Busy Baby

Boy am I busy baby!  We're tearing up carpet, laying down hardwood floors, painting, re-decorating, re-upholstering...pretty much the whole house!...  I did find some time today to visit Archiver's on the other side of town...while picking up supplies...  It was so much fun and I was able to find some Webster's Papers items, one of my fav's.  It was a great find, since today's challenge for Our Creative Corner is to create a baby card, using a button, trim and kraft cardstock!

This was a perfect paper for this challenge, the sweet carrige with the flowers.  This could go for a boy or a girl don't you think?  I used Kraft on the little tag, I didn't want to cover the image so I kept it small.  The lace trim I used to make a little flower and topped it with the cute pearl heart and red button with hemp twine.  Very shabby and cute.   I feels good to be getting back into the spot, now I just need to clean it so it's easier to create down there...

On a personal note, please know I will be responding to each and every e-mail and comment you all sweet ladies left me the last few weeks!  I REALLY appreciate all your support and love, it has helped me more than you know.  It just may have to wait until these things are done...

Swing of things...

It's so hard to get back into it.  I've been out of the craftin' spot for so long now...it's a shame...so here is my first jump back in.  It's not my favorite creation and reminds me of one I did a while back.  I'm confident my creative mojo will return soon.

This weeks Our Creative Corner challenge is hosted by the ever talented Linda.  She's so vintage shabby and fabulous!  This week she is asking us to frame it, make it stand out above your background.  I decided to use one my favorite mediums - burlap.  I love burlap, it's so much fun to use.  I cut a frame out of Chocolate chip paper with a Nestability die and stamped and embossed directly on the fabric.  The bird and the branch is from a Hambly screenprinting clear sticker sheet.  Inspired?  Then get out there and use a frame in your creation, I can't wait to see it!
On a personal note, I want to take the time to thank you all for your patience and understanding, I feel I'm on the road to recovery, as I have so much to be thankful for!   It was fun and theraputic to get back in the spot, so it is now going to be a part of my 'therapy'...yes, that's what I'll call it, therapy!...  I may be slow to getting back to my daily posts, but will take it one day at a time.  Hugs to you all!!!

Thank you all...

First I want to thank everyone for their kind words of support. I will respond to everyone personally, but wanted to let you know although you haven't heard from me, I an grateful for you. I'm getting on the mend, have changed my behavior; I'm working out every morning now, going to sleep at a decent time...not 2 or 3 am like normal...and making better food choices to help get me on the road to recovery. I'm doing my best to avoid the need for medication, and these things seem to be helping....I'm keeping my fingers crossed....  My goal is to back in full swing next week, I'm just needing a little more time. Thank you for being patient with me. I'll be back next week with you all - keep on crafting!
Hugs!

How it's going...

Do you ever get this way?  Drowning....sad....overwhelmed....uninspired....low....  I haven't felt this way since my post-pardum with my first daughter.   I've have a genetic dispostion for mild to moderate depression, but am generally able to handle and re-direct that and keep myself up.  Not lately though...and I'd say this is far from moderate....  Since about a week before Easter.  I can't seem to push my way through, and my blog and craftyness has been suffering for it...along with my house....  Stay patient with me....if you can....I'll get back up soon....I will, right?.... 

Until then...well Saturday for the OCC post.... visit some of my favorite places for some inspiration:
Moxie Fab

Our Creative Corner

Spellbinders
Paper Crafts Connection
Create
Cherry's Jubilee
Viola
To scrap or not to Scrap

Fun with floss...

Can you believe it's been so long since I last posted?  Life is hectic - the holidays, construction,...visits from the inlaws during the construction..., illness.  You all know how it goes.  Sorry I 've been too distracted to be present here these last 2 weeks.  I will have time in my craftin' spot this weekend, so you'll see more of me soon...I promise...

I am here this today for this week's Our Creative Corner challenge!  This weeks' challenge is hosted by the VERY talented Jennifer Rzasa at our Change of Heart.  You must go and check out her talent...amazing!...  This week she is challenging us to use embroidery floss!  I have to tell you, this holds a special place in my heart.  One of my first win overs at Moxie Fab was for the Fun with Floss challenge with this little card.  I always find it amazing the different things we come up with, all using the same thing!  This is my card for this week's challenge...

I love the colors of this, and am entering it in the CR84FN Color Challenge this week!  This is one of my FAVORITE color combinations, and have been helping plan an event in Denmark with these colors.   I stitched the floss around the polkadots on the paper I had with white floss...an old SU! DSP... and did french knots at the joints with the teal floss.  It was time consuming, but fairly easy.   The I just added some ribbon, a doily, my go to Trio Tags Spellbingers die and a FABULOUS dragonfly for some sparkle.  Check out all the other ladies inspirations - they are AMAZING!!

An oldie but a goodie!

It's time for another challenge at Our Creative Corner! This week the challenge is hosted by the very talented Vicki at . We are all challenged to make a 3D Easter Project. I've been making all kinds of 3D projects lately...my little ole' glue runner has been smokin'!... I decided to show you something I do every year for my daughter's baskets. Now here's the back story...*flashback*...


When we lived in Tennessee, it would often rain on Easter Sunday. Like many families, indoor egg hunts were the order of the day...the MOST challenging and fun in my opinion... When I was 5, we moved to Tulsa, where we rarely had indoor hunts...because rain was scarce... so my mom began to hide our baskets in the house to start our day! A little sign was posted at the bottom of the stairs with arrows and symbols for each child to find their basket.

I thought it was the MOST fun, so now I do the same with my daughters! Instead of signs, I leave these little guys out to create a bit of a trail for them to follow. Bunnies for Lily, and chicks for Elizabeth. These are filled with Hershey's Nugget candies and if you're familiar with Splitcoast Stampers, you've seen them. These particular ideas from Pam at creativechoicedesings on SCS. A few years back, she was sweet enough to give me the details on creating them.



Hey Chickie!.

1. Cut a Yellow the body piece, 5"x 1 1/2", Using a corner rounder, round off all 4 corners on the body piece.
2. Punch out 3 large yellow ovals. Cut the Yellow ovals to make the wings and tail. Attach the wings to the inside of the front piece.
3. Punch out 2 - 1/4" circles out of brown cardstock. Use mini glue dots to attach the CC eyes to the front.
4. Punch 2 large ovals and 1 small oval from orange cardstock. Fold the small orange oval to make the beak and attach to the front under the eyes. Using scallop scissors, cut the top 1/3 off the ends of each large OO oval and attach to the bottom of the body.
5. Place a Hershey Nugget in the center of the body piece, fold up the sides of the body and punch a hole in the top and tie with ribbon. *Option* I frayed the ribbon so it looked like hair.
6. Attach the tail last (makes it easier to tie the ribbon)

Bunny Hop

1. Use the same dimensions for the body as done with the chicks using white cardstock. Punch out 2 large ovals, 4 hearts shapes, and 2 - 1/2" circles.
2. Lightly rub all the edges with Distress ink in any color.
3. Punch out 2 small ovals, and 1 - 1/4" circle from pink cardstock.
4. Adhere a smaller pink oval to the center of a larger white oval. Repeat to make 2 ears
5. Place a Hershey nugget in the center of the body piece. Line up the top front and the top back and punch a hole in the center. Separate and glue the ears to the inside of the front piece. Then tie with ribbon.
6. Finally punch out 2 Chocolate Chip 1/4" circles. Using mini glue dots, place the nose and the eyes in the center of the body front.
7. With Stampin' Dimensionals, attach the 2 1/2" circles to make the cheeks of the bunny. *option* put 3 small glue dots and attach wiskers to the cheeks (I used pieces of frayed grosgrain ribbon)
8. Layer 2 of the hearts together to make the toes of the feet. Attach to the bottom of the body.

You're a Winner

What a weekend!  The comments on my Paper Crafts 350 Cards and Gifts blog hop post were wonderful and overwhelming!  So many of you touched my heart in ways you can never know.  I'm so honored to have been able to inspire you on this little...tiny...corner of the paper crafting world.  Amazingly, there were 191 comments...whoa... and each one has the chance to win this wonderful issue!  To everyone that left a comment, I tried to reply to each one that had a Blogger profile with a place to leave a comment...so you know I appreciate you...  If I wasn't able to leave you a personal one, please know I read...and LOVED...each and every comment.  Thank you again!

Now, I've tried...and tried...to get the Random.org image here, but I can't seem to make it work.  So here is the result my big winner for this issue:
True Random Number Generator


Min: 1
Max: 191
Result: 72
Powered by RANDOM.ORG

hobbydiva said...

OMGOSH!!!! I love it. Wish I was your neighbor...hehehehehe

Congratulations Jada! Please e-mail me your address at krzykramer@yahoo.com so I can get this shipped to you soon!
For those of you that didn't win here - you more chances to win at the 11 other ladies blogs...you left comments there too, right?... and over the Paper Crafts Connection, they have the fabulous blog hop prize to give away there too.  Other wise, if you haven't picked one up yet, DO IT.  I have been using it as a resource for some of my new creations for the last 2 weeks!

Humbled...

I am humbled and flattered. I was honored to have been asked to be a part of the Paper Crafts 350 Cards & Gifts blog hop, but all the 100+ warm, sweet, acknowledging comments on my post, left me speechless. Thank you all...

Today is another Our Creative Corner Challenge! This week is hosted by Sharon again, and she is challenging us to create a project with a tea party theme! Since I was in the 3D mood, I decided to make another box like the ones I made for the blog hop yesterday. They are easy and really cute!  You can see the tutorial here...obviously I only made 1 for this project...

This is a simple little box to put something yummy in. Since I used all the cookies for my neighbors gift, this one is left empty until I find something good to go in it. I used the Faux Metal technique to make the tea pot with Ranger Silver Pearl EP. Isn't it sweet? ...It looks like fine china... Alright, go brew yourself up a cup and get your creative juices flowin!

350 Cards and Gifts Blog Hop!

I am SO excited to be a part of this blog hop celebrating the newest Paper Crafts Magazine issue, 350 Cards and Gifts!  I was so surprized and honored when I received an e-mail from P. Kelly Smith lettimg me know I was one of the 12 most published designers for this issue and asking me to participate today...WOW!...  All of the other ladies that are participating today are so amazing, this is a real honor.  Many of my creations were tags for this issue, but my favorite personal creation has to be the Homemade Bread Wrap on page 101.  It reminds me of collecting leaves with my father when I was kid.  The prettiest leaves were preserved between 2 sheets of wax paper, which was how I made the bread wrap there.  This is a project I have done many times with my daughters, both with leaves and to make food wraps for gifts.  It's nice to pass on this sweet little experience with them...and you...

Enough chit chat, let's get hoppin'!  In honor of the 350 Cards and Gifts issue, each of the 12 designers have created a project using a template based on an item from the pages of this great issue to inspire you all.  You can find all the templates we used at the Paper Crafts Connection Blog.  I was assigned this Popcorn Box made by Alicia Thelin...isn't it cute?...  She has even shared her Candied Popcorn Recipe there too...I'll have to try it...  Following Alicia's lead, I decided to make several of these and put them together for my own creation.

The great thing about this template, is that you can keep it simple...like Alicia did...or dress it up with papers and embellishments as I did here.  If you want to see the building process of this, check out my very first tutorial here...be kind...  The paper is from the new DCWV collection, Lemon Flower.  The boxes are made from Basic Grey, a retired SU! color.  I love how it came out, soft and pretty.  We have a new neighbor that will be recieving this as a house warming and welcome.  I love giving baking gifts to neighbors, it's so warm and inviting...and well, neighborly!...

To make this blog hop even more fun, there are a couple giveaways for you to win!  First, I have a copy of 350 Cards & Gifts to give to one person leaving a comment here...as does every designer on the hop, so visit them all...  Second, at Paper Crafts Connection today, they are giving away a FANTASTIC prize, check it out...it has wonderful goodies every paper crafter wants...then leave a comment there to win!

I hope you had fun visiting my lil' ole' blog!  Be sure to visit ALL the ladies below participating in the blog hop.  Each of them are inspiring and have amazing talents, now go and give them all a little love!

• Betsy Veldman

• Kalyn Kepner
• Kim Hughes
• Chan Vuong
• Teri Anderson
• Vanessa Menhorn
• Kristin K. Tierney
 Lucy Abrams
• Ashley C. Newell
• Cristina Kowalczyk
• Jessica Witty
• Latisha Yoast

They love me...

They really love me!  Cath over at Moxie Fab picked this card as one of her Trigger Tuesday winners!  I'm so honored and amazed!  I had the opportunity to peruse the gallery this week, and there were SO many wonderful creations.  Thank you for this acknowledgement, I wish everyone had been picked!

Gettin my fix

Hot air balloon fix that is. This is another creation for the current challenge at Moxie Fab called In My Beautiful Ballon. I had this little feltie from American Crafts and wanted to use it on an October Afternoon tag I had and miss stamped...that makes me so mad...  So I recreated it into a 3x5 card. I'm pretty pleased with the outcome, however the green is just a tad less vibrant. I think I'll have to give it to Lily in her lunch box this week. She has just started reading 'chapter books' on her own, maybe I'll make a book mark to match...I feel another balloon project coming on...

Hot Air

Balloons...its all the rage.  You've seen them - everywhere - and I don't mean in the sky.  They are so hot and trendy right now.  I've always been obsessed with them, I mean who doesn't want to go for a ride in one?  Oh the opportunity will present itself...someday...and I will take full advantage of it.  Until then, I will have to live vicariously thru my paper crafting.

A special thanks to Cath a Moxie Fab for enabling my mild obsession.  Check out her current challenge, In My Beautiful Balloon.  I made this card for it.  Does the layout look familar?...remember the Paper Crafts Go-To-Sketches call?....  I've had this paper for a while and needed to put it to good use.  It's such a  graphic pattern, that I wanted to have a layout that showed it off without overwhelming the card.  I like the effect, and the added little addition on the bottom corner I just love!

Pullin' the Trigger

It's been a while since I've been able to play with Cath over at Moxie Fab...I've missed you...  I spent a few hours in my spot last night, and was able to get a few things done for her current challenges there.  Here's the first one I did for this week's Tuesday Trigger.

Isn't this dish towel fabulous?  I love the complementary color combo - orange and blue.  I wanted to do something that was graphic and simple...opposite of my go-to style...and pulled some great orange rub-ons from Studio Calico from my stash.

The turquoise letters are an old SU alphabet set...I guess there is a reason to keep those retired sets....  I wanted to add the typewriter, but it made the orange letters less inpactful, so I put it under a piece of vellum.  This was an easy card, it just took some time to cut out the letters.

Girly-girl

Hi ladies!

This is a quick post, it's currently 2:12 a.m. here...*yawn*... Since I returned home from vacation, I haven't been able to get into my craftin' spot until 8:30 this evening. Lots of laundry to do....uggh....

Any-hoo - It's Our Creative Corner Challenge time again! This week our challenge is hosted by Sharon Wheet of Designs by Sharon. She is having us make girly things with ribbons, bling and home-made paper flowers....right up my alley.... I made a quick adorable card for a birthday party my daughter is going to this weekend, but alas - I ruined it. I wasn't paying attention, started cleaning up, and absentmindedly placed my stamp container on top of the slowly drying Stickles. Then hubby came home, we chatted and I cleaned up for bed so I wouldn't wake him later. When I returned to photograph it...an hour later...I discovered a glittery mess. I was going to just re-make it, but my printer wouldn't work for my vintage digi. Then I was frustrated! So I gave up on that and started a project I'd been wanting to do for a while...a spring wreath for my front door... I changed the original plans...coffee filters...to fit in the challenge and ~ voila! Shabby, doily covered wreath!

excuse the photo quality - it's late and this doesn't fit in my light box!

I used MANY Spellbinders die sets for this, Large Oval & Large Scalloped Oval, Floral Doily Accents and Floral Doily Motifs...the latter 2 were gifts from Terre and Stacy - thanks again ladies!... The wreath is made up of individual flowers made from the doily dies.  A total of 28 flowers, so 168 die cuts to be exact...my Cuttlebug was smokin'!... Here's a close-up of what they look like. They are really easy to make, just time consuming.

Ok - enough! Off to bed!

It’s over…

My vacation from life. Leaving my parents, my support. We are getting ready to jump back on a plane and back to reality….*tear*…It’s always hard to leave. We had lots of fun, the girls enjoyed their grandparents. Playing at the park, swimming in the pool. Rob enjoyed his spring training games, getting his autographs and hub-nubbing with the players. I just loved spending time with mom & dad, helping with the house plans, and general togetherness. It was all wonderful. This card perfectly represents how I’m feeling. I should have brought it along on the trip to give my parents. I’ll just have to send it to them when I get back…to grey skies…

Time Flies

Cardstock: (110 lb white card stock)

Patterned paper: (Urban Prairie, Hopscotch) Basic Grey

Stamps clear: (Time Flies) Studio Calico

Ink dye: (Basic Black, Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Baha Breeze) SU!; (Craft White) SU!

Embossing powder: (Winter White) SU!

Accent: (Vintage Pink & Granite Shimmer Spray) Tattered Angels

Fibers: (pink) Snug Hug; (white thread) Coats & Cutter

Tool: (Corner rounder) SU!; (sewing machine) PFAFF

Finished size: 3 1/3” x 6.5’

Instructions
1. Cut card and fold.
2. Spray ribbon with Vintage Pink shimmer spray. Tie ribbon around card.
3. Cut patterned paper 6.25x1.25’, stitch onto card.
4. Cut 1.5” squares from assorted ‘solid’ papers from collection. Stamp clock images in coordinating inks. Round corners.
5. Stamp hands on clocks with Craft White ink. Emboss with Winter White EP. Adhere to card.
6. Lightly Spray card with Granite shimmer spray.

Designer Tips (if applicable)
• Lightly spray finished card with shimmer spray for a touch of shabby shine.
• Leave particles of EP on your stamped image when you heat emboss for a shabby touch.

ATC or Baseball

Did you know that ATC cards are the same size as a baseball card? I didn’t. I bet your wondering why I’m bring this up. Well, for 2 reasons.

First, let me explain the baseball card reference. My hubby is a baseball fan…more like maniac… He has been collecting baseball cards since he was a kid. To tell him I was pregnant with our first daughter, I bought him special baseball cards to soften the blow…I wasn’t sure how he would take it… Part of the reason we are in Bradenton Florida instead of Orlando, is because they have Spring Training games…everywhere… His collection of baseball cards is outrageous. Over 1 million…he’s been at it a LONG time…he gets them signed, he has us get the big name players…they like kids and ladies with big ta-ta’s…like Brady Sizemore, Evan Longorria, Darryl Strawberry, even Reggie Jackson and George Steinbrenner.

Why am I bringing this up? Because, ATC’s are the challenge this week at Our Creative Corner! When I told Rebecca I didn’t know anything about ATC’s she told me it was the same size as a baseball card – something I could obviously relate to. Rebecca challenges us to make an ATC card using kraft, ivory, chocolate and a color of your choice. I have NEVER done an ATC card before…shocking, I know…I just never understood them. What do you use them for? Are they to trade or collect? It really boggled my mind. So when Rebecca posted this challenge, I thought, “Really? People actually make these?” Still, I decided to head into it full force, and admittedly, I really liked making this! Now I have to say, that I made it Sunday night, at 10 p.m. ...I had to since I had spent the week acting like Nurse Betty to my family and had NO time to create…we were leaving for our trip at 5:30 a.m. Monday. It came together really quickly…that’s why I like them… I used some blog candy I won from Clean & Simple Stamps…I’ve been so lucky lately, I should get some lotto tickets… They sent me the most adorable stamps and dies, Spring ( ) and GORGEOUS buttons, and Scortape and brads. I love these boots! I wish I could have a pair…my feet are too big…so I’ will live vicariously through my children and this stamp set.  I took these photos with my new Thunderbolt phone...it's so cool...but it didn't catch the shine from the clear embossed puddle.

Top 5

Isn’t this sweet? I love the tag I used, it’s from Little Yellow Bicycle. It’s really for scrapbooking, but I thought it worked well here. This was also not accepted for the Go-To-Sketches call last month. Oh well, I have the perfect person to give it to…

Top Five
Cardstock: (Baha Breeze, Regal Rose, Basic Grey) SU!
Patterned paper: (Oliver & Olivia) Basic Grey
Other paper: (tag) Little Yellow Bicycle
Stamps…rubber, foam, clear: (Up, Up & Away) PTI
Ink dye: (Baha Breeze, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Basic Gray) SU!
Accent: (Granite & Key Lime Shimmer Spray) Tattered Angels, (grey button)
Fibers: (White) Snug Hug, (pink felt); (white thread) Cutter & Coats
Dies, embossing folders, brass templates: (polkadots impression plate) PTI
Tool: (sewing machine) PFAFF
Other: (pin)
Finished size: 4 ¼” x 5 ½”
Instructions
1. Cut and fold card. Set aside
2. Cut Regal Rose panel to 4 1/8” x 5 3/8”. Cut Basic Gray 4x3.5”, emboss and adhere to panel. Cut patterned paper 2x4”, adhere to panel. Stitch around edge.
3. Spray ribbon with Key Lime shimmer spray. Wrap seam ribbon around card and adhere panel to card base.
4. Ink ‘you’ and stamp on lines of tag in varying colors. Adhere to card
5. Embellish with ribbon, felt heart, button and pin.
6. Lightly spray finished card with Granite shimmer spray.
Designer Tips (if applicable)
Lightly spray finished card with shimmer spray for a touch of shabby shine.

You are…

Just Lovely! Yes you, all my bleeps out there…you know who you are…I really appreciate that you take time from your busy days to visit my little spot here on the web. I hope it brings you some joy…I know I have fun with it…and some inspiration. Enjoy life and remember, that you are Just Lovely.

Just Lovely

Cardstock: (Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie) SU!

Patterned paper: (Urban Prairie) Basic Grey

Stamps clear: (Union Square Perfect, Lost & Found) My Minds Eye

Ink dye: (Basic Black) SU!

Accents: (green rhinestones)

Fibers: (white pom-pom)
Tool: (Upper Crest Border Punch) Friskars
Finished size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

Instructions
1. Cut card and fold. Place corner of card at a 45 degree angle into the border punch and punch. Repeat with opposite corner.
2. Cut first patterned paper 2x4”, using the border punch, punch the corner to match card base. Adhere to card.
3. Cut second patterned paper 3.5x4”, using the border punch, punch the corner to match card base. Adhere to card.
4. Stamp sentiment. Make brackets with border punch, adhere to frame sentiment.
5. Embellish with pom-pom trim and rhinestones

Designer Tips;
• Use a border punch to embellish the corners of your card by placing your card at a 45 degree angle.
• Use a border punch to create your own brackets. Punch cardstock, move 1/8” and punch again.

Love’n Hopscotch

The new Basic Grey papers that is. I received them as blog candy from Cards magazines blog-site Create. It was tons of fun to use them for the Go-To Sketches Paper Crafts Call…even if it didn’t get in…I love how the patterns all go together, so much fun!

Love You

Cardstock: (Whisper White) SU!

Patterned paper: (Hopscotch Collection: Skip to my lou, Monkey Bars, 4 Square, Skipping) Basic Grey

Other paper: (heart doily)

Stamp rubber: (Sweet Saying) SU!

Ink dye: (Soft Suede) SU!

Paint: (White) Darice

Accent: (assorted buttons)

Sticker: (heart, Hopscotch) Basic Grey
Fibers: (white thread) Cutter & Coats, (white embroidery floss) DMC
Tool: (sewing machine) PFAFF
Finished size: 5x5
Instructions
1. Cut card and fold.
2. Cut patterned papers to fit sketch and sew onto card. Paint edges with white paint.
3. Cut ‘you’ from patterned paper. Sew with embroidery floss along letters.
4. Stamp ‘love’ and adhere ‘you’ panel below. Cut heart from doily and adhere next to panel.
5. Embellish with buttons and heart stickers.

Hoo’s ready for Halloween?

I mean really, summer isn’t even here! But that’s how it rolls in the land of glossy magazines. The last call for Paper Crafts focused on Halloween…it was difficult to get in the mood… I had so many ideas for it, but alas, the flu, strep and ear infection bugs had other plans for my time. This was the only card I had time to get done...finished the first day of the call… I really love her! Isn’t she just adorable? I was so disappointed she didn’t get picked, but that’s how the cookie crumbles. When you partake in the submission process, you have to get a thick skin. Even if your creation is wonderful…as this little owl chick is…it just might not fit in the plans of the issue they have. Don’t ever give up on it. Dust yourself off, puck up the glue runner and start again! What to do with the rejects? Get yourself an ETSY account and start pondering your wares. You’ll be surprised what your buyers want!

Halloween Hoo