PaperFections

Wanted Scrapbook Pg 4, Happiness Scrapbook Pg 1

How about a little more scrapbooking today? This is a 6" x 6" page using the Wanted faux metal medallion again, along with the Designer Label punchbox & stamp set. I think I was determined to make the Wanted set look anything but western! The Designer Label was stamped in chocolate on rust cardstock and tied around the page with taupe grosgrain ribbon. It and the medallion are on dimensionals. All paper is from the Outlaw series. Switchig sets now to the Happiness background I worked with. This is an 8.5" x 11" scrap page of my oldest cutie last November on her 7th birthday: I cut apart my background and used it primarily in pieces -- I thought it was more versatile this way. The base page is cocoa cardstock. Outlaw paper again, which also covers the chipboard letter "U". All Supplies by Stampin’ Up! A bit of ivory narrow organdy ribbon finishes off the chipboard letter (still mourning the loss of organdy ribbon, too)! Come back again tomorrow for some more Happiness *wink*! Read more →

Wanted - Cards 3 & 4

In addition to the Wanted set (there's that medallion again, with only the outside edges inked and stamped to form a frame), I used the Wild West Alphabet -- the letter H is stamped here as a monogram: The scalloped rust square was created with the corner punch. Copper brads, faux stitching & distressing frame it. 5.25" square card. This card has the Paisley background stamped in rose craft on vanilla, edges sponged with cocoa ink: Paisleys on the cocoa strip are from the Wanted set and were stamped in craft ink. This time the medallion is a flower center with happy birthday sentiment from Think Happy Thoughts. Flower petals punched with large oval punch. All supplies by Stampin' Up! . Read more →

Wanted - Altered Art 4 & Scrapbook Pg 1

Outlaw paper covers this wood monogram letter from Michael's. The edges were sanded and distressed and then inked with chocolate craft ink: I stamped the Wild West Alphabet in craft chocolate ink and clear embossed it, followed by the horses and stars. Ribbon and hardware were tied around the center of the "C" and then additional brads and hardware complete it. Here's a close-up of the detail: The photos from the scrapbook page below were taken in downtown Fort Worth at the beautiful Bass Performance Hall at dusk during our Christmas parade last year (2006). Even though it was just built in 1998, it looks centuries old, doesn't it? I love the architectural lines of the building and those gorgeous angels: It is home to the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Texas Ballet Theater, Fort Worth Opera, and the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and Cliburn Concerts. You can read more about the history of the hall here. Back to the page! Pretty simple -- Outlaw paper with the corner turned down and the medallion inked with markers in different colors before stamping on vanilla cardstock. Photos are mounted with dimensionals and have Vintage brad embellishments. Matted with sage cardstock: All... Read more →

Wanted - Altered Art 2 & 3

For this altered piece, I started with a $2.50 clock from the Target Dollar Spot: LOL! And transformed it to this: I took the hands off and covered it in the plain green paper from the Outlaw series, then stamped over the paper with the Sanded background. The Roman numerals were created with the Wild West Alphabet -- stamped in Versamark and copper embossed (I sure am going to miss that embossing powder)! The medallion was stamped in the center and the small flower used as the other numbers on the clock face. The edges of the clock were inked directly, either with copper Encore or chocolate craft ink -- I've forgotten which. The hands of the clock were also embossed with copper! Next is an unfinished/unpainted frame from Michael's. I painted it with acrylic Making Memories paint. The insert is brushed copper metallic cardstock, embossed in copper with the stamps from the Wanted set. Timber Brown StazOn ink is then rubbed over the embossing, to highlight & age it: Here's a close-up of the detail -- I loved the "giggle" sentiment for my giggly girls! All supplies by Stampin' Up! . Read more →

A Homeowner Again!

Everything went relatively smooth today at our new home closing and we have keys -- yay! Now starts the lovely task of physically moving (ugh)! But on a nice thought, we picked up the paint color my new crafting space will be and will probably paint it on Sunday -- yay, again! Don't forget about the 3rd Anniversary Dare To Get Dirty challenges for Fan Club Members at SplitcoastStampers.com the next few days. I have another challenge that will be posted on Sunday and I'd love to see you join in. Just bring your favorite stamps because it's a sketch challenge! Also, My Favorite Things has some new stamp releases coming August 1 that you won't want to miss. While I've been too busy packing to make any samples, check out the design team members' blogs and galleries for sneak peeks they will be posting over the next few days! Enjoy your weekend and more of my SU convention display samples yet to come! Read more →

Wanted - Card 5

I finally used the horse from the Wanted set! They are stamped in rust ink on vanilla and the edges of the vanilla strip are scored with the scoring tool from my paper trimmer: Outlaw paper again, Round Tab punch holds the sentiment from Flex Phrases; vintage brads, sage cardstock. All supplies by Stampin' Up! . Read more →

Wanted - Altered Art 1

Here's my first altered art/3D piece using the Wanted set. I cut out patterns in the Outlaw paper to make these flowers that are attached to chopsticks. The tin (another dollar store find) was covered in the Outlaw paper. Overall, this centerpiece stands approximately 14 inches: I used the large oval to punch some paisleys for the first flower (left), the pattern of the paper was just followed and cut out for the middle flower, then highlighted with glitter. The right flower was done in the same manner as the left one. Paper was applied to chipboard for the flower centers. Ribbon knotted around chopsticks to form leaves. Heres's a close-up: Yes, here's that medallion again! This time it is stamped into hot copper embossing powder (now retired), to make a faux metal embellishment for the front of the tin. The little flowers around the medallion are stamped on the designer paper and cut out and applied to chipboard. The outside edges are inked with copper metallic Encore. All supplies by Stampin' Up! . Read more →

Wanted - Scrapbook Pgs 2 & 3

I think this scrapbook page was my favorite item of all my samples: I had wanted to scrap this photo of my youngest daughter since last Christmas (2006) and this 12" x 12" Outlaw paper was the perfect, soft pattern to frame a single photo in the middle, I thought. The paisley on the round gold metal tag is from the Wanted set and is embossed in gold. The "F" in Four is from the Wild West Alphabet. I added journaling in strips to commemorate some of her favorite things at 4 years old. A close-up of the journaling: She's: Independent, Hilarious sense of humor, Screaming giggles, Does not like to be alone, Loves riding her bike! Today is also her 5th birthday, so I had to post it for her! This is a photo of a beautiful wild horse/mustang fountain at one of our outdoor shopping centers. We frequently take the girls for ice cream from the shop right behind me in the photo, then go over to the seats by the fountain to eat it! I thought it was especially beautiful this spring when the trees were all budding (click on images for a closer view): I stamped... Read more →

Wanted - Cards 1 & 2

For the next 13 days, I'll be featuring two projects a day of the samples I created for the Stampin' Up convention display boards. I love this gorgeous new Outlaw designer paper from the Boho West line, along with everything else in the line! You'll have to forgive me if I forget some of the details on these projects, since they were stamped earlier in the year AND I just don't have the time to input all the details right now since I'll start moving into the new house this weekend. So if you see something you have questions about, please post your questions in the comment section and I'll answer them as I am able during or after the move -- okay? Thanks for bearing with me. This card is on a saffron Long Note, Outlaw paper, Vintage brads. One letter at a time of the "Wanted" stamp from this set was inked & stamped on different papers in the series and cut into squares. They were mounted to a strip of saffron cardstock and faux stitched. The sentiment is a partial from In My Thoughts: More of the Outlaw paper, faux stitched again (I used up my entire... Read more →

Tagged Again & Get Dirty!

Another tag . . . Cyndi B at The Scrappy Chick tagged me and so did someone else (sorry, I can't find my email of who right now). So here are 7 things about me that you may not know: 1. While a country girl at heart (ahh, George Straight & Tim McGraw!), I also love listening to classic (70's-80's) Rod Stewart! 2. I must have my coffee every morning (a large travel mug, sometimes two) of either flavored coffee (southern pecan, butter toffee, swiss chocolate almond) or Kona with hazelnut creamer . . . I LOVE my Keurig! It also makes wonderful iced teas! 3. My favorite dessert is classic cheesecake with raspberry sauce. A close 2nd favorite is anything chocolate! 4. When asked what my favorite color is, I usually say blue. But I rarely wear it (except for jeans), decorate with it, or stamp with it! I guess that's why I made my blog mostly blue! 5. I met my husband on my first and only blind date in 1990, but it took us another 2 years to finally get together again! 6. We spent our honeymoon in Hawaii (Maui & Oahu) 13 years ago and we'd... Read more →

Ewwwwww!! & Q&A

Meet the new resident at our almost-complete new house! He (or she) has taken up residency on the back porch. I have no idea what kind of spider this is but he certainly does look ominous, doesn't he? Does anyone happen to know what kind he is? I'm off to do some Internet searching to find out. Meanwhile, I think I'll schedule an exterminator before we move in! ETA: Many thanks to Kelly S, who answered my question very quickly . . . we have a female yellow garden spider! (Males are about 1-1/2" while females can grow up to 3" -- ours was very large!) She is not harmful to humans and will loose most of her bright yellow color after she lays her egg sack(s), dying soon after. Aww, I get a little teary -- reminded of Charlotte's Web, LOL! You can read more about them HERE. It's been a while since I've answered any of your questions you posted for me, so how about a few of those today? How many cards do you send out a week? Amber H. Well, Amber – I need to get a lot better at this! I have hard enough time... Read more →

CHA

The Craft & Hobby Association show is underway in Chicago, where all the craft manufacturers will be be unveiling their new products for the upcoming season. I did have plans to go but the new house/moving plans took precedence! So if you are like me, awaiting all the juicy tidbits, be sure to keep an eye out on a few blogs that will be sharing details & photos as they get them: Craft Critique (daily reports with photos & links to the manufacturers' website sneak peeks), Eclectic Paperie, Julie Brooks (Doodliedoo). Enjoy! Read more →

Celebrations Contest Finalist!

Wow -- Craft Critique had a Celebrations Contest and I'm a finalist with this PaperTrey Ink ladybug little girl gift ensemble! So if you wouldn't mind, head on over to Craft Critique and vote for your favorite . Click on the email link right after my project's photo, to enter your vote. And while you're there, take a look around their collective blog -- you'll find tons of great info on just about any crafting topic you can think of, along with unbiased product reviews. I promise to stop packing long enough to post a card on Friday, so check back in! Read more →

More Ribbon & Storage!

A New Stampin' Up catalog year brings new accessories, and one of my favorites is ribbon! This year I finally decided to purchase these stacking ribbon holders Stampin' Up! started carrying last year because I was running out of ribbon storage space (can you sympathize with me here?)!! I wanted to segregate my current ribbon from the retired (and add new!) and keep it within easy reach, right on my desk top since I'm always getting it out for just about every project. These plastic containers seemed innocent enough when I started assembling them. They went together quickly and easily -- they are shipped flat and just bend and snap together. But before you can snap the final piece in place (the front part that has the logo on it), you have to be an acrobat to get all the spooled ribbon to stay inside the semi-enclosed box while you insert the included figure-8 piece that locks two or more of these containers together, then snap the final piece in place. And then try to do all that again with the next unit you want to stack and attach to the first! One nice thing about these containers is that... Read more →

Rockin' Girl Blogger!

I usually don't participate in these blog games of tag because inevitably, someone's feelings get hurt. But this one looks like fun and it might help you to find a few more blogs you may not be aware of, so I'm going to pass it along . . . sweet Sherrie over at Card Creme nominated me for this fun little game (many thanks, rockin' girl blogger!). Check out her artwork -- it's beautiful! I'm supposed to nominate 5 other blogger girls that I think are rockin' and because I spend a lot of time on their blogs, I thought I'd pass along the links to you, too. So here they are, in no particular order. And if you don't see your name on this list, it's not because I don't think you rock! Jeanne at Inky Paws -- I think most of you know this girl's coloring rocks, but just in case . . . Beate at Fresh & Fun -- Most everyone knows Beate and this girl can crank out the cards with definitely a fresh & fun approach! Lori at Make a Difference -- This girl DOES make a difference with her gorgeous cards & scrapbook pages... Read more →