Sending Love your Way ensemble

Today the designers from Lawn Fawn, are showing projects using the You've Got Mail stamp set.  This set is for anyone who mails cards, but for those of you who have a military service member in your family, or a friend, or maybe you send cards to Operation Write Home.  This set will, become a staple for you.

I created this little set of cards for a daughter of one of my friends.  Her Daddy, will go on his first deployment this year.  My heartstrings get pulled when I see little ones not understanding why their parent is gone, it is heartbreaking.  My children loved and still love to get little things in the mail when Jess is gone, for that moment they are special.  I hope this will brighten her day.

I am sending her, four little note cards to send her Dad, and a mailbox tin filled with bubblegum, lady gaga play sunglasses, and some ring pops, and it is all in a pretty bright pink.  So girly and perfect.

Head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog, to see what all of the designers created, also for a chance to win this set.

Materials Used:
Lawn Fawn You've Got Mail stamp set
bright pink cardstock
kraft cardstock
white card stock
gingham ribbon
pink satin ribbon
pink twine
black ink
versamark ink
foam tape

Just a Sweet note

Happy Leap Year!  Fun fact, my Aunt Dolores and her Grand-daughter, were both born on February 29th.  How crazy is that?  I think it is neat that they get to share a really rare birthday.  This has been a busy week of birthdays, my daughter turned 16 on Monday, and my Dad had a birthday yesterday.

Anyhow, today I am sharing a sweet note card using the March stamp set called Springtime Celebrations from Avocado Arts.  

Check out the other designers to see what projects they have made with this set as well.

• AJ OTTO
• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

materials used:
Avocado Arts March 2012 stamp set
white card stock
coral cardstock
lime green card stock
gingham ribbon
black ink
lime green ink
Versamark ink

Thank You Tag

Today, I am showing a quick and easy tag using the Bright Side pattern paper, Hemp Cording & stamps from Lawn Fawn.  I love to make tags!  If you have some scraps of paper, and any kind of die template, it is so easy to do.  I also made a few flower embellishments to go on the bottom, using the same line of paper, and just added a button in the center.  The great use for tags is that you can put them on anything!  A card, gift, bag, wine bottle, a wrapped present...the sky is the limit really.

All of the Lawn Fawn designers have a project to share using the Bright Side line, head on over to the Lawn Fawn Blog to check it out.  Plus there is a chance to win lots of goodies too!!

Material Used:
Lawn Fawn Bright Side Pattern Paper
Lawn Fawn Sophies Sentiments stamp set
Lawn Fawn Hemp Cording (teal)
Black ink
button
foam tape
Beacon Zip Dry
Spellbinders Die Templates
Spellbinders Grand Caliber 

Chevron Love

The chevron pattern is definitely in style right now.  Just the other day, I bought a few chevron striped fabric bins at Target.  So, it is no surprise to see this trend pop up in stamping as well.

Today, I am sharing a card I made using the Chevron Backdrops stamp set from Lawn Fawn.  This is a background builder stamp set, and it give you different sizes of chevrons to choose from.  I see this becoming a staple go to set.

I inked up one of the stamps with Versamark ink.  One of the great things about Versamark, is that you can heat emboss, embossing powder on your paper crafting projects.  So while the ink was still wet on my card stock, I liberally applied clear embossing powder over the stamped area, then gently tapped the excess off (you can save the left overs and put it back into the container).  I then took out my heat gun, and embossed the image.  You know it is embossed when the powder crystalizes (so to speak) onto the card stock, you will see this happen, the powder all of the sudden turns darker.  

I used Versamark in another way on this card, as a watermark ink.  The postage meter image was stamped with Versamark.

To finish the card, I stamped the sentiment, added a cute pin, some buttons, and rounded the bottom corner.

Head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog, for a chance to win this set, and to see more projects created by the design team.

Material Used:
Lawn Fawn Stamps
kraft cardstock
pink card stock
red cardstock
pink and red buttons
twine
heart stick pin
corner rounder
Versamark ink
black ink

Natural Beauty Layout

Here is a layout I did using the Bright Side pattern paper from Lawn Fawn.  This line has a mix of neutrals with pops of color.  I think it is pretty gender neutral.  If I were making a layout of my son, I could use the paper with kraft, grey and green in them.  Some paper lines are either too masculine or too feminine, but Kelly did a good job making this user friendly for all people :)

The natural beauty in this layout is of my daughter, it is always nice when she lets me take her picture.

Head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog, to see more projects using this line of paper. (and for a chance to win it too!)

Materials Used:
Lawn Fawn Bright Side papers and stickers
Spellbinders die templates
adhesive
scissors

Gnome Sweet Gnome, Bee Happy tag

Lawn Fawn introduced a stamp set called Gnome Sweet Gnome last month at CHA, and today the design team is showing some samples of projects using this set.

 One of my husbands co-workers just retired, and I needed a tag to place on a wine bottle (we wrote a message on the backside).  This sentiment, kind of says it all.  After 23 years serving his country, I think one deserves to be happy.

This die cut was in my scrap pile (cut/embossed using a Spellbinders die template), so all I needed to do was trim a little off.  I layered the die cut, white card stock, and adhered them with foam tape onto the kraft tag.  The gnome was stamped, colored in, cut out, and popped up with foam tape as well. and did the same with the bees  Let me back up a minute, I stamped the sentiment and bee's first before adhering anything.  To finish the tag off, I punched a hole at the top, and added ribbon.

This is such a cute set, head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog, for a chance to win this set, and to see what the other designers created as well.

materials used:
Lawn Fawn stamps
kraft cardstock
white card stock
yellow card stock
copic markers
black ink
gingham ribbon
foam tape
Spellbinders dies

There are so many wonderful things going on over at the Lawn Fawn blog today.  New designers were added to the design team, a new paper line & stamps were introduced at CHA, and there is a chance for YOU to win the entire new CHA release + the 10 spring stamps sets!!!  Whoa mama, is that awesome or what?  I think so!

Today, the Fawnies are showing a project using the new pattern paper line called Bright Side.  Head on over to the Lawn Fawn blog to check all of the happenings out!

For my card, I used the 6x6 Bright Side paper pad, the paper is so happy and fun.  I love the look of layered circles, so after I adhered a few strips of pattern paper onto the card stock, I layered some circles, and popped a few up with foam tape.  No fancy technique or tools needed for this card, just the basics that most crafters would have on hand.

Have a great Friday!

materials used:
Bright Side pattern paper from Lawn Fawn
Lawn Fawn stamps
circle punch
corner rounder
foam tape
black ink
white card stock
yellowish/orange bazzill card stock

I hope all of you had a nice Valentine's Day, and feel very loved.  I spent mine with my children, as my husband had to work late.  He made it up to me by bringing home a molten chocolate cake (from Chili's). I think the lovey dovey feeling from Valentine's Day, seeped a little into this card.  I really like how certain shades of pink, go with a nice red.  Those two colors scream love and femininity to me.

Today, all of the Avocado Arts designers have a project to share with you, using the February & a sneak of the March set.  I snuck in a border stamp from the newest add on set, which has awesome border builders and a ton (i mean a ton) of sentiment!

Check out the rest of the ladies, and the projects they created to share today:

AJ Otto
Emily Branch
 Kimberly Crawford
Kelley Eubanks

Emily Leiphart

Savannah O'Gwynn

Becky Oehlers

Julia Stainton

Avocado Arts

Materials Used:
Avocado Arts Stamps
Pink Cardstock
Red Cardstock
White Cardstock
Yellow Bakers Twine
Clearsnap Colorbox Strawberry Ink
Tsukineko Memento Tuxedo Black ink
Foam tape

Feel Better Soon

For paper crafters, this is always such an exciting time of year.  With CHA wrapping up, I can't wait for my favorite stores to be filled with new product.  Not that there is anything wrong with "older" stuff, but there is something about the newness of something that brings a freshness to projects I make.

For this card, I used the February stamp set from Avocado Arts called Wishes and Kind Thoughts.  I stamped the sentiment onto the Pebbles chipboard, then stamped, colored in, and cut out the flower (popped up with foam tape).  It was just luck, how the stamped flower matched perfectly to the flower chipboard.  The embossed background was created, by running card stock through my Grand Calibur, inside a new M-bossabilites folder.

My fellow design team members, have created something special using this set as well, so if you have a minute, hop on over to their blogs too.

• AJ OTTO
• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

materials used:
Winter White Cardstock
Avocado Arts stamps
Pebbles pattern paper & chipboard
gingham ribbon
copic markers
Spellbinders M-bossabilities
memento ink
foam tape

Revisiting a few Lawn Fawn sets

While I was cleaning my craft area, I decided to make a few cards, with the supplies that were out.  They are one stamp to mail kind of cards.  I used Lawn Fawn stamps on both cards, and snuck in a little bit of the Bright Side 6x6 pattern paper, on the first one. On the second card, I colored in the balloons with Copic markers, in shades of orange and red.  Red is a good birthday color (to me anyhow).  

It was nice to use these stamp sets, I'm sure they were feeling a little neglected.  Revisiting older sets, sometimes makes them feel new again.

Wishing You Well

Happy Monday!  Monday's are so hard for me, to start moving after a relaxing weekend.  But, here we are, so I guess I will start it with a pretty card.

I did a little die cutting, some stamping, a little coloring and paper piecing...and of course a pretty bow.  The image and sentiment, are both from the March stamp set from Avocado Arts, called Wishes and Kind Thoughts.

A few other fine ladies have created something special with this set as well, so hop on over to their blogs.

• AJ OTTO
• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

materials used:
Avocado Arts stamps
My Minds Eye pattern paper
Spellbinders Edgabilities die template
pink satin ribbon
Memento Ink
Copic Marker
foam tape

Introducing...Bright Side!!!!

There is exciting news!  Lawn Fawn is debuting a paper line at CHA called Bright Side.  Head on over to the Lawn Fawn Blog for a chance to win this fun line!!

a blurb from Kelly.

The video above was entirely made with Lawn Fawn paper and stickers! That's right! Lawn Fawn paper!!!!! From the very beginning we had this happy little dream for Lawn Fawn and adding this paper line fulfills a huge part of that dream! We could not be more thrilled to be able to offer 10 new stamp sets, 8 12x12 papers (two of which are a beautiful kraft), a 6x6 paper pad, a 12x12 alphabet sticker sheet, a 12x12 collection kit and two different "Lawn Trimmings" hemp cord packs! We hope that you guys are excited as we are! We have been working on this for so long, and we are so glad to finally be able to spill the beans!

a closer look of the paper

My Stud Muffin

Here is a fun card, perfect for the stud muffin in your life (ha ha ha), that sentiment and image combined gives me serious giggles.  I'm thinking, I might leave it in my husbands car one day, so he will find it on his way to work.  Something cute like that, would make is day a little better.

For this card I used a few different Lawn Fawn stamp sets, Love n' Breakfast and Bannerific.  I really like the layout of this card, it would be really easy to change out the image and sentiment.

Materials Used:
Bannerific
Love n' Breakfast
red cardstock
My Minds Eye pattern paper
Spellbinders M-bossabilites
Want2scrap black bling
memento ink

Hugs, Hugs, Hugs

Happy Sunday folks.  I hope you are bundled up and keeping warm today.  I know down here in Florida the temperatures have dropped a little...more like a lot, but it is a nice excuse to go to Starbucks lol.

Anyhow, today I am showing you a fun card, clean just the way I like it, with a little pop of color.  I have a few friends who don't live anywhere near me, but I wish I could give them a big ole hug...that is where the inspiration came from when I was making this card. The image and sentiments are both from Avocado Arts.  The cute little owl is a sneak from the February set called, Wishes and Kind Thoughts.  It is hard to see in this picture, but I added Glossy Accents to the glasses (too stinking cute).  Glossy Accents is a cool liquid adhesive, that when used alone, when it dries it can resemble glass...cool stuff.  

The entire team is posting today (there are some new faces), so be sure to check them out too!

• AJ OTTO
• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• Emily Branch
• Emily Leiphart
• Savannah O'Gwynn
• Kelley Eubanks
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

materials used:
Avocado Arts stamps
Memento Ink
Spellbinders Picot Edge Circles
Spellbinders Valor M-Bossabilities
pink lace
Colorbox black and red ink
Copic markers
Helmar foam tape
May Arts Twine
White card stock

Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy Day One

Welcome to the first day of the Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy!

Spellbinders™ Paper Arts is absolutely thrilled to bring you our largest product releases ever! These new collections are some of the most innovative and beautiful die cutting and embossing templates in the world! The Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy allows you a sneak peek of our introductions for the 2012 Winter Craft and Hobby Association trade show later this month. 

Win today’s new Spellbinders products!

Be eligible to win the Grand Prize by entering each day, see the schedule below!

This contest is now closed 

Enter my Blog Frenzy from 12:00 am Eastern Standard Time (EST) January 12, 2012 until 11:59 pm January 13, 2012.

Today’s participating Blog Frenzy includes my blog and Debbie Olsen and Michelle Woerner’s blogs.

See the Spellbinders Blog for the complete schedule of designers and contest rules.

Thank you Spellbinders Paper Arts for sponsoring this contest!

Here are the new dies I introduced:

Sku Name S4-354 Splendid Circles

MSRP: $24.99

DIE SIZES:

1. ¾ inches

2. 1 ½ inches

3.  2 3/8 inches

4.  4 inches

Today, I am going to share with you how I made this quick and easy mini book.

First, I started by gathering my supplies.  Bazzill cardstock, pattern paper, KaiserCraft stickers, Beacon Adhesives, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L foam squares and tape runner, Pictures, Spellbinders Die Templates, Spellbinders Grand Calibur®, ribbon and button.

To create the cover, place the die templates blade side down onto the cardstock on the cutting plate.   To ensure the dies did not move during this process, I used a low tack tape (painters tape).  The cardstock is ready to be cut.

Once the diecuts are cut out, run through the Grand Cailbur® Die Cutting and Embossing machine once more to emboss.  Using the A Base plate, dies with paper attached (blade side up),Tan Embossing Mat and B Embossing Plate, run through the Spellbinders Grand Calibur Machine. (This is the sandwich to emboss)

Now, that the paper is cut and embossed, it is time to adhere it together.  Take the Zip Dry adhesive and liberally spread it over the back side of the patterned paper, then place it in the center of the orange card stock. 

Apply foam tape to the white die cut.

Apply to the pattern paper.

Cut/emboss picture using die template #2 from the Splendid Circles set. Again, I used painters tape to keep the die in place.

Apply die cuts to the front, and add letter stickers to create a title.  To create depth, add foam tape to die cuts.

Use larger pictures to create the inside pages.

Apply adhesive to the backside of the cover.

Adhere picture to the cover.

Keep repeating these steps, until your mini book has enough pages.  Once you are finished, bind the pages using a D-ring, and add ribbon to decorate (if you want).

Completed project:

For a second project, I created a tag that is ready to be used on a gift, gift bag, or even on a card.

By entering the Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy you agree to the Official Rules.   For questions on the Spellbinders Abilities and Beyond Blog Frenzy, send an email to contestquestions@spellbinders.us; no entries will be accepted at this email address. 

TO ENTER:

My blog is open for entries from 12:00 am, January 12 2012, until 11:59 pm, January 13, 2012, EST.

1) Send your Blog Frenzy email entry to: now closed

2) The subject must be S4-354 Splendid Circles

3) Send!

Be sure to visit all the Designers on their Blog Frenzy dates!

Daily winners will receive an email within 24 hours of the blog frenzy’s closing. The winners will have 72 hours to reply to that email to claim prize. If a winner fails to respond within 72 hours, a new winner will be drawn. 

To be eligible for the Grand Prize, enter each and every Blog Frenzy within its designated time period, send your entries from the email address for each entry.  The Grand Prize has a retail value of over $1900 and includes the complete Spellbinders line of die cutting  and embossing templates released at the 2012 Winter CHA show, and a Spellbinders Grand Calibur® Die Cutting and Embossing Machine!

I love your comments! Unfortunately your comment does not count as an entry, so be sure to enter as stated above, and then leave a comment!

Thank you for visiting and good luck!!

To receive information and announcements from Spellbinders, sign up for the Newsletter and subscribe to the Spellbinders Blog. Find us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube and Pinterest. Thank You!

Spellbinders and M-Bossabilities are trademarks of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.

Grand Calibur is a registered trademark of Spellbinders Paper Arts, llc.

Personalized Envelopes

I had every intention on getting my New Years photo cards out already, but I have not.  I'm still working on the envelopes.  It is funny how I simplify things by getting photo cards made, but make the process so much harder by decorating the envelopes lol.  I had stamped and personalized a few envelopes for the Christmas cards I handed out (there were only a few...) and I thought it was so much fun and cute to decorate them, that I decided to do it again.  I love personalizing things for my friends.

It is very simple and easy to do, you just have to be careful because the paper that envelopes are made out of is really thin.  So if you color on them with copics (like I did) have a very light touch because the ink wants to spread.  I also put a sheet of paper on the inside, so the ink wouldn't bleed through the entire envelope.

Now all I need to do, is address these, put a stamp on them and drive 30 minutes to the nearest post office lol.  

Materials Used:
Lawn Fawn Blissful Botanicals
Lawn Fawn Quinn's ABC's
Lawn Fawn Say Cheese
Lawn Fawn Critters in the Forest
Copic markers
Memento ink
photo envelopes

You're my cup of tea...welcome 2012!

Wow!  Today is January 1, 2012...the first day of the new year.  I wish you all a blessed year, filled with love, good health and happy memories.  As my children get older, I get really sentimental as each year passes, I kind of wish I could freeze time.   I never really knew what people meant, when they would tell me to enjoy my children being little because times goes by so quick.  Now that they are older, I totally get it.  

One thing that I learned in 2011, was how much my girlfriends mean to me.  Most, don't even live close to me, but the way they uplift and encourage me, one would think they were sitting right next to me.  There were many lessons and experiences that I will take with me from 2011, but I am excited for what 2012 holds.  I hope this new year is great for all of us!

Before I get way off topic lol...I will share my card with you.

The Avocado Arts design team, are posting projects made with the Sweet Treat Sweetie set today.  For this card, I knew I wanted it to be clean, and tone on tone.  I started out using a really pale green, but as I got further into the design process, I switched gears and went to a winter white card stock.  The cup of tea was colored in using Copic markers (r20, r27, r29, e33, e57, c0, c01, c03).

Take a little stroll and visit the rest of the designers:

• AJ OTTO
• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

materials used:
winter white card stock
Spellbinders die template
Avocado Arts Sweet Treat Sweetie stamp set
Copic markers
corner rounder
memento tuxedo black ink
red ink
foam tape
bakers twine


intructions:
1. cut/score card stock
2. round bottom corner
3. stamp sentiment in black in and hearts in red ink
4. cut/emboss label, cut part off
5. stamp image, color in with copic markers
6. Adhere label to card with foam tape
7. Add bakers twine

Sweet Treat Sweetie tag and envelope set

Here is a fun tag and matching envelope set I created, using the January stamp set from Avocado Arts called, Sweet Treat Sweetie.  I even snuck in some chevrons from the October set...I really like how the envelope liner turned out (I stamped it in Versamark ink).  Did you know Avocado Arts has digi files that coordinate with the stamp sets?  Well they do!  I was able to cut out that little thermometer out on my Cameo, then stamp my image onto it.  If you have a Cricut, Cameo, Robocraft or any other digital cutter and hate fussy cutting around your stamped images, then you might want to consider getting the digi files along with your stamp set.

Did you hear Avocado Arts has expanded it's design team?  Four fabulous woman have joined the team...and I'm not just saying that, they are exceptional designers and are sweethearts to boot!  Check out all of the latest happening over on the Avocado Arts blog.  While you are at it, take a little blog stroll to see what the other designers are sneaking for you today using the Sweet Treat Sweetie set.

• AJ OTTO
• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

Materials used:
Avocado Arts stamps
Memento Ink
Clearsnap Color Box strawberry ink
Stickles
Bazzill cardstock
Gingham ribbon
Cut files using the Cameo (envelope, tag & thermometer)
foam tape
hole punch


1. Cut files
2. Stamp chevrons onto envelope liner, adhere
3. Stamp image and sentiment on the front of the envelope
4. Stamp border & sentiments onto tag, adhere to base with foam tape
5. Stamp image onto thermometer digi cut, adhere to card with foam tape, add red stickles
6. Hole punch a hole, add ribbon

Cute photo sleeve

This holiday season, I took a lot of pictures...probably too many.  Now that my pictures are developed, I wanted to make a cute photo sleeve to put the pictures in.  It makes for nice presentation when I give them away, and keeps them safe from finger prints.

For this project, I used American Crafts pattern paper, Bazzill card stock, Lawn Fawn stamps, Scor tape, and ribbon...I also used a Cameo to cut out the shapes.  Here are a few pictures to help describe how I made this project.

Finished photo sleeve, with pictures inside, ready to give as a gift.

Thanks

Now that Christmas is over, it is time to give a few, "thank you" cards.  I like this layout, it would be easy to produce a few cards like it without getting overwhelmed.  Most likely I will change the colors up, so that it flows better.  I think if that green strip of pattern paper was more blue, it would have complimented the red and yellow better...hindsight is 20-20 right?  

It is always nice to have extra "thank you" cards on hand, so this week, I plan on making a bunch.

For this card, I used what was out and in front of me...yellow card stock, American Crafts pattern paper, Lawn Fawn stamps and a chipboard coaster (that I die cut out).  I have a huge scrap mess to clean up, so a few cards made from left over scraps are in order.

Have a great week!

My hero

Just a quick little post to say hello, and hope you all are having a wonderful holiday season with your families.  We enjoyed a nice Christmas yesterday.  It consisted of, sleeping in, eating, going to the movies and eating some more.  It was perfect.

While we were together as a family, there are many military members who were away from theirs.  So, I thank them for their service.  If you have a minute during this festive time of year, say a little prayer for those deployed.  Being away from the ones you love the most at Christmastime, is unbearably sad.

Here is a little card dedicated to all of the heroes out there.

Have a great day!!

materials used:

kraft cardstock

My Minds Eye pattern paper

foam tape

red buttons

twine

mini clothes pin

Avocado Arts: Happy Birthday

It is the 15th of the month, that means I get to show a sneak peak of the January stamp set from Avocado Art called Sweet Treat Sweetie.  It has everything you would need to make, from Birthday to Valentine's Day, and I Love You cards.

The Happy Birthday sentiment really stood out to me, so I knew I wanted to make a birthday card.  I chose to use the candle stamp to accompany the sentiment (if candles are not your thing, there is a cute cupcake to use instead).  At first I was going to stamp them onto the kraft card base, but it looked a little plain, or maybe my design was all wrong...or both lol.  So I stamped them onto ivory card stock and die cut it out using a Spellbinders die template.  The hearts in the corners are from the December set.  The die cut is popped up with foam tape, and the bakers twine I believe is from the Twinery.

Check out the rest of the designers and what they are sneaking today:

• BECKY OEHLERS
• JULIA STAINTON
• KIMBERLY CRAWFORD
• AVOCADO ARTS BLOG
• AVOCADO ART WEBSITE

Simple recipe for card:
1. Cut/score card stock.
2. Stamp hearts in red ink in top opposing corners.
3. Tie twine around card front into bows.
4. Die cut ivory card stock.
5. Stamp images (color in with copics) and sentiment with black ink.
6. Adhere diecut to card using foam tape.