel.  By the end of the evening, he was going in the kennel on his own and laying down!  (You should have seen us looking at each other and silently air-high-fiving each other across the room when he went in on his own!  Haha!)  THEN, we took the kennel up to our room and put it right next to my side of the bed with the door facing the bed.  That way he could see us and hear us and knew that he wasn't alone.  We also put a little oscillating fan in the corner of the room that I keep in the studio (he'd gotten used to it in the studio) and let that blow as well as create some white noise.  When it was bedtime, (after we'd let him chew on his toys for a good 10 or 15 minutes to tire him out a bit more) we put him in the kennel, he curled up, laid down, and went right to sleep!!  Success!  (I think I almost heard the angels singing!)  :)  He fussed a teensy bit a couple times in the night, but one of them was because he needed to go out.  (Baby bladder can only go about 3 hours max right now)  

Sooo....mama got to sleep in bed with daddy and puppy got to sleep in the room with mama AND daddy and everyone was HAPPY.  :)  Let's just hope it sticks and we can get a repeat of last night, tonight!

Stay tuned for more PUPDATES, as our little guy grows.  Did you know that he will double his weight in the next couple of months?  Ack.  They don't stay little for long.  In fact, he's already grown a pound since we brought him home on Monday!

Thanks again, for all the puppy love you all have showered on us.  We appreciate your tips and your concern and all of the sweet comments you've left for us.  

SUPPLIES:

Hero Arts & Basic Grey...Just Because

Hello there.....

I'm mostly packed for Cincinnati and had a bit more fun with some new Hero Arts/Basic Grey goodies today and thought I'd share with you.  Firstly, we have to talk about the patterned papers.  We're paper crafters, after all.  Who doesn't love a pretty patterned paper?  :)

All three of these yummo papers -- the green cross-hatched solid, the polka dots and the floral -- are from Basic Grey's Sweet Threads collection....the little 6"x6" pad to be precise.  Those 6x6 pads are so fun because all of the patterns have been scaled down.....perfect for card making.

(You can see the entire Sweet Threads collection here.)

To create that little sentiment label, I used Papertrey's Label Basics stamp set and Angled Labels die and the "Just because" sentiment is from Mega Mixed Messages.

Now, we must talk about that big ole flower.  I used 3 different flowers from Hero Arts/Basic Grey's Luscious Bold Flowers stamp set and stamped them in raspberry fizz and terracotta tile inks.  I stamped each layer on stamper's select white card stock and cut them out with paper snips, before inking the edges with distress ink.  Each layer was adhered with foam adhesive for lots of dimension.

(You can see the entire Hello Luscious collection here.)

As for that fun button, it's one from Crate Paper's Neighborhood eclectic button collection.  I threaded it with a bit of chocolate baker's twine and topped my flower with it.  

(You can see the entire Neighborhood collection here.)

Well, I'm off to spend a bit of time with my sweet hubs tonight.  I kinda miss him already and I haven't even left town yet.  :)

Hope you're having a great evening,

Miss You

Hello Crew!  Happy Friday!

I have a little "miss you" card to show you today.  I fell in love with this Hero Arts Bird Collage stamp awhile back and it's been sitting patiently here on my desk, just waiting to be inked up and this morning, it was finally time!  

 

I stamped the bird directly on a piece of vintage book print and then colored it in with Copic markers.  I wanted a colorful, rainbow-y sort of bird.  We certainly don't have any birds this colorful in our neck of the woods, though I'd love it if we did!  Reminds me of all the amazingly colorful birds we saw in Australia last year.  I think I might have a little bird envy!  Haha.  

A few Hero Arts olive green gemstones were added to give the image a bit of sparkle.

The "miss you" sentiment stamp is from Papertrey's Mat Stack 3 Collection stamp set.

Above and below the bird, I added more strips of vintage book print that I die cut with Papertrey's small scalloped border die.  I inked the edges of each scallop strip with vintage touch tea dye ink just to give them a bit more definition.

Here's a peek at the Copics I used, in case you want to recreate this little number yourself.

Hope you have a really great weekend!  I'm looking forward to spending some time with my hubs.

Toodle-loo,

Hello Luscious

Hi there!  A box full of Hero Arts goodies arrived on my doorstep the other day and I've been so looking forward to diving in and whipping up some pretties to share with you.  I have a happy little card for today......just because.  I used some Hello Luscious goodies by Basic Grey and Hero Arts to create this flowery little number.

That.....well.....luscious patterned paper is from the Hello Luscious 6x6 paper pad.  Isn't it dreamy?  I mean, really.  This is my favorite pattern from the pad so I really wanted as much of it to show as possible.  At the bottom of the patterned paper, I added a strip of vintage cream card stock stamped with a sentiment from Papertrey's Simple Sentiments.

 

The two flowers on the left and the leaves in the back were all stamped using stamps from the Luscious Patterned Flowers stamp set.  Love this set.....can't wait to use it some more.  Actually, Ellen Hutson's store has the entire line of Hello Luscious goodies.  YUM.  :)

I tied on a big Crate Paper button with some 1/4" white silk ribbon and behind the larger flower, I tucked a couple sprigs of leaf ribbon just for a bit more detail.

The pretty little sparkles are Hero Arts olive green gemstones.  Love them for that added little pop.

Well I hope you're having a great day!

I'll chat with you again soon, dearies...

P.S.  Can you believe how well that patterned paper matches my antique plate?!  Ha.

Card Challenge Week w/Jennifer McGuire - Day 5

Hello and happy FRIDAY!!  It's the last day of this challenge week with Jennifer McGuire.  I don't know about you, but I've been having so much fun this week, working with the same sets as Jen and seeing what gorgeous creations she's been coming up with each day!  Super inspiring!

 

For today, we're using Papertrey Ink's Blooming Button Bits stamp set along with Hero Arts Dots and Flowers Background.......and of course, today's color scheme is monochromatic greens.

The card base I started out with is simply chartreuse card stock that I stamped with the Dots and Flowers Background using ripe avocado ink.  Next, I took a panel of vintage cream card stock and stamped the gorgeous leaves image from Blooming Button Bits, also with ripe avocado ink.  A few new leaf buttons and moss colored rhinestones were added to finish off the focal point.

Along the bottom of the card is a strip of ripe avocado card stock that was die cut using the medium scalloped border die as well as a slightly shorter strip of new leaf card stock that I stamped the "you're just the best" sentiment (from Blooming Button Bits) on.  Lastly, I tied a simple knot around the card front using spring moss topnotch twill ribbon.  

This week of card challenges with Jennifer has been soooo much fun!  I hope you've enjoyed them!  Be sure to pop over to Jen's blog now, to see what she created for today's challenge!

(Thanks so much, Jen, for asking me to play along!  You're a peach!  Love you!)

As for the rest of you, I hope you thoroughly enjoy your weekend!

Toodles,

{You're Just the Best supplies}
Paper: vintage cream, new leaf, simply chartreuse, ripe avocado
Stamps: Hero Arts-Dots and Flowers Background, Papertrey Ink-Blooming Button Bits
Ink: ripe avocado
Other: new leaf buttons, spring moss topnotch twill ribbon, medium scallop border die, moss rhinestones 

Card Challenge Week w/Jennifer McGuire - Day 4

Hi-ya Peeps,

Back again with another fun card challenge with Jennifer McGuire!  Today, we're using Papertrey's Background Basics: Retro stamp set as well as Hero Arts Cuckoo stamp set and the color scheme is monochromatic browns!

 

I adore this cuckoo clock from the Cuckoo stamp set and I loved pairing it with the "I am here for you - anytime" sentiment from the same set.  I stitched along one edge of the sentiment panel with my sewing machine and added a sweet little flower shaped dark chocolate button that I threaded with a bit of button twine.  

Behind the clock is a bit of patterned paper from Papertrey's Library Ledger collection that was die cut with the Limitless Layers: 2 1/2" circle die.  I added a little brown rhinestone to the center of the clock face for a bit of bling.

The dark chocolate card base was run thru the Big Shot with my Woodgrain Impression Plate.  I love how well it goes with the theme of the little wooden clock.  Along the bottom of the card is a strip of kraft card stock that was stamped with one of the patterns from Background Basics: Retro and some chocolate baker's twine finished things off.

Now be sure to run over to Jen's blog to see what she's created for today's challenge!  You won't want to miss it!  Haven't her projects been so adorable this week?

Take care, Dearies,

{I Am Here... supplies}
Paper: vintage cream, kraft, dark chocolate, library ledger
Stamps: Hero Arts-Cuckoo, Papertrey Ink-Background Basics: Retro
Ink: dark chocolate
Other: woodgrain impression plate, limitless layers: 2.5" circle die, chocolate baker's twine, dark chocolate button, brown rhinestone, rustic cream button twine, sewing machine/thread 

Card Challenge Week w/Jennifer McGuire - Day 3

Hey there, 

It's Day 3 of challenge week with the fabulous Jennifer McGuire.  Today, we're using the following Hero Arts & Papertrey Ink goodies in the challenge, and today's color scheme is monochromatic turquoise......

 

 

Hero Arts - Blossom Art stamp set
Papertrey Ink - Polka Dot Basics II stamp set

Mmm......today's card is a fun one.  I started out with a hawaiian shores card base and stamped it with Polka Dot Basics II using versamark ink and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder.

Next, I stamped 3 different flower stamps from the Blossom Art set on aqua mist and hawaiian shores card stocks, also with versamark ink, and again heat embossed them with clear embossing powder.  I repeated the same process with the leaf image from Blossom Art with kraft card stock and then cut out all the flowers and leaves and adhered them to the vintage cream panel.  A hawaiian shores button tops the flowers, for a fun little finishing touch.

Peeking out on the right side of the card is a strip of aqua mist card stock that was die cut with the small scalloped border die.

I chose a sentiment and pretty frame image from Mat Stack 2 Collection and stamped them both along the bottom edge of the cream panel using hawaiian shores ink.

That's it for me today......hope you're enjoying these fun card challenges this week!  Haven't Jen's projects been spectacular?!  Be sure to head over to Jennifer McGuire's blog to see what she created with today's challenge goodies!

Smooches, 

 

{Just a Little Note supplies}
Paper: vintage cream, kraft, aqua mist, hawaiian shores
Stamps: Hero Arts-Blossom Art, Papertrey Ink-Polka Dot Basics II, Papertrey Ink-Mat Stack 2 Collection
Ink: hawaiian shores, versamark
Other: small scallop border die, clear embossing powder, hawaiian shores button 

Card Challenge Week w/Jennifer McGuire - Day 2

Hi-ya.....

Back today with another fun card challenge with Jennifer McGuire!  This is so fun.....I can't wait for you to see all of the cards this week.  Did you see Jen's gorgeous purple bookmarks yesterday?  So cute!

Here's the grouping of Papertrey Ink and Hero Arts stamps that we're both using in today's challenge, plus our cards today are both done in monochromatic pinks.....

 

 

Button Boutique by Papertrey Ink
Simply Handmade by Hero Arts

 

For my card, I stamped the large size chart image from Simply Handmade on raspberry fizz card stock and stapled a snippet of hibiscus burst ribbon to the top to coordinate with the hibiscus burst card base.  

I created the button card with the Button Card die and the Button Boutique stamp set.  On the pinked edge die cut, I stamped the pattern image from Simply Handmade on rustic cream card stock, using raspberry fizz ink.  I stitched some raspberry fizz buttons to the button card and added a vintage cream doily (die cut with a doily details die) behind the button card and to finish things off, I stamped the sweet little thimble from Simply Handmade, cut it out and adhered it to the doily with foam adhesive.

I hope your week is going well!  Don't forget to head over to Jennifer's blog to see what she came up with for today's card challenge!  Back tomorrow with another fun challenge with Jen.

Take care, Dearies.....

{We Make A Perfect Fit supplies}
Paper: vintage cream, hibiscus burst, raspberry fizz
Stamps: Hero Arts-Simply Handmade, Papertrey Ink-Button Boutique
Ink: raspberry fizz, true black
Other: button card dies, doily details dies, hibiscus burst saddle stitch ribbon, raspberry fizz buttons, rustic cream button twine 

Card Challenge Week w/Jennifer McGuire!

Hello, Sweets!  I have a fun little surprise for you today.  My dear friend, Jennifer McGuire, asked if I'd like to play along with her this week for a week of card challenges on our blogs.  Jen is absolutely one of the sweetest people in the paper-crafting industry and besides that, she's just plain fun!  I love popping in to see her at CHA each year....she's always smiling and laughing and I love that about her.  Plus, she's a just really good friend......so caring and kind.  Truly a gem.....she's one of the best and I'm grateful for her friendship.  (She needs to come visit me one of these days.....we'll go on a grand foodie tour together!  Haha!)

Soooo.....we've cooked up a fun little week of card festivities for you.  Each day this week, we've got a different challenge set up.  We'll be mixing some Hero Arts stamps with some Papertrey Ink stamps each day plus we'll be using a different monochromatic color scheme each day to make things even more interesting!  We'll each make a card using that day's specific assortment of product and colors and you can pop in here and over at her blog to see what we've each created using the same items!

For today, we're both using this group of goodies:

 

Hero Arts LP195 3 Silhouettes stamps
Hero Arts CG138 Ledger stamp
Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4 Collection stamp set

 

For my card, I started out with a plum pudding card base and added a panel of lavender moon card stock that I stamped with the Ledger stamp and then added a "hello, friend" sentiment from Mat Stack 4 Collection.

For the focal point on my card, I stamped one of those pretty silhouette images in plum pudding ink on lavender moon card stock and punched it out with a 1 3/4" circle punch.  Behind that is a plum pudding scalloped layer that was die cut using a limitless layers: 1.75" circle die.  Next is a white doily that I die cut using one of my Doily Details dies and behind that is a plum pudding layer that was die cut using the mat stack 4 die and stamped & heat embossed with a coordinating image from the Mat Stack 4 Collection stamp set and clear embossing powder.  

I adhered a strip of lavender Happy Spots patterned paper behind the mat stack layer and added a bit of plum pudding ribbon off to the right.  A few purple rhinestones finished things off.

Are you excited about this fun blog week with Jennifer?  I know I am!  It's gonna be a fun week.  Be sure to pop over to see what Jen created for today's challenge!  

See you again tomorrow, friends!

{hello, friend supplies}
Paper: plum pudding, lavender moon, stamper's select white, happy spots
Stamps: Hero Arts LP195 3 Silhouettes stamp, Hero Arts CG138 Ledger stamp, Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 4 Collection stamp set
Ink: plum pudding, versamark
Other: mat stack 4 die, limitless layers: 1.75" {scalloped} circle die, 1 3/4" circle punch, doily details die, clear embossing powder, plum pudding classic grosgrain ribbon, Kaiser Scrapbook purple rhinestones

CARDS Magazine Pubs - December 2010 issue

Hello, my sweet bloggie friends!  How the heck are you, this fine Saturday afternoon?  It is ca-ca-ca-COLD here and there is more snow on it's way to us tonight into tomorrow so I'm snug as a bug, tucked in front of the cozy fire with the laptop on my lap this afternoon while my hubs is away, wearing his referee uniform and blowing his whistle at people.  

I'm supposed to be ready to go when he gets home because we're heading out to dinner with some of my family to celebrate my Mom's birthday.  Looking forward to it....I'm sure it will be a fun evening.  The laughter usually abounds when we get together.  

In the meantime, I thought I'd pop in and share my cards that were published in the December issue of CARDS Magazine.  The green card from the above collection, is the one that was published but these cards just beg to be seen together as a group, don't you think?  :)  SO, you get to see them all together again.

This one was a fun little Papertrey number from awhile back featuring Year of Flowers: Roses.

And this little ditty showcases a pretty Hero Arts bird.  Don't you just love the woodgrain impression plate pattern on the green behind the bird?  That impression plate is still one of my all time favorites!

Well, I guess that's about all from me today.  Do you follow me on Twitter?  Did you see my tweets today about my quest to conquer making split pea soup?  And how I'm excited to make a big pot of beans this week (for the first time!) with the bag of dry navy beans I got at the store?  I'll have to let you know how it goes. It's also been discovered that I don't think we've ever actually used our crock pot (!), so perhaps I'll just make that big ole pot of beans in the crock pot.  We'll see.  If you have favorite recipes for beans or even just crock pot recipes, feel free to share them with us all here in the comments section!  You know how I love soup, so I'm excited to make some beans.....they're kind of comfort food, aren't they?  

One time, when I was little and home from school for a snow day, my mom made a pot of navy beans for lunch.  I LOVED them......first of all because they tasted so good.  But I also loved them because I can remember sitting on the floor with my mom, on our avocado green carpet with the couch at our backs and our bowls of beans in front of us on our long coffee table.  I love that memory.  I'll have to ask Mom at dinner tonight, why she only made those awesome navy beans once!

Happy Saturday, Sweets!