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Showing posts from February, 2010

Exciting news!!

First off my baby girl ( who is actually my oldest lol) is 14 today Happy Birthday!! I have really exciting news to share...  I made the Spellbinders Design team!!! Check out the news here here is the complete list of who made the team. A.J. Otto Ashley Cannon Newell Deborah Young Gina Hanson Judy Hayes Julie Overby Kazan Clark Kimberly Crawford Latisha Yoast Mona Pendleton

Birthday blog hop

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We hope you've enjoyed our Hopping Through the Decades Celebration! Today features 7 more talented designers. If you're just now tuning in, be sure to start at the beginning here ! Now I bet a lot of you have been reminiscing and having a little giggle too. Who could forget the leg warmers of the 80’s? How about the TV shows like 90210 or the A-Team? Well, we are continuing our mini hop today starting with Dawn Burnworth , who is ready to remember those big hair days when Aqua Net ruled! Remember, you can win our new Let Them Eat Cake set drawn by artist Becky Fleck. All you need to do is leave a little love on our designer's blogs. If you comment on all 14 posts in the hop, go back to the Flourishes Newslette r and leave a message saying, "I hopped through the decades with Jan Marie!" We will then randomly draw 2 names on Saturday at 12 pm CST from all those who participated. The winners will receive the Let them Eat Cake stamp set along with some other goodie

Birdie thanks using the Unity KOM

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Thank you to everyone who left a comment on my blog yesterday.  I was overwhelmed with all of your wonderfully sweet words. Today, I am sharing a card with you, using some cute stamps from the February Kit of the month by Unity .  I just love that tree and little chick, so cute!!  I really like this, card but if I had to redo it, I would move my sentiment down a little, just so everything would flow better.  The cool thing is that the tree has a little diamond pattern in some of the leaves, so I paired it with some pattern paper (Cosmo Cricket, material girl 6x6 mini deck).  I cannot get over the cuteness factor of the little bird!  In my neck of the woods it is rainy and cold, but days like this I try to get a lot done.  I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday! Make sure you visit the rest of the Unity design team, they all have beautiful projects to share today.  You can find their pretty faces and links on the Unity blog.

Stamp It! Blog Hop

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This is a little long winded post, but read all the way through, you may win something Have you picked up your Stamp It! 2010 issue yet?  It is full of ideas for all of the stampers out there, and for the people who may be thinking "I think I might want to try this stamping thing."  My Stamp It! from last year, still sits on my table, that is how often I look at it.  Now I have the 2010 issue, to get me through this year.  What makes this issue so special to me, is that all of the cards have stamping on them, and as a stamper, it gives the warm fuzzies turning each page.  To actually see my cards in this issue, is surreal, and gives me a happy smile.  There are cards that are clean, graphic and simple, to shabby chic, to classy, there really is something for everyone.  When I look at the cards, I think to myself, "why didn't I think of that!"  Not to mention this issue is so affordable, something like $5.99, so cheap for so much inspiration.   Did you see on

DIY 3d woolies/felties

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I absolutely love the felties, and woolies that paper manufacturers sell, but each package has 4-6 and is $4.99.  I try not to hoard my woolies, but I usually do because of how much I spent on them.  So I thought to myself the other day as I was browsing the aisles of my local craft store, what if I just tried to make them?  So I bought some felt, and some felt glue, all of the other items I already had at home.  The felt glue was around $3-4 and the felt was $0.29 a sheet (super cheap).  Supplies needed: Felt Felt glue Dies that can cut through felt, I used Spellbinders dies 3d foam tape/dimmensionals clear card stock embellishments like buttons, and sticker pearls Here is a close up of what I made So cute! My local craft store has a limited amount of colors, so I plan on buying some felt online, so I have better color combinations. Some of these I cut out by hand, and the hearts and the one that has a button on it, I use my dies to cut out.

Post #2 for the day...Unity goodness

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If you are looking for the Waltzingmouse blog hop, please scroll down. I am the Guest Blogger on the Unity blog today, for more information on these cards please head on over there. stamps are from the Unity Feb kit of the month Cosmo Cricket Material girl paper Spellbinders die and Copics
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I decided to play along with the Waltzingmouse customer blog hop, how fun is that!!  Make sure that your first stop is at the Waltzingmouse blo g .  If you just came from Marcie's blog you are in the right place.  The theme this month is spring, so I pulled out the Sewing Hugs Box stamp set.  I stamped and colored in the flowers and leaves with copic markers, cut them out and adhered them to the card stock.  The card stock and ribbon are all from American Crafts.  I hope you are enjoying the hop so far, next up is, Rose .  

Just Because *new Prima*

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This is going to be a quick post, my fever is back and looking at the computer screen hurts... Have you seen the new Prima papers?  Oh sweet heavens are they beautiful.  Starting and finishing this card was fairly simple because I was inspired by the paper and the new pearls and flowers embellishment sticker.  The design/sketch is simple as well, so after I layered the papers and added some pearls and ribbon, I stamped the sentiment (stamp is from American Crafts) in memento ink.  See that fabby hat pin, it is from Jenni Bowlin.  I love this card and it just makes me happy, I love it when a card comes together easy, and looks pretty too. Have a wonderful Sunday

Inexpensive way to store papers & embellies

I really needed an easy storage solution for all of my new papers and embellishment I have been getting (buying), that I like to keep out.  So instead of having piles of stuff everywhere, this video will show you what I am doing or trying to do.  I also really like to keep my paper lines together, so the bags can contain my scraps too.  Plus I always love it when I get a kit in the mail from Studio Calico or Kenner Road and it comes in a cool ziploc storage bag.  This is not how all of my supplies are organized, just my new stuff for now.  Eventually I would like to have something like this for the rest of stuff. Its really hard to do a video unscripted and have it not be shaky, so I apologize now for being redundant lol.  I purchased the hefty bags and basket at Target. Hefty One Zip bags 14 3/8 in x 16 inches Woven basket from Target 11 inches high 15 inches across 13 or 14 inches deep (back)

A cute "its a boy" card

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Isn't that stamp cute!!  I picked it up at the CHA Super Show in the American Art Stamps booth, the images are so whimsy and cute, so here is my very first time inking this baby up.  I stamped the image in memento ink, then colored it in using Copic markers.  The green card stock is from Bo Bunny (i think), and the fun orange a white paper & stickers are from Cosmo Cricket .  The circle was cut an embossed using a Spellbinders circle nestabilities die.   It is going to be cold here this weekend, we are talking in the 30's in the mornings.  So I plan on staying inside, except for the trip to Bruster's Ice Cream.  Its delicious ice cream, and my children have been waiting patiently for me to take them.  Also I plan on cozying up on the couch and watching more Olympics.  I always get a little teary eyed when an American wins gold and our National Anthem is played, there is just something in that song, that gives you the chills and the prideful feeling of being an American

Fun with pattern paper

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I have to say, when it comes to paper, I do have some favorite brands that I tend to use a lot.  So, I am trying to go outside my box a little, and try different patterns I may have steered clear of before, or even mix patterns more.  The thought of mixing patterns, freaked me out before.  Now, I rather like it.  It can make a card really interesting.  I do think there needs to be a thread that connects everything together, and finding that right balance can be tricky. For my first card, I really like the yellow pattern paper (Botanique line by American Crafts ) , so that is where I started, and the green is from the opposite side of the yello, American Crafts paper is double sided (print & a solid).  Double your fun and choices right!  The curvy pink label, I actually cut out of a sheet of the Letterbox paper, called Sincerely , its a sheet just full of different labels.  As a card maker, those sheets of paper with the labels, are a big time score.  Anyhow, so I have the yellow pa

Copic Tutorial link

Christine, has a wonderful Copic tutorial over on the Flourishes Newsletter today. I had planned on showing you all one of my favorite Flourishes cards where I colored it in with Copics, but last week I went through and deleted all my card on my computer.  I really didn't need them on my hard drive anymore, since I have a blog, gallery on SCS and on Two Peas.  So here is a link to a blog post with a few sample of coloring with Copics.

Creating warm happiness

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It is Thursday, just one more day and the weekend is here!  I love my weekends, except my son has practice tomorrow from 7-9 pm and then we have to be back at the field Saturday morning at 9 am.  Did I mention it takes around 40 minutes to get him to the ball fields?  Looks like my down days will be reduced to Sunday's.  Sorry for whining, the season is just beginning and we don't have our groove yet, all will be well in a few weeks. Onto my card today.  I am so ready for warm weather, Florida is having an extra cold winter.  I'm talking 30's in the morning.  So I am bringing myself some warm happiness and thoughts of spring and summer.   I reached for the Berry Good Life stamp set from Unity.  I don't know what says warm weather more than a basket of strawberries.  There is a place in my hometown (in California), where there is a strawberry patch right next to the grape vineyards.  They are the best strawberries I have ever had.  Anyhow, I stamped and colored in m

Skipping Stones Blog Hop – Hop(e) for Haiti

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Welcome to  Skipping Stones Design’s  Blog Hop(e) for Haiti. If you just happened upon my blog today, you’ll want to go back to the beginning at  Skipping Stones Design .    You should have come from Debbie’s blog.   As a company, we wanted to do something to give back to the people who have been so devastated by the Haitian Earthquake.    So we thought what better way than to invite some of our favorite stampers to join us in this cause.    Each card you see on the blog hop today will be auctioned on E-bay with all proceeds going to the Red Cross in support of the Haitian Relief Effort (please check the   S kipping Stones Design  Website for the link to the auction).    100% of the proceeds of the Ebay auction and $2.00 from every stamp set purchased from February 16 - 22 will be donated to the Red Cross. We know that we can make a difference.   Thank you for stopping by and your next blog to hop to is Kathi Carlson . I used the sentiment from Dandelion Dreams, and I created the b

A scrapbook page...

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Today I am guest blogging over on the Unity blog , so head on over there for another project, and details on my scrapbook page. Jenni Bowlin paper Prima Crystals Apron lace border punch Unity stamps: Feb kit of the Month and Ippity American Crafts Thickers

February Dirty Dozen Gallery is open

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The February Dirty Dozen gallery on Splitcoaststampers is now open.  Two new wonderful ladies have joined the design team known as the dirt pile.  This months theme is called Bold, Masculine and Dirty.  One of the perks of being part of the fan club is having access to the dirty dozen's themed galleries.  I cannot show you my card, but here is a sneak of one of my projects.

Unity Feb store kit & a quick no stamping card

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I made this card a few days ago for some of our friends who just moved.  The couch is a sticker as well as the sentiment.  This really is a simple card with zero stamping involved. The paper and stickers are all from American Crafts Abode collection.  Do you all have anything planned for the weekend?  I kind of did until I got a fever yesterday, I just cannot shake the bug I got from CA, or its something new my children brought home from school. For those of you wondering why I'm still sick, and its been a while now.  I have an auto-immune disease and it just takes a lot longer for me to recover from simple colds than the average person.  Anyhow, happy Saturday!!  I'm going to watch some Olympics, they make me happy and so proud to be an American.

Day 3 of sneaks: Irish Blessings

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Today is the final day of sneaks, this stamp set is called Irish Blessings.  Its a little bit St. Patrick's day, clovers, best wishes, congrats and 100% Irish, so fun!!  For your chance to win this stamp set, head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter and leave a comment, that is it, easy peasy.  Tonight is the release party on Splitcoaststampers , I hope to see you there! Last week I made a really clean and simple card using European watercolor paper, and I loved the way it looked so much, I decided to copy myself, but make it better.  While I was at CHA, I was given these markers from Marvy, that are made for clear stamps.  These markers are awesome...I can't say that enough!  So, that is how I got the green and brown stamped together...sweet right?!  The flourishy thing around the sentiment is actually a rub on from Basic Grey (it comes with the bling too).  I used a border punch along the bottom of the card, just because lol...I thought it might look good, and I really like

Post #2 Unity Thursday

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If you are here looking for the Flourishes sneak of Lets Have tea, scroll down to the next post Here are a few cards using some of my favorite new releases from Unity.  Both cards are Get Well Soon cards, maybe because I am under the weather?  Who knows?  Anyhow, both cards are clean and simple or graphic whatever term you like :)  To me a get well card, should be happy and make the receiver feel good and special.   The first card I used stamps from the Stitched Greetings set, it will make the paper piecer and copic colorer very happy, its line art, so you have lots of options and I like that!  I decided to color the flower in, and what you cannot see because I covered the center with a button, but the stamp center is actually a button.  Does that make sense?  When you stamp the flower, the center looks like a button without having to put a button there lol.  I hope you all understand that :)   For this card, I used the stamp set Treasure to me.  Its the set with the cute dress and

Post 1 of 2, Sneak of Lets have tea

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Here is my sneak for the Lets Have Tea stamp set and a new background stamp to coordinate.  To win this stamp set head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter , they are having a one day only blog candy.  I colored in the images using Copic markers (I always use memento ink, it doesn't bleed).  The wired ribbon/twine/lace is really really cool, and since the card is a smaller square card, and a bow would have overtaken the card, I opted to run the ribbon through a button, cool huh!  I love tea, and to go to afternoon/high tea, so I can see myself using this set to invite a friend to join me.  I also can see using this set for a themed birthday invitations for a little girl. Check out the DT for more inspiration using this set! Julie Koerber Laura Fredrickson Christine Okken Stacy Morgan Cindy Lawrence Leslie Miller

From the Garden sneak

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Today I'm showing you a sneak peek called, From the Garden by Flourishes.  It is a fun a versatile set, the pot and flowers are actually 2 different stamps, so that may give you a little hint about the set.  The image was colored in using Copic markers, I then went over the flowers with a glitter pen from Sakura.  The paper is from one of my favorite lines at CHA, Dear Lizzy by American Crafts , it really screams spring, fun and oh so girly, it just makes me smile.  For your chance to win this stamp set, head on over to the Flourishes Newsletter , for a one day only blog candy, just leave a comment and you have a chance to win it!! Pay a visit to the rest of the designers to see what they did with this set: Christine Okken Cindy Lawrence Julie Koerber - D.T. Coordinator Laura Fredrickson Leslie Miller Stacy Morgan

A few 10 minute cards

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Happy Monday.  Today just a few quick, under 10 minute cards, well Valentine's Day cards.  The stamp set I used is called Lovely Bits and Baubles from the Unity Stamp Co . illustrated by Lisa Hetrick.  I don't this set is available through Unity yet, but one of your favorite Unity retailers will have it.   The cards are 4 1/4 squared, paired with some American Crafts designer paper.  The second card has some Jenni Bowlin & October Afternoon product on it as well.  I made these pretty simple, I like to mail cards that only need one stamp (its the best).  I have lots of Valentines to make with my children this week, and some deadlines to catch up on.  Since returning from California I have not been feeling well, food and I are not getting along and I just feel exhausted.  Its sad it is already Monday, and I can't wait until Saturday so I can sleep in.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a fun week.  I don't know why?  I just feel like something good is around

A cute congrats

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I made a few samples for Our Craft Lounge to use during CHA.  So now the sets are released, I can share what I made.  The image is from a set called New Digs.  I colored in the house using my Copic markers, then cut and embossed it using a square Spellbinders Nestability.  The sentiment was created out of mini alphas from My Little Shoebox, and I created the border on the bottom of the card using the apron lace border punch. I do not design for this stamp company, let me just say that first.  Our Craft Lounge stamps are so very cute.  Besides the cuteness factor and variety offered, you can choose if you want the stamps in red rubber or clear stamps!  How awesome is that!  I have a set is both, and they are equally good in quality. Perfect solution for those who only like one or the other.  I just wanted to give you all an un-biased opinion.  

Pre-release challenge

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What's your cup of tea? Let's be inspired by the containers of some of our favorite kinds of beverages! Can't live without your daily grind or brew? Look at the label and be inspired by the color or layout of the package. Crave your daily Diet Coke? Use silver and red as a color challenge for your card! The sky is the limit with this challenge - so grab your favorite drink and let that creativity flow! You can play until Friday February 12th at 5 PM Eastern and be sure to click on the Flourishes Newsletter to link up your creation to Mr. Linky! If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword: FLLCFEB10 I was inspired by a Starbucks cup, lots of white space, except for the middle where the label is, which is green and brown.  I really like the texture of the European water color paper that Flourishes sells, and really wanted to make a card out of it.  The leaves were stamped in Memento ink & colored in using Copic markers.   tip of the day... **I do not advise using you