Saturday, February 27, 2010

Stamp TV Organizer

I did a lot of playing with paper during our 2 snow days. I recently bought Gina K's Organize It Stamp TV Kit. I love Gina K's StampTV Kitchen Counter Organizer project, and I decided to make one of these to use in my craft area. This is pretty much an exact replica of hers, but I used different papers that went along with the solid papers and ribbons in the kit. Also, I did not use the words from the stamp set for my folder tabs. I used my
JustRite 1 3/16" wooden stamp mount and the 15 point font JustRite alphabet set to make my own words - "bits & pieces", "notes" and "ideas". This will help me to organize things that are now cluttering my craft space. It is just amazing what you can make from a Kleenex box! I had lots of fun doing this. There are many StampTV projects that go along with this kit. I will certainly be making many of them.

Friday, February 26, 2010

Basket of Love

We are on day 2 of a big snow storm here is NJ. I spent the day yesterday playing in my craft space. Here is a card that I made with this adorable Basket Full o' Flopsey set from MFT. I had spring on my mind, and these wonderful prints in the Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety Mini Deck that I just got with my latest order From Taylored Expressions were perfect to use with Flopsey! I used 2/25{STVSCJH13} from Stamp TV for my layout. The base of the card is Crushed Curry and the next panel is Handsome Hunter. I paper pieced Flopsey and the basket and colored the rest with Copics. I scissor cut the grass, and embellished with some Dew Drops and Soft Suede polka dot grosgrain ribbon.

Monday, February 22, 2010

Dragonflies for Ben and Grace


Taylor VanBruggen of Taylored Expressions kicked off a Card Drive last Friday for a cause that is very dear to my heart. She is calling on card makers worldwide to create cards for a program at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD that has been developed to help grieving families who are suffering the loss of a newborn(s). This cause is so close to my heart because I have experienced this twice. The devastation of facing life without the baby you loved so dearly before you even met him or her, is indescribable. People, even those very close to you, say all the wrong things, and it is so hard to navigate through life for a very long time. Most people forget your lost ones, but you need to remember. You never forget. To have a picture, a blanket, a cap - anything that touched your precious one(s) becomes the most important thing(s) in your possession. The work that is being done today to help parents and families through this is incredible. I ask you to consider making at least one card for this cause. The dragonfly is the symbol of hope that this particular program uses, so a dragonfly has to be incorporated in your card. it can be from any company. Click HERE for all of the details.
I did not have a dragonfly stamp, so I used BasicGrey's Wisteria DP which has beautiful dragonfly images on it. In the meantime, I ordered a gorgeous stamp set from TE called "Discover Your Wings" that has a beautiful dragonfly image. For a limited time, TE will donate $7.00 to an organization called "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep", which you can read about HERE.
Here are the ingredients for my card:
Paper ~ Sage Shadow, Brushed Gold, Almost Amythist.
Stamps ~ Cute Converse (SU retired hostess), Verve~Forever in Our Hearts.
Ink ~ Elegant Eggplant (front), Sage Shadow and VersaFine Black Onyx (inside).
Accessories~ Mat pack & piercing tool, Score Tape, Bow Easy, Hero Arts 2mm rhinestones, SY scallop punch, Saukra white glaze pen, SU white taffeta ribbon, Dimensionals.
Thank you for stopping in...

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Jon's Valentine

This is my take on this week's Crazy 4 Challenges Challenge, which is to use RED as the main color on your project. I have twin boys who are 10 wonderful years old. They are so different... both really great kids. This card is for Jon. He is so athletic, and tenacious, and funny, and dear... Skateboarding is one of his latest endeavors. I just got this Extreme Skateboard stamp from Stampin' Up just in time for Valentine's Day. It's perfect for his Valentine. I found THIS and THIS card by Englishrose over at SCS, and combined ideas from them for my inspiration. I stamped the image in Basic Gray, and then stamped off 3 more times to give it dimension and movement. I sponged around the outside of the image with Bordering Blue ink, added 3 black brads to the top left corner, and popped it up with Dimensionals. The DSP is BasicGrey's Sugar Rush. The Card Stock is Riding Hood Red, Bordering Blue, Basic Gray and White. The sentiment is from MFT's Clearly Sentimental About Chocolate set. I can't wait for my boys to see their Valentines tomorrow. Hope you have a wonderful Valentine's Day!

Friday, February 12, 2010

Valentines

I was down to the wire with Valentines this year. Valentine's Day falls on Sunday, we had 2 snow days this week - everything is off kilter. So today, I made a few - had to have one for my Mom (love you, mom), and a few others. I did not send out Christmas cards this year, and I VOWED to send Valentines. Ha Ha Ha - that did not happen. I have lots of good intentions...
Anyway, I made this one above for my mom. I pulled out a Hero Arts stamp that I bought years ago. I used my MS heart lace punch and some retired papers that I had not pulled out in a while... I felt like my mom would like that I dug into my stash - she is the queen of thrifty. Before I mailed this card, I added 2 half pearls on the red card stock where the left and right points of the Nesties frames are, and BOY did that make a difference. I just had to get the cards to the post office though, so I could not take more pictures of the cards after I added this embellishment.


These next 3 cards were born of inspiration from Sharon Johnson. I used a very simple layout to make 3 different cards with this adorable Love Puppy stamp from The Cat's Pajamas. As with my mom's card above, I added a red rhinestone to the top and bottom on the black Nestie between the point and the red circle. That made the world of difference, but I had taken the pics before I did that and I had to get to the post office, so I did not have time to re-take the pics. It really looked sooooo much better with the rhinestones... I wish you could see that.
I used the MS heart lace punch on this one. The white card stock showed through this hearts in front - nice touch.
The double heart image on this one and the one above is from Verve's Sweet Valentine set.

I stamped the image twice and cut out the heart and popped it up with Dimensionals. Looks great in person....
Here are the three together. Please excuse the mess on my counter. I was really in a hurry and there was no time for artistic detail! I was very pleased with the way these cards came out. I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by, anf Happy Valentine's Day!

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Swinger de Monkey Valentine


We are getting lots of snow here in New Jersey today. School is closed, which means I don't have to go to work. It also means PJ's all day and lots of crafting! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this new Verve stamp set called "Love Monkey". My son, Greg, has a Beanie Buddy (stuffed animal) that my sister gave him when he was about 4 months old. He's a turquios and yellow monkey named Swinger. He is Greg's lovey, and even though Greg is 10 now, Greg is still quite attached to this little guy. When I saw this Verve set, I knew I had to have it, and I knew that it would be the focal point of Greg's Valentine card from me. I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch for the layout, but did it shorter and wider because I wanted the card to be oriented this way. I will use it for MOJO125 and also for this week's challenge from Our Creative Corner which is to create a card/project for the men in our lives.
The base of the card is a pre-cut, Crimson, A2 card from Memory Box. The DP is from BasicGrey's Nook & Pantry. Other papers are Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry and Neenah Solar White. I stamped the monkey image with Bermuda Bay ink, and colored it with Copics. After I cut the monkey out, I covered it with VersaMark ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder to brighten him. He is adhered to a white circle with Dimensionals. I embellished with a "buckle" from retired SU Hodgepodge Hardware and Bermuda Bay polka dot grosgrain ribbon. My little Valentine will love this!

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Smell the Coffee!!!

I Need Coffee Flopsey from MFT has been calling me, and Mercy's Sketch today gave me the inspiration to ink it up!
Flopsey is stamped on Neenah Solar White with Memento Tuxedo Black, then paper pieced with Retired SU Good Morning Sunshine DSP. I experimented with using a Copic marker to add a little highlighting to Flopsey- I wasn't sure how that would work out with the DSP, so I didn't do much of it. I also used a Copics to color the background and for Flopsey's cheeks. Flopsey's fuzzy slippers are fuzzied with Liquid Applique. The rest of the DSP is also Good Morning Sunshine, and the mats are Pacific Point, Chocolate Chip and Kiwi Kiss. The finished card is 5 1/4" square. I think I will go make some coffee!! Thanks for stopping by.

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Thoughts and Prayers

A friend of mine recently lost her father, and I wanted to make her a special card. I wanted to use Verve's "Forever in our Hearts" set. I went to the Verve gallery for inspiration and found this wonderful card by Julee Tillman herself - I CASE'd it. HERE is her beautiful card that I used for my inspiration. Thanks Julee!

Supplies:
Stamps - Verve~Forever in our Hearts and Meditations, SU~All In A Row
Paper - Bashful Blue, Elegant Eggplant, Ninah Solar White, BasicGrey Wisteria DP
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaFine Onyx Black
Accessories - Dimensionals, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Bashful Blue 1/4" Taffeta Ribbon, Copics, Nestabilities, SU Designer Hardware Basic Jumbo Grommets, Sakura Black Glaze Pen.