Yummy Cupcakes

I can't believe I'm still thinking about cake after all the birthdays. Yesterday was Hollyanne's birthday and that's the last one for awhile. But I can still think cake... this is the no calorie and way yummy kind of cupcake!



I made this for a swap that sounded way too fun to not join. Even though I'm cutting back on swaps, there are still a choice few that I just have to be a part of. So as you may guess, this is for a cupcake swap. I went through so many different ideas that flopped before coming up this one. This was a bit time consuming to do, but I think the results are just wonderful.

I started with a Basic Black base and scalloped the edge. Then I printed digi-paper. The black and white paper is from The Angel Company and the pink and black is from a blog I found that is no longer updated called Pirates and Pixies. Way cute!!! I stamped the cupcake using Cupcakeabella from Stamping Bella, but cut the bella off. I colored the image with Deco Pink prismacolor marker and Sepia brown Copic markers. The cherry on top was colored with a Red prismacolor marker and then stickled. I think the overall results are pretty yummy.

I hope you enjoy it, too.

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and moving to Valentine's Day!

Hi Everyone,

I am so sorry that I've been gone for so long. It's been crazy to say the least and I don't have my laptop... AGAIN!! Urgh!

The holidays were nice here, pretty low key and very enjoyable. I hope your holidays were what you wanted them to be. I also wish for you a New Year that is full of health, laughter and blessings.

Now for a card...

I made this Valentine's card for a swap that Marji is hosting. I just love how it turned out. I hope you do, too!

The stamps are Autumn Leaves that I picked up for my daughter to play with. I'm not crazy about the quality, or lack there of, but with some patience and a lot of do overs, I finally got enough well stamped images to make my cards. I used my Nestabilities scallop circle die to cut out circles that I then ran through the Cuttlebug with the Textile folder. I used the swiss dots Blush ribbon from PTI, a prima with some bling and then for the sentiment I received this awesome TAC set that has a lot of words, so I put together "Happily Ever After." It's a very easy card. Oh! I also applied just a bit of Pale Plum ink over the texture of the embossed circle to highlight that a bit.

I'd like to hear what you have to say about it....

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. I have many other projects to post - so check back often.

Cold Weather, Under the Weather??

OK - I am totally in love with Riley... Riley Moose by Hanna Stamps, that is. So cute!!

I made this card for a swap and I just think it's adorable. OK... so the whole Got Milk catch phrase is a bit over used, but it worked for me here. And who wouldn't want to give this little guy something to make him feel better!?

I used Kraft card stock for my base, Always Artichoke for the next layer and with MFT's Thanks A Latte set, I stamped the mugs in coordinating colors. Really Rust is used for the scallop. I used a word program to create the sentiment and then punched it out. The Riley is colored with Close to Cocoa and Creamy Caramel. I used an old SU! dp that I can't remember it's name for the bed doing paper piecing. Layered him on So Saffron and did a little paper piercing to give it a bit of texture. I like it. I hope you do, too.

Do you want to know the story behind my attraction to this moose? Yes! Oh good!! When my oldest son was little I gave him a stuffed Chris-Moose for Christmas. He unwrapped him and out of his sweet little mouth came "look at dat moose." It's become the thing to say when you want to get him to look the other way when you want to steal his ice cream or whatever. But the sweetest part of this whole story, that wonderful little boy is now 13 and every year when it's time to decorate for Christmas, he pulls his Moose out and he sits on his bed during the holiday season.

Happy getting ready for Christmas to you. I hope you stay healthy!

Card Candy - No Calories and Lots of Fun!

Hi Everyone - Happy Saturday...

October 1 challenge has been issued. It's Card Candy! I had never heard of this before and now I am hooked. Here's what I made for the challenge.

I cannot believe how incredibly easy and incredibly fun this is. The receipient will then use these tasty treats to create a card. This is the greatest way to use up some scraps.

First, the owl. He's not the cutest thing you've ever seen?! OMGosh!! He was so super simple thanks to another one of Dawn's videos. I didn't have the Boho Blossoms punch for his beak and feet but I think I was able to improvise pretty well. The pumpkin images are from a set that I purchased from a gal who was cleaning out her craft room. The round metal tag contains a sentiment from the same set "The cutest pumpkin in the patch." The oval says "Hey pumpkin!" - a $ stamp set from my sister and then I stamped the star and pop-dotted it on there. The next item is a 1 3/8 circle punch of Summer Sun (heehee, for a moon!) and then I used PTI's Out on Limb tree limb. It's actually a longer limb, but I cut off the bottom and then glued it back on there. OK, the next item is a bit of ribbon. Not candy I made, but candy just the same. I adhered all these items to a piece of acetate with just a bit of removable adhesive. Then behind it I included a piece of black card stock that has been embossed with a Cuttlebug folder that is a spider web - courtesy of my friend Joni. (Thanks Jones!)

I do still need to make a topper to finish the presentation - but this was so simple. I had most of it ready in under an hour. Super simple, super fun.

BTW - I love this so much that I opened up a swap for it. If you'd like to join, click here: Card Candy - I'd love to see you there!!

Lovin' my Bug...

Hello Everyone... I hope you are off to a great start to the weekend. I am... I had a lovely dinner with my family and my Mom brought over this really yummy bottle of wine that is made here in West Viriginia. Then she took my youngest two children home with her. After they left I headed to my craft room.

I have a card to share with you that I made last week. This is a card I made for my friend LJ's swap. I just ordered two of the new Cuttlebug border embossing folders. LOVE THEM! I also used PTI's Women of Life set and my new scallop rectangles Nestibilities dies. Love these, too!!

Enjoy!

Sweet Baby Thank You

Good Morning Everyone...

I am on a roll this morning... I got up and made cinnamon rolls for my family, made me an awesome cup of coffee and designed (and finished) a baby thank you card.

I really struggled with a design for Tracy's swap - but this is what I finally came up with. My friend Jackie picked up this stamp for me at Hobby Lobby - sooo sweet. I grabbed the blue with white polka dots paper from my LSS - it's a Frances Meyer design and of course the ribbon came from the latest trip to the ribbon outlet. The picture doesn't do the ribbon justice at all. It's a shimmery blue organdy ribbon that is just precious.

I hope you enjoy my card.

I see I'm over 3000 hits now, please leave comments.

Miss You

Hi All! I have missed everyone! How have you all been? I've been doing OK. I hurt myself last week. I started Jazzercise classes and just when I thought I was getting the steps down, my left foot stopped but the rest of me didn't and I fell. Full impact on my left knee. At first only my pride was wounded - but I'm still pretty sore and it's amazing how you take for granted the ways your body moves when you want it to move one way and a shooting pain goes straight up your leg and makes you see stars!! Oh boy.

I have a card front to share with you. I sent this in as my contribution to a swap that my dear friend jonjinko is hosting. Another friend sent me this stamp as part of another swap that I was in - I just love it. It's a Great Impressions stamp and the sentiment is none other than Papertrey Ink.

The base is Real Red and I cut the sides using my old decorative scissors from Fiskars, the design is called Clouds. I wish I had bought years ago the SU! scalloped scissors, but they can't be found anywhere. {If anyone does find some, will you clue me in?} Next is Basic Black card stock. I stamped the image in 3 different panels to make it appear that the ladybug is moving along (my husband said this didn't make any sense because the flower is moving, too). I used my Stampin' Write markers to color the images, using Barely Banana in the flower petals and Apricot Appeal for shading. I think if I made this into a full card, I would then add red ribbon with black polka dots. I like it, even if DH thinks it doesn't make sense. The hostess liked it, too. That's enough votes for me.

I have another Elzybells card to share with you, but I have to wait a few more days to post it. I am so sad, too. The post below was a card I made for a swap, I mailed them and the hostess never received them. I am not happy with the postal service. I was really hoping I goofed and maybe mailed it to one of my swappers in the monthly card swap, but no one has said anything. Oh well. They're gone, life goes on.

I'm a girl who loves to have fun!

My original monthly swap is about the wrap up, but this was an image and paper recently shared by one of the swappers and this is what I came up with. I love this image!!

The paper is great, too, but this image is sooo cute. I hope you can see it well, my photos have definitely improved. I'm using my husband's camera and learned how to set up my pictures in front of my living room so that the light is coming in on the subject. I think it looks so good.

I hope you enjoy my card.

How 'bout a double shot!

I have two projects to share with you today. This second project is my card for the monthly card swap. It was Laurie's turn to host (well not really, she had to step in) and she sent the coolest decorative paper. I also decided I would try a Splitcoast Challenge card map. This is what I came up with. I hope you like it!

As you can see, this card features Flowahbella by Stamping Bella. I used Papertrey's white cardstock for my base, Brocade Blue (the best blue!) to mat my paper and my image. I colored the Bella with my Stampin' Up! markers. I found the bling at Wal-Mart and it's original intention is to decorate cell phones, mp3 players, etc., but it had sticky stuff on it and I liked it! The sentiment is from my new Papertrey Ink set Mixed Messages. It's a little hard to see in this picture, but it says "With Appreciation" and I really like the simple touch it added to the card. I hope Laurie is pleased with what I did with her choices in paper and image.

In Love with Papertrey Ink

Hi everyone,

I hope you are all doing well. I'm trying to stay warm. The day started out OK, but it's gotten cloudy and cold.

Here is my second ATC submission for dcorder's ATC swaps. I did finally tell her that I joined a couple of her swaps.

I used my new Papertrey Ink stamp set Out on a Limb and I absolutely love this set. I had met a lady several months ago who is a fellow SCSer. She had asked me if I had seen Papertrey stamps and I said yes, but I they really didn't do much for me. Can you believe I actually said this!!? OMGosh, that can't be further from the truth now. Nichole Heady is my idol!! I love this set, I can't wait to buy more! I am so addicted that it kills me to get on her site and actually exercise restraint!!! And this saying in the set is just the best: To the world you may be just one person, but to one person you may be the world. Josephine Billings - Is that not just the best thing to have someone say to you, besides "I love you" and have that meant from the very bottom of their soul?

I had already decided that I would use Cameo Coral before the set even arrived in the mailbox. When I sat down to make my ATC and knew I would need ribbon. I reached down into my big bag of ribbon stash and out came this satin ribbon that matched Cameo Coral perfectly!!! I was so excited. I also used Burnt Sienna Palette ink for the branch. I am sooo impressed by this ink that I ordered more. What great color that stands up! I hope dcorder likes what I've made!

I'm still here and in the mood for love!

Hi All,

I know, it's been a loooong time since I've posted. I haven't had anyone yell at me to give me a kickstart!

I have to say, I am soooo happy the holidays are over. My house is back to normal and very happy that with packing up the Christmas decorations, it also got my hubby motivated to clean up the garage! It's been a huge mess since we moved 7 months ago. Crazy. So, now we can actually fit a car into the garage - not that we do.

OK, I've been busy with getting some swaps cleared off my white board. I am happy to report, it's a plain white board again. I am hosting two monthly card swaps, I've made a couple of other things for swaps but one of my resolutions this year is to not sign up for a swap unless the project is already made. So I haven't told dcorder that I am joining her Hugs & Kisses swap, but I have made a pretty ATC for it. I'm also going to join her PaperTrey Ink ATC swap, too, but I have to wait for the stamps arrive. OK so this the ATC I made for the Hugs & Kisses swap.

I started with a Pale Plum base. I used my new Forever My Love stamps by See D's for the sentiment and the corner adornments. Using the scallop punch from SU! I punched out of the beautiful paper that I can't remember the name of the pack, but it coordinates with the Carte Postale stamp set. Anyway, sooo romantic. I've been hoarding it since I got it, so it was time I got into it. Then I stamped the circle with my PaperTrey Ink circles border stamp and topped with a prima flower and brad.

I used my husband's camera, it's a bit better of a picture, but the colors aren't represented well. But it is really pretty, if I say so myself. This was a stretch for me anyway, since I am not one for Valentine's day. But I love romance and that's what this little ATC shouts out for me.

Feeling a little under the weather?

I am hosting a monthly card swap that has been a lot of fun and a little challenging. Each person in the group is given a month they host. They supply each of the participants with stamped images and decorative paper and the others make their own creations with these supplies.

House Mouse stamps are a challenge to me! They are so detailed that they are bit intimidating. Here's a card I CASE'd from Toni who is such a major talented stamper - she's on the Design Team for My Favorite Things and The Cat's Pajama's. I could only dream of being good enough to be on a design team! I hope you like it and Toni, I hope I did you proud.

I used chocolate chip (is there any other color??) as my base. The front pocket was covered with the great decorative paper the November hostess sent along. The image is House Mouse and this stamp is so sweet, it's bound to make anyone feeling a bit under the weather a little better. I used my tag punch and then using a part of the dots stamp from the oval borders from Paper Trey Ink added a bit of detail. The pull out card has a get well message that I wrote. Finishing it off with ribbon since we know I've got a TON of it!!

I hope you enjoy it!

And yes, I've asked Santa for a new camera that has a close up mode on it.

Snowman Swap

I recently hosted a Snowman Card swap and boy was it a success!! I am sooo happy with everyone's cards. It's obvious that everyone worked very hard on their cards. I want to share the card I made with you.

My base, of course, is Whisper White. The next layer is this beautiful color Bazzil cardstock that I have no idea what the color is. The image is Penny Black. I put only about half the cardstock in the snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder and ran that through. I used my Coluzzle envelope template to scallop the edge. I stamped the image on Whisper White with Staz-On black then used my prismacolor pencils and gamsol. I matted it on this paper from Creative Memories that I have had for a long time. I loved the pink. Then before I assembled the card, I lightly rubbed Lumiere pearly paint over the snowflakes. Then I used Everyday Flexible Phrases and the word window punch to create the greeting. I topped it off with this great ribbon from my ribbon shopping spree.

I hope you like it!

Second spot for the Embellishment Swap

Good Morning! It's almost 6 am and I'm doing everything I shouldn't be doing and nothing that I should be. I shouldn't be playing on the computer while is hair is air drying into a super ugh! state.

I wanted to share the other spot that I took in Vanessa's embellishment swap. This was for the flower spot. OK, I'm not one to get all into the In Color colors from Stampin' Up! - I don't keep discontinued stamps sets, so I didn't allow myself to get into these colors because they are going away soon. But my friend Judy LOVES them. She buys them and stocks up, so that gives me the advantage to play with no commitment. So, I just HAD to play with the Soft Sky color. I love this color. And it matched perfectly with the Prima Sprites, too. Tell me what you think.

I used Whisper White for the base. Soft Sky ink for the swirls and the double line circle on the inside of the small scallop circle. The swirls are by Autumn Leaves and the double line circle is from PaperTrey Ink. Then I used my Prima Sprites and Got Flowers flowers for the focal point. I also used the awesome square bling brads my sister sent me and a small blue brad in the small white flower. I used Soft Sky card stock for the strip - I ran it through the D'vine Swirls Cuttlebug embossing folder and for the larger scallop circle I used Soft Soft decorative paper. This card is without sentiment, but I think it is so romantic. Very feminine. I hope you like it.

Embellishment Swap

Hi! Happy Sunday. It's a gorgeous day here in West Virginia. The leaves are turning wonderful shades of yellow, orange and red!

OK - the latest swap (due) was hosted by Vanessa. She did a favorite embellishment swap, where you use your flowers, ribbons, brads, glitter, etc. I took it to mean that the embellishment should serve as the focal point. After failing miserably on trying to make the ribbon my main focus, I went with making it a great accent. I love blue and chocolate brown together! It's been my color combo of choice lately! Here's the card I created. BTW, this is my creative fold of choice lately, too. I hope you like this card as much as I do.

I used chocolate chip as the base and bashful blue. Take Three is a set I've had for a year and it's hardly seen ink! Then I used a real vintage tool! I got out my Clouds decorative edge scissors - and this awesome edge came quite by accident. I cut my cardstock crooked! So I used those scissors and viola! fixed and it looks great!! I used diamond stickles for the flower centers. Then finally the embellishment. I used this super yummy, so rich chocolate satin ribbon. I love it! I am definitely going to have to buy more!!! I originally bought it to do some decorative thing with my bath towels in my bathroom. The ribbon hasn't see a towel yet.

OK - y'all... blog candy. I mentioned it and I haven't forgotten about it. I've put it on the back burner for a moment. I've seen something new (new to me) and I'm giving it a test drive. If I like it, I'll be sharing it. Stay tuned.

Have a great rest of your weekend.

The last spot for the Penny Black Swap

OK - I said a while back that I'd share the third card I sent in for Jen's Penny Black swap. I love this card - I love the sentiment! Let me know what you think!

This is the front of the card using only one image (blocked off) from Ecarte, Splits, Piroutte - one of my favorite Penny Black stamps! And since I can't stop playing with the scallop punches, they of course had to be on there and lots and lots of stickles.

Here's the inside view and I love this sentiment. I think this is how everyone should approach life. I actually blocked off the rest of the sentiment - it says "Work like you don't need the money. Love like you've never been hurt. Dance like nobody's watching." It's a Stampabilities stamp.

I also learned that I colored my hedgies incorrectly. I made them brown - hedgies are black quilled little creatures with white tummies. So, these are my hedgies who visited the tanning bed!

I will be getting a new camera very soon! I am so excited. Finally some decent pictures!!!

Another Swap

Hello Everyone!

How have you all been? I've been in such a creative slump lately. But I think I've just changed it! Tell me what you think. I made this for the Penny Black or Stamping Bella mini-notebook swap I'm hosting. I did a 3 plus 1 and the plus 1 I asked to be Halloween related. I haven't designed that one yet, but I've got some ideas running through my head. 'Bout time!

I used my new Soft Sky decorative paper, Soft Sky card stock, blue Prima Sprites, and the PaperTrey Ink stamps that my sister sent me for my birthday. I also used prismacolor pencils and gamsol. Please leave comments!! I love to hear from you.

OK - I'm considering blog candy. I'm not sure what to give though. But I think it just might have to do with the upcoming, very cool event... WORLD CARD MAKING DAY! Can you believe it! A whole dedicated to making cards!! What a great way to spend a day. I know I want to be working on my swaps! I still have 5 due this month and designs are mapping well, but aren't coming out on the actual project as expected. If I did do blog candy, what would you want to get? How about a card kit... card stock, a stamp, some ribbon and flowers. Hmmm....