Pre-school teacher gifts

Jack had his last day of summer pre-school today. What am i going to do until September? I'll be growing more and more immobile and he'll be getting more and more bored! Ack!
I've really been so pleased with preschool this summer. Jack adores his teacher and during weeks that he does have school he asks to go or to go to "Ms Jill's house". The only downside in the fall is he goes 1 less day a week and only from 9-12 (as opposed to our summers 9-1). I'm heavily debating whether i should put him in more days or stick to the 2. Any suggestions?

ok... onto my teacher gifts. I made 6 knowing i'd need 5. There are a couple of other teachers that all work together with the classes so i wanted to be sure to thank them all, not just "Ms Jill". A friend of mine told me a simple gift idea she did at a stampin up demo party. She said cut some chipboard to 4x4 or 5x5 square. Cover the front and back with paper. Use a binder clip to hold a post it pad on. Cover the binder clip with a scallop circle and stamped image on a circle. Viola. So thats what i made! I believe they even used this cherry print from SU along with the cherry stamp from the tart n tangy set. I covered the back with real red cardstock (the same cardstock i used for my card base. Edges are inked with Colorbox Pigment Inks. And i punched out some photo corners using my SU punch out of real red and the scallop circle is also real red. I really was super pleased at how fast and easy this was to put together!

Any other questions, feel free to ask!

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Kraftin' Kimmie's Challenge - WeightWatchaBella

Kim Reid of Kraftin' Kimmie's Korner posted a challenge last week that could win you some fabulous Magnolia Stamps as well as some other goodies! There is still time if you want to enter! Check out this blog entry of her's for all the details.

Let me just say that Kim's blog is one of my new found favorite blogs. She is who introduced me to Whiff of Joy stamps and blog. And has given me countless ways of inspiration since i found her blog. I could go on and on. But i'll spare you and let you want to go on and on yourself. Just go check out her blog!

I love the Magnolia images she has used. I however only own 1 magnolia stamp and since i JUST used her for another challenge, i figured i'd ink up a different lonely stamp that has yet to see ink. (i own too many of those right now after my "it's my birthday month and i want it buy spree!). So i chose to use the new WeightWatchaBella from stampingbella.com. And made myself a book to keep track of my weight loss goals. For those of you who know me, know i'm pregnant and due in September. I havent (yet) gained as much as i did with my first child, but let me tell you, i've still gained a lot and i'm desperate to have my body back! So i'm really going to work hard after baby (provided i dont break my tailbone like i did with the first, even though the doc says i probably will) to get my possibly broken booty back into shape! And not only did i use my lonely bella, my Mom bought me a bind it all for my birthday and i hadnt gotten to use it yet either!

So here is my entry for Kim's challenge! Now i just need to put it to good use!!!!!

The center of my oval has been popped up and then the edges were lined with ribbon. My 2 year old saw it and immediately said "FOOTBALL". I didnt even know he knew what a football was!

It adds some nice dimension to the cover of the book bit it not extremely noticeable. Still, i think it adds a nice little touch. I'm very into using pop dots these days.


here are some extra details...

Stamps: WeightWatchaBella - stamping bella
Patterened Paper: Die Cuts With a View
Cardstock: Stampin UP
Accessories: Larger flower by Heidi Swapp, smaller flowers by Prima
Misc ribbons and brads from my "stash"


Wish me luck everyone!

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OCC Challenge - dry embossing

Our Creative Corner
had a challenge posted on their blog to use dry embossing on a card! I'm really hoping i'm making the deadline on this one for the challenge! but even if i'm not in the running to win any of their fabulous prizes, i had fun completing the challenge and also used a stamp set that i had yet to ink up!

My supplies:

Stamps: C C Designs Summer Time Fun
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers
Patterend Paper: American Crafts
Cardstock: Stampin Up
Embossing Folders by CuddleBug : Spots and Dots and Swirls
Brads and thread from my "stash"
Scallop Circle cut by Accent Essentials Cricut Cartridge

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Magnolia for Whiff of Joy Challenge

I found a new blog and i'm in love! I absolutely LOVE her style. And whats more, she's coming out with her own stamp line called Whiff of Joy. She posted a sketch as a challenge for a position as a guest designer. I would be honored to take that spot on! But my card cant hold a candle to her cards! I would definitely suggest checking her blog out! CHECK IT OUT HERE!

Here was her sketch...


and she has a new sketch today that i cant wait to try.

Ok, onto the deets of my card...

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Cheddar, Bazzil Walnut, Bazzill Whirlpool
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper (Blue Hill Collection)
Stamps: Magnolia Tilda with Marguerites, sentiment is Heidi Grace
Accessories: PTI Aqua Mist Ribbon, bellas baubles, eyelet by We R Memory Keepers, Chipboard tag from the dollar spot at Target
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and all edges are inked with Colorbox Chalk inks (amber clay, chestnut roan, prussian blue and wisteria
And image is colored with Copic Markers

All of the colors are based out of the patterned paper scrap i had from crate paper. I just ADORE crate paper! And since i'm a bit of a bazzill connoisseur i just happened to have matching bazzill colors. :) Creating the right purple for her top was a wee bit tricky. I had to combine copic violet and copic grey. I need some different purples i've decided.
The Tag i stamped the sentiment on is from a set of self adhesive chipboard i got at target for a buck! I actually adhered the bazzill to the sticky side of the chipboard and then sanded the edges to get it the perfect size.
There are actually a lot of different layers on this card as i used a LOT of pop dots. However, it's hard to get that feel from the 2d image. The layers are super fun in person. :)


Thanks so much everyone and wish me luck!

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i was totally going to wait and post these in the next day or so but i just couldnt. I was so excited when Mr. Brown came today with my bellas! I wanted to play with them all, but the little rascal had other plans for me today. MAN was he wild! Anyhoo - he finally crashed just before 9pm, so i basically told my hubby that i needed some alone time in my craft room and i've been crafting away ever since. Ok, well that and chatting online.

Ok, on with the bellas! I got more than just these 2 gals, so keep you eyes peeled for some more bella cards soon! But tonight i used Halobella and i-wish-i-looked-so-good-on-a-bike-abella. Yes, her name really is that long!

The cards are simple again, without a lot of layers. I was more excited about the stamps and coloring than anything else this evening. :)

Card 1 supplies
Paper/Cardstock: GP white, soft sky (SU), Blue Bayou (SU)
Stamps: bella and sentiment by stamping bella
background stars stamped in Soft Sky ink; stamps from Verve Visual
Ink: memento tuxedo black, copics for coloring and a clear atyou spica pen
Other tools: custom cutting circles by creative memories, a piercing tool for free hand piercing

Card 2 supplies
Paoer/Cardstock, GP white, Berry Sorbet (PTI), Summer Sunrise (PTI), patterened paper (PTI)
Stamps: Bella from stampingbella, sentiment from Say It In Style (CTMH)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, copics to color
Accessories: Berry Sorbet double stiched ribbon (PTI), Mango Embossing Powder (stampendous)
Other Tools: scallop corner punch by creative memories

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Starving Artist : ZOT

So i had entirely too much fun with this guy! And i've decided i NEED all the Starving Artist Doodle Factory Creatures. You can see the rest here. They are just too hilarious.
I kept the card simple. I mostly just wanted to break in the stamp. The sentiment stamp is by inkadinkado (I think - yipes! it's not mounted and just sitting with my unmount-eds so i'm just not positive on that one). And he is colored with copics. Other than that as you can see there arent a lot of laters to the card. I used some black cardstock embossed with the distressed stripes cuddlebug folder. I off centered my mats just to make the card look messy. i also stamped some splotches to mock spilled coffee. Those stamps are from the Bo Bunny Urban set. And then i just added some very random buttons from my button jar that are faux stitched on with black thread - and viola - we have ZOT. :) And i must say i laughed the entire time i made this card. :)

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CHA Sneak Peeks!

Dont i wish that i had REAL sneak peeks for you. Being a design team member of any company and getting stuff beforehand just is so cool to me. But alas, my sneak peeks are just coming from me searching the blogs and finding the new releases and then passing them along to you. haha.

Here's what i've found from fiskars... Holy Moly! I cant wait for all this stuff to hit the stores. It'd be even MORE amazing if i could win it all! haha. You can try to win some stuff too by visiting this blog Love the rock paper Trimmer. Dont know that i even need a new trimmer - but that one just looks amazing! Then i'm absolutely going to have to get the squaralicious squeeze punch. The fingertip tweezers look mighty snazzy as well. As always loving the heidi grace and cant wait to get the letter's home papers and things by kelly paulson!
But i'm telling you... once i can FIND that square scallop punch (i'm sure it will be sold out - FOREVER!) it will be mine!!!!


Ok, now needing to get the rascal up for school - i'll try to find some more CHA releases a little later today!

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Do Nothing!

I'm still trying to catch up using all of my new sets i've acquired lately! It's really sad how excited i was to get all of them, and yet many (too many!) have not even seen ink yet! *sigh*

Well this card is no exception. I got this set last month. But there are so so so many cute cute stamps in this set! It's the "Do Nothing" set by Close to My Heart. I ended up only using the girl image from the set... now i just need to use the other stamps! haha. I decided to just stamp my sentiment on the inside. It reads "Soak it Up, you Deserve it!" and it's by Great Impressions.
Other supplies are as follows...
Paper: GP 110 white cardstock, Pretty in Pink by SU, Apricot Appeal by SU, Bashful Blue by SU
Tools: Swiss Dots embossing folder by CuddleBug
Embellishments: Satin Blue ribbon (just from my stash), bellas baubles


Thanks for looking!

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Brown & Blue Card Combos

I was trying to come up with some ideas for a card class at The Scrapbook Company. These arent the exact cards we'll make because i really need to use stamps and such that they carry in the store and i was just working out basic designs. Then i'll go into the store and remake the cards with their stamps. haha. We'll also be making a box that can hold the cards. Once i get the cards for the class made with the right paper and everything, i'll take a pic and post those as well.

The next 2 cards are also ones i'll base the designs of the cards for the class off of, but i cant take too much credit because the card design itself was taken off of some cards on Lauren Meader's blog I was running out of ideas, and she's my go to gal. haha.

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I did a Scrappy Challenge

I participated in a Scrappy Challenge! Which is great because the scrappy blog has great sketches and i need to get caught up before this next baby gets here! Ok, so i'll never get caught up and i've come to terms with this, but it doesnt mean i shouldnt be trying! :) Here's the Scrappy Chick blog if you'd like to see the original and participate yourself!








Supplies
Patterened Paper all from the Free Spirit collection by Close to My Heart
Coordinating Cardstock CTMH (Cocoa, Honey, Indian Corn Blue and Colonial White)
Title cut using Platin Schoolbook Cricut Cartridge
Subtitle stamped with Charmed Alpha by Close to my Heart and then heat embossed using Brown Puffs Embossing Powder by Ranger
All edges inked with Colorbox Chalk Cats Eye ink in Shestnut Roan
Extra Stamping from Legendary Moments by CTMH
Cuddle Bug embossing folder used on circles and ovals was Spots and Dots, was then sanded and inked over using ColorBox Creamy Brown

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This is my first card using any TAC images. I got the images off of the PIF image thread on splitcoast. And i recently ordered some TAC images as well, but they arent here just yet. Still, i was happy with how this cow turned out. He's colored with copic markers and i used a white souffle pen for all the highlight. The other papers are all scraps just floating around in my scrap bin - including the cool cutout behind the stamp image. I cut a bunch of that shape with my cricut accent essentials cartridge for a swap and that was a leftover. But i hated to throw it out, so it went into the scrap stash. I knew i'd use it one day! The sentiment is from a Studio G stamp set and then i added some acrylic discs to the side just for a little pop. :)

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Coaster Frame

This is a frame i made out of cork coasters from the dollar store. We will also be doing this project at my upcoming stamp camp on sunday. :)

first of all, this frame didnt photograph nearly as pretty as it is in person. I still think it needs some extra touches, but there are lots of layers that are popped up with pop dots, but the flash washed it all out so you cant see all the dimension.

Supplies:
Paper: Boom-di-ada Paper from Close to My Heart
Cardstock is Autumn Terracotta by Close to My Heart
Stamps: Cottage florals by Close to my Heart
Spot on Backgrounds by Close to my Heart
Sentiment from SU (let me get the name of the set and get back to you!)
Inks: Chocolate, Autumn Terracotta, HollyHock, Garden Green all Close to My Heart
Brad: is Colonial White by Close to My Heart
Ribbon is Very Vanilla by SU


Tips and Tricks
Anytime I use a mask with a stamp project, i stamp my image to be cut out on good thick cardstock and then store it with the stamp set. That way the next time i want to use the stamp set, i dont have to go thru the trouble of cutting out another mask. For this project, i cut out an image of the main flower and laid it on top of the stamped one in the picture and stamped on top to make my leaves.

To add extra dimension to popped out flowers, wet the edges with a fine mist water bottle (i use evian in a spray can - really meant for your face ) After the edges are dampened, you can then pinch the petal tips to get a cool flower look.

Tired of solid stamp images? Use a background stamp to kiss off some of the ink. Simply ink up your solid stamp, and then stamp the solid stamp onto your background stamp. Some ink will remain on your solid stamp and then the pattern will appear when you stamp your image onto your paper.


Thanks for looking!

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Coffee Bag Inspiration

I was inspired by a recent PaperTrey Ink challenge of altering and decorating coffee bags. Of course the design team of PTI is absoluletly outstanding so i wont even pretend to think my coffee bag is better than any of theirs! Each design team member came up with a creative use for their coffee bag. One planted a seedling... 1 used it as a cookie gift bag, another for amish bread, etc. I was pretty literal with my... i used it as a *gasp* coffee bag! haha. I wanted to give my dad some yummo coffee and i thought it would be more fun to decorate the bag first. PTI sells some great versions of coffee bags (as well as other gift giving items to alter). Some of the bags are white, others are the "kraft" color. Some have windows and some do not. My coffee bag is one that i snuck away from BiLo (the grcoery store by my house) and in fact i snuck 8 away because i'm cheap. haha. The quality probably isnt as nice at PTI's but they were lined with plastic so that is a plus. I will be using the other bags in coordination with the stamp camp i mentioned in a previous blog entry.

Ok, onto the coffee bag deets...

Supplies:
Coffee Bag from BiLo
Coffee Talk stamp set from Close to My Heart
(coffee beans are from the Gel A Tin's Coffee & Tea stamp set)
Martha Stewart 18x18 cardstock (to cut the strip to go around the coffee bag)
Other scrap paper (i used blue bayou from SU and Colonial White from CTMH)
Brads by Spare Parts
Chocolate Grosbrain ribbon (CTMH)
Distressed Lines embossing folder & cuddlebug machine
Inks: CTMH bamboo, chocolate, grey flannel, SU blue bayou and chocolate chip


Thanks for looking!!!!

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Card for my daddy

Ok, so i didnt get to work on stuff as much as i would have liked last night. I was grumpy. Pregnancy grumpy. I discovered a lot of stretch marks (i got out of my other pregnancy unscathed except for a few little guys on my hips, and they were easily hid. these are right across my stomach and coming from someone who enjoys wearing 2 pieces in the summer and prior to pregnancy numero uno had a flat stomach (that i worked hard at) i was depressed. Not to mention other irritations i just was plain unhappy last night.

But then i found this card that i actually made myself for a card swap. I took the fathers day spot. Well how do you like that. So thats the card i'm using to give to my dad considering it was him who i thought of when making the card in the first place! but i never photographed it or posted it so i shall do that now. :)

Here's my card for my golfing dad! I used Stamping Bella's Golfafella and matching sentiment. The inside i stamped Happy Father's Day very large using alpha stamps. My dad is so awesome. He is extremely talented (has received the Kennedy Center's Gold Medallion award for set design and he LOVES to teach and loves his students. He doesnt have a cruel bone in his body and gladly gives up his personal time to help his students and other students around the campus (he teaches at Ball State University). He'll take pictures of acting students so they have headshots at midnight because it's the only time they have to do it. He'll stay up late helpign design students work on websites and portfolios. He go to all the golf tournaments because he and my mom have "adopted" many of those students who's parents cant come to watch the matches. I mean truly... he's a remarkable man. I've also never heard a single person say a negative thing about him and when i went to college i was a bit of a superstar just for being his daughter! Anyway - i just wanted to give a shout out to my papa. :)

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PTI - Pond Life

Well my last post was my long one about the craze that has been my life in the past week. But i guess i never really got past my birthday party which was only friday! Saturday i had a wedding to do. I didnt make near enough. It's hard to figure out my prices for a smaller town. I hate for anyone to feel ripped off and i hate "charging" people for anything, however, i am a professional makeup artist and i should know that my work is valued. I tell myself this over and over again... but i still have trouble.

Ok, thats not the point of this entry at all! After the wedding, my mother-in-law, jack and i drove down to our camper we have permanently set up at Hartwell Lake. I'd love to say i own a second Lakeside home. But it really is just a camper. haha. Anyhoo - after we'd been there about a day, i wondered where my neighbor (who lives there permanently) was. He's ALWAYS around, but there was no site of him. I found out later he had been taken to the ER when they thought he was having a heart attack but it turned out to be a bacterial infection and he was in the ICU. SCARY! So after we got home yesterday i decided i wanted to make him a card. I used Papertrey's Pond Life set to create this card.



My parents get into town tomorrow night (man do i have a lot to do before then!) and then we'll be heading back to the lake on friday for July 4th celebrations. We'll be coming back on saturday however. My parents will be leaving town on monday. I hope to squeeze in a few posts before then... still need to create a card for my dad so that will be later today and then i have some projects for a stamp camp i'm doing with my friend rachel so hopefully i wont get too behind! YIPES!

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PTI - Out on a Limb

Well this past week sure has been a crazy one! I cant believe a week has come and gone so fast! Last thursday was my birthday... yippee! I absolutely love birthdays! I celebrated it myself by having friends over for a birthday crop! Lots of fun to be had. My in laws got into town that afternoon and babysat the munchkin so that my hubby and i could go out to eat. Good food - no rowdy child... ahhh, bliss!

Now the next day my hubby had planned a "surprise" birthday party. I put surprise in quotes because i had it figured out long before. But here's a quick background on the subject... my hubby never does ANYTHING for me on my bday. i dont get a card, or a cake, and sometimes not even a present. I get a why dont you go and get your hair done. Which then never happens. GO get a pedicure.... never happens. He says it's my fault that i dont go and do them. Um... i have a toddler, and a hubby that works full time. I know most of you all understand how it goes all too well.

Well this year he was trying really really hard to do something special! He asked a couple of friends to make sure my important people were there. He hired his buddy and little worker bee to come and park cars so i wouldnt know they were there. He filled the downstairs with balloons. However, in true fashion to my darling man... he did a lot of things wrong (which is how i knew about the bash to begin with) and i finally had to tell him that i knew because he told the 2 sets of friends 2 different times to be there and i was scrambling trying to help him get ready for everything! Finally he banished me to "my room" which means my craft room. He said i might know what was happening, but he didnt want me to see it in the works. So while i was banished to my room, i made him this card to thank him for all the hard hard work he put into "making up" for his past birthday blunders...


The stamps are from PaperTrey Ink and is the Out on a Limb set with Out on a Limb Sentiments. It really is a fabulously remarkable stamp set (that i just ordered myself for my birthday) so i cant wait to get lots more use out of it! It'll make some stunning cards!

Oh - and my big surprise for the night was i got a cake for every single birthday he had missed so by the time the cakes stopped rolling in my table was covered with cakes. Imagine the delight of all the 2 and 3 year olds at the party! it was pure heaven. :) Still no card though.... maybe i'll get a card for every year he's missed next year! haha

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