YOU ROCK!

OK so my nephew turned 15 at the beginning of the month. I remember the day he was born, where did all that time go??? He is such a cool kid, and I really had a hard time coming up with a cool, NOT little boy, birthday card. How'd I do???



here is the inside of the card...


Supplies:
Kraft & White Cardstock from Hobby Lobby
DCWV RockStar Mat Stack (skull paper, guitar paper, stripe)
Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Brody Drummer Z Stamp by Just Johanna Odd Bird Planet
You Rock & Star stamps are Love, Elsie by KI Memories
happy birthday by Unity Stamps

I tried to grunge up the inside to make it look very ROCK-like. I hope I was successful, of course even with money in the card I never heard if he liked it or not...oh well that's a 15 year old for ya! LoL!

I would love to hear how you liked this card, or have you become a follower. I spent yesterday afternoon on a "date" with my hubs. That hasn't happened in over a year and a half on a Saturday night. Nice dinner, ran a few errands, riding around with the windows down & having an ice cream cone. That's the life!!! Have a super day!

As for me & my house...

Today I decided to use another of the sketches from Taylored Expressions Downloadable Sketch Book, and this sketch was for a 6x6 card. So that is where I started, I cut 1 1/4" squares out of three of the patterns of Basic Grey Lemonade Patterned Papers. I mounted 9 of those squares onto a 5 1/2" square of pink paper from the line, and mounted again onto the aqua green 6" piece.



I got a great new set of stamps called "Welcome Neighbor" off of ebay for a STEAL! They are from Stampin' Up's Sale-a-bration. They are a sweet set of houses and trees and little cloud. SO FUN! I cut several of the smallest of the Spellbinders label one out of white cardstock. THEN I stamped my images, colored them and the yard.

I also decorated the inside of this card. I have been trying to do that for a little more fun!



When I colored my image I decided it had to be sitting on some grass, so I made a hilly little yard scene. I was pretty proud of myself. I am loving these Copic Markers MORE & MORE! I am still mastering the colorless blender so if you have any tips for that one, please leave a comment - I just cannot push that color back in when I get outside the lines...



Supplies Used:
Welcome Neighbor Stampin' Up Stamp Set
As for Me & My House Stampabilities Stamp
Rich Cocoa Memento Ink Pad
Copic Markers YG17, G21, G07, Y11, R02, RV11, RV13, RV14
Nick Bantok Cerulean Azure Stamp pad
Basic Grey Lemonade 6x6 Paper Pad
White CS from stash
Ribbon unknown

I hope you have a fun-filled weekend planned. My husband actually has a Saturday night OFF this week, so I am planning to craft tonight and tomorrow and then get a date with my hubby in tommorrow night!!! WOOHOOOO!!! Don't forget to CREATE SOMETHING!!!

Another Gruffie!

Here is attempt #2 with my Copics this week. This little Gruffie didn't have as much detail as the first I colored (maybe I should have done this one first? LOL!) But he is adorable anyway!!! I got this one in only 2 tries. I was having issues getting his book a color that would match the Basic Grey papers I was using. So even though it was irritating when I ruined the coloring of the book on the first one, it gave me some great practice.



Supplies:
Gruffies Bedtime Story Stamp by House Mouse Designs
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Copic Markers E50, E53, E31, E25, E27, YG17, B24, B14
Basic Grey June Bug 6x6 Paper pad
DCWV Cardstock
Pop Dots (the image and scalloped border piece are both popped up)
Velvet Ric Rak from Taylored Expressions
"Just Because I care" by Stampin' Up

I hope you have had a WONDERFUL week so far! I am enjoying today with my hubby since he is off from work, and we are off to do something fun!!!

Copic Coloring with Gruffies

I have had my Copics for almost 2 years now. I just wasn't getting the results I wanted and so I decided to watch some videos on YouTube. I added two new markers, very pale colors to my collection after watching those videos. I stamped this "Gruffie" by House Mouse 4 times on some white cardstock and started to color. The one I finally added to this card was my 3rd attempt. Yes it was time consuming, but it helped me SO MUCH! I love, love, love how he came out!!! Not too bad for maybe my 5th attempt at coloring a stamp and I think he has some awesome depth.



Supplies:
Papers from my stash (I know the Dark & Light Purple CS & light floral are old CTMH)
Gruffies Lilac Bouquet Stamp
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad
Copic Markers V01, V04, V06, E50, E53, E31, E25, E27, YG03, YG17
Stampin' Up Slit Punch to make scalloped border
"to You from Me" stamp Stampin' Up
Paper Trey Ink Lavendar Moon Palette Ink Pad
Taylored Expressions downloadable sketch book

Thanks for stopping by today, please leave comments and let me know how you like the projects I have been showing! Or become a follower! Make sure you GO CREATE SOMETHING!!!

Forever Young Cricut Cartridge Cards

Since my Cricut was a Christmas present from my Mom, I wanted to make her Mother's Day card with a cut from the Cricut. I decided on the elegant ladies of Forever Young. I made a card for my Mother-in-law as well. but I changed up the papers to make it a little different.




The ladies and their dresses were cut at 3 3/4", she is on p. 43 of the booklet. I chose her because her dress reminded me of pictures I have seen of my Mom in the fifties.

The "scalloped circle" is actually the flower on p. 66 of the booklet. The ribbon matches much better in real life, and on the card with the more flowery pattern it pulls the blue out of that dress cut.




Supplies:
Forever Young Cricut Cartridge
Classic K Bailey Paper Pad by K & Co. Patterned Papers
Black & Red Cardstock from my stash
Green 6x6 cards by DCWV
CTMH Classmate Alphabet (happy, day)
Angel Company unknown set (mother's)
Black Soot Distress Ink pad
Black Glitter Flower by Prima
Ribbon unknown

These lovely ladies cut so nicely and layered easily. I will be using this cartridge A LOT MORE! Have a great weekend, enjoy the sunshine and CREATE SOMETHING!!!

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop!

Today I am participating in Taylored Expressions first CUSTOMER blog hop! Our theme is Blast from the Past. We had to use a Taylored Expressions stamp set from 2008 or 2009. The stamp sets I chose to work with are Branching Out & Braching Out Coordinates. These are really cute sets and support a worthy cause.







Supplies:
Pink Armadillo Glitter Paper Stack by the Paper Studio
Braching Out & Branching Out Coordinates by Taylored Expressions
Distress Inks by Tim Holtz: Brushed Corduroy & Broken China
Diamond Stickles
Bo Bunny Flower
Copic Markers: E31 Brick Beige, E25 Caribe Cocoa, YR65 Atoll
Pop Dots
Kraft Cardstock Base from Hobby Lobby

Here is the sketch we were given to work with if we chose to do so, and I thought it was too cute and the images I was choosing to work with fit perfectly with a circle as a focal point.




If you are a regular visitor to my blog, try and visit the others on the list below. I am number 50, and the hop started with Taylor herself. =0) For those of you hopping along remember to leave everyone a little love! Have & great day and CREATE SOMETHING!!!

Friday Sketch

This is my first week participating in Amy R's Friday Sketch. This is the sketch we were given last Friday:


And here is my card inspired by the sketch.


Supplies:
DCWV Textured Brown Cardstock
Love Nest Stack by My Mind's Eye (patterned papers)
Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Lemon Ice & Cotton Candy Stickles
Ribbon from Hobby Lobby
Scalloped Circle Nestabilities Die by Spellbinders
Thank you for Caring Stamp by Hero Arts

I am squeaking in getting this card done for this week's challenge, but hope to get next week's done a lot faster. Thanks for stopping by, leave some love, ask a question or become a follower. Now GO CREATE SOMETHING!

a little monogramming...

We have an embroidery machine, it is a commercial machine. For two years we had a business, and now we do small jobs for local companies, and personalization of baby & wedding gifts, the occassional purse or bag. It really is a lot of fun.

All the items below were handmade my Mother-in-law, and monogrammed by me for a new baby at our church. The pictures were taken by his mom & dad, (their pictures turned out so much better than my own - Thank you R & JD!)





I hope you enjoyed seeing these sweet little baby things. I plan to post more pictures of things I have monogrammed in the future, let me know what you think??? Now GO CREATE SOMETHING!!!

Welcome to the World Baby Boy

A few weeks ago a sweet couple at our church welcomed their first baby, a little boy. When we had her shower at church back in March I made a few things for her, (which I will share tomorrow,) and I made this adorable card to go with the gift.



Supplies:
Taylored Expressions Stamps: Branching Out & Braching Out Coordinates
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Boy Papers by My Minds' Eye
White CS for base of card
Memento Rich Cocoa Ink Pad

I stamped the tree base and leaves onto the White Cardstock, using some second generation stamping on the leaves. Then I stamped the tree top onto the green paper, cut it out and pop dotted it onto the card for some dimension. The card didn't take long, but it turned out really CUTE!

Thanks for stopping by today, stop by tomorrow to see some of my machine embroidery handy work! Now Go CREATE SOMETHING!

Blog Award!!!

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT! I got a BlOG AWARD! This is the first award I have ever gotten!!! I am so excited! I received the award from Shelley. Make sure you click on her name and go visit her blog!



Here are the award rules:


1. Post the prize on my blog.
2. Mention the blogger who tagged me.
3. Give the prize to 5 friends.
4. Post on my blog the link to their blogs.
5. Announce everyone on their blog.
6. Make a list with 10 things that I like.

Below are the five blogs I have chosen. Can I tell you how hard it was to pick FIVE! Be sure you click on each of their names to go visit their blogs and leave them some love. These blogs are all a constant source of inspiration and fun for me! THANKS LADIES!!!

Katie
Kerri
Jenny
Diane
Kelly

And here are my 10 things I like:

1. I like spending time with my husband, he is my best friend and I am so proud he is MINE!
2. I like reading and studying my bible. It brings me great joy & peace.
3. I like spending time with my three dogs. We have an 8 year old border collie - Missie Moo, a 5 year old Mini Australian Shepherd - Marlie, and a 2 year old Lethal White Australian Shepherd who is deaf - Mazie.
4. I like to visit blogs and learn new things and cruise around cyberspace.
5. I like visitors to MY BLOG! Please leave me some love??? Or become a follower???(Shameless begging)
6. I like making cards and scrapbooking.
7. I like playing with my Cricut.
8. I like going to the mountains.
9. I like to watch movies.
10. I like to listen to music on my Ipod.

Thanks for stopping by! And thank you again Shelley for my award!!! I am so excited. NOW GO CREATE SOMETHING!!!!

Martha Stewart Punch, a $1 stamp, TE Sketches & some paper

My stash of cards was running VERY LOW. I like to keep a few "thank you" & "thinking of you" cards around. You never know when you will need them. So I got out the following supplies and made a few cards:

Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch
thanks Michael's $1 bin stamp
3 Bugs in a Rug Springtime 6x6 paper pack
White Cardstock (Georgia Pacific)
Taylored Expressions Sketch Book
ATG Gun
Pop Dots
Paper Trimmer

With just those few supplies I made about 6 cards. Here are three of them:






on the following card I also used an EK Success 1" Circle Punch & the Thank You Stamp used is by Amuse Artstamps



I have already given all of these to some wonderful ladies at my church who I wanted to give special thanks and notes of gratitude too. And they all LOVED THEM! See what you can do with just a few supplies???

Now Go CREATE SOMETHING!!!

WIN A GYPSY for your Cricut!!!

Go Check out Obsessed with Scrapbooking and enter to win a GYPSY for your Cricut!!!!!!!!

National Scrapbook Day!

Today is National Scrapbook Day! =0) It is pouring down rain here, and so it is a great day to SCRAPBOOK!!!

In honor of today I wanted to share a 2 layouts I did recently.




Supplies:
Close to My Heart Level 2 Paper Packet Tinkerin'
Close to My Heart Level 2 My Stickease
Close to My Heart Badge Buttons
Close to My Heart Craft Buttons (red - not sure of exact color name)

This was a layout from our summer vacation to Gatlinburg & Pigeon Forge last summer. We took one whole day and Keith & I took our nephew, Michael, to Dollywood. The boys did most of the rides, but I did brave a few, even went on two that got us soaked!!! But it was SO much fun!!!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are in the middle of/getting ready for/coming home from your National Scrapbook Day Celebration. Make sure you GO CREATE something today!!!!