Why, Hello There ....

Its been a while, huh? No promises when I will blog next since I keep making promises that I don't keep. I don't like it when people promise me stuff and then don't follow through, so no promises from me! Here are a few things that I have done while I was away doing God knows what :)






And I even participated in a challenge which I have not done FOREVER. This one is from The Cats Pajamas Co. and it was a fun color challenge. I was inspired immediately. This is actually a pocket calendar cover, but it could be used for a checkbook cover, also (although its a tad big -- didn't fit in my wallet). The image is from the Tickled Pink set from The Angel Company (circa 2008). And I have had those flip flop brads (from OTC) for almost as long as my youngest child has been alive. Okay, exaggerating ... but its been a long time. I thought they were cute and then when they arrived didn't know quite what to do with them. Does that happen to anyone else?





And I thought, as incentive to myself, I would pose a question. Answer the question and I will randomly chose someone to receive a small token of my appreciation for helping me get back to my blog. Let's consider this "baby blog candy" :)

QUESTION FOR THE DAY:

What is one "strange" item that you have used to craft with?

I will start:
I might try to stamp anything that will hold still long enough. But one that comes to mind is when I made the most adorable (IMHO) container to hold my tacks for my bulletin board out of those Laughing Cow cheese containers -- you know the circle ones with the lids? I also just bought some clear tubing from the hardware store with visions of bracelets dancing in my heads. I will have to let you know about that one.

Your turn!

I really have been crafting ....

Here are some things I have been working on:

An altered composition notebook using some of my new TAC stamps. I am going to have a few of these at a craft show I plan to do in October. I also made a matching beaded pen. I did these while I was on vacation and the pen is currently MIA, which is why its not shown. Hopefully I can find it!




I purchased some plain albums with the thought of embellishing them. I was so nervous, though, that it took some time for me to use them. They have been in my basement for months! I finally got brave and did a couple. The baby girl one was fun to do because I got to dig around and use some embellishments and paper that I was saving for God knows what ... I guess this :) Now, if I just knew someone having a girl soon. I think this will make its way to Etsy or the craft show, too.


On this linen album I wanted to try rub ons. I had read on SCS that they would work but, again, I was a little nervous. I think it turned out so cute. I am really pleased. I stamped the word FAMILY in stazon ink and it isn't as crisp an image as the rub ons, but I don't think it takes anything away from the album at all. I got these rub ons at an SU! garage sale so you may see more of these in the future.

And these cute little suckers I am SO EXCITED about :) They are coasters covered in last year's Halloween Designer Series paper, and embellished with binder clips to hold the pictures and stand the coaster up. Viola' the most adorable frame. I am in the process of making some of these for Christmas, too. The pictures is one of my favorites of Teagan right before he turned one. Does he not make the cutest monkey with a binkie you ever saw?? I am also using this as my entry into Shelli's SoShelli Creative Contest for October where her challenge was to create something for Halloween.
I hope to get some more stuff done soon. I have been trying to get caught up on cleaning and straightening after vacation so the basement has not been used much. I am itching to be creative, though, so maybe tomorrow.


Thanks for looking! G'night!

Challenges Galore

I have never really done challenges, but have been feeling inspired lately. I don't know if I am even getting these three in on time, but they were fun to do and maybe they will inspire you to try a challenge or two :)

Here is my entry for the MOJO50 challenge. Did I mention I am recently in love with Verve Visual? Well, in case you didn't get that memo, here is another card using the "cupcake affairs" set and the sentiment is from "artful elegance" and reads, "life is good" (that's kinda hard to see in this not so great picture ... sorry!).

Here is my entry for Shelli's "Celebrate" challenge. Shelli's blog is so fun and I have enjoyed seeing her creations, hearing about all the fun things she gets to do to help grow and promote SU!, as well as, just enjoying her family. She seems so down-to-Earth. I am very inspired by her success and creativity! If you haven't checked it out go now :) Even if you just love babies ... she has a beautiful new grandbaby.

And here is my entry for Beate's Inspiration Challenge. I love this designer series paper (SU! Rebecca) it has always been one of my faves! And when I saw the inspiration piece of this challenge, I knew this would work. I went to an SU! garage sale, a week or so ago, and this is one of the retired sets (Friendly Flowers) that I picked up. Not sure why I never got this out of the catalog. I really like it. I pierced the black mat around the edges but it didn't show up so well. I was trying to multitask and take pictures of my cards while I let my puppy out in the backyard. It was really too late in the day to get good sunlight, unfortunately!

Back to the craft room as soon as the kids are tucked in their beds for the night ... half hour and counting!

Verve Stamps and Soccer Practice

Another busy week is over and I am so glad it's a holiday weekend. Tim's busy time is almost to an end although he left at 8am this morning and won't be back until midnight or 1am tonight! Tomorrow and Monday he will be home all day and night :) Then next Friday he took off and we will head to Gulf Shores, AL for our family vacation with all my sibs -- provided Gustav and Hanna cooperate some! So, the end is near and we will be a family of four again soon :)

It's been a bit challenging to find stamping time lately but I did get some stuff done this week. I ordered my first Verve Stamps and I am SO EXCITED! I got the Anni-VERVE-sary set so that gave me lots to play with! These could keep me busy and happy for a while. These are going up on my Etsy store (see sidebar for link) soon.

I am also working on some notecard sets for Etsy and a few craft shows I am considering this Fall. So, here is a peek at those:

They are embossed. Simple, but super cute, I think! I have a friend on bedrest and one set of these are for her. I figured it will be hard for her to get out to buy any cards she might need and she will have time to write some notes to friends. :)

Well, that's it for now. I hope to get some good crafting time in this evening since Tim is working late. Oh, and I was going to share one cute picture of Teagan playing soccer :) That started this week. It was so hot that day and half way through I had to bribe him with a Dilly Bar from DQ. ;) We will see how next week goes!

Happy Stampin'!

Challenges

Here are my "entries" into the challenges that I mentioned yesterday! The first is for my own clinque lipstick case challenge. The ribbon gave me fits and I am not sure I like that part of it but I wanted to give it some texture and liked the thought of some stripes on this one. I don't think I have ever used rub-ons on a card ... don't ask me why!?? And I like them, except, that the thanks a bunch on the bottom is crooked! Darn it! Anyway, I also played with the SU! new In Colors and think they are so fun!

This next card is my Black -N-White attempt for Susie's wedding challenge. I got this super cool paper at Archivers at their free make-n-take weekend which ended up costing me $90!! But this card helps make that worth it. I think it turned out quite pretty. I also am in love with the pretties kit. My next adventure with that is to dye the flowers :) Check out Susie's blog here: http://www.whiteribboncards.blogspot.com/

And lastly, Bridgett challenged us to make a birthday card for a little boy. Her son is turning 1 soon! I just got this stamp at Hobby Lobby when they had their stamps 50% off. I hardly ever buy single stamps from retail stores like that but with their sale and a gift card from my hubby for my birthday I thought I'd splurge! I absolutely adore this printed paper and this is the last of it :( I got it at my LSS that closed its doors forever last month. I am not sure I like the scallops behind the monkey layer but I wanted to do something special to mimick the scallop circles on the paper. Hmm ... gotta think about that decision?! Check out Bridgett's blog here: http://www.hoosierstamper.blogspot.com/

Thanks to the Men's Olympic Team who stunned everyone by battling for the silver metal and going on to win the bronze against many, many odds, I got all these cards done -- I was up way too late and am dragging this morning!! Go USA! :) I gotta say, though, that I was so excited for the Chinese Men's Team -- what an amazing win!

Later,

Want to know what some of the SBS18 girls are up to??

Check out these:

BLOG CANDY to celebrate the 1 year anniversary of Jane's fabulous blog: http://www.carrollscreations.blogspot.com/

BABY BOY B-DAY CARD CHALLENGE: Bridgett's little one is turning 1 soon check out her challenge at http://www.hoosierstamper.blogspot.com/

BLACK N WHITE CHALLENGE: Susie is getting married and wants to see what we can come up with in this elegant color combo! Check it out here: http://www.whiteribboncards.blogspot.com/
visit all my SBS sisters -- links on my sidebar :)

A Gazillion Cards for Gugger

Gugger, my Grandmother, recently sent me a not so cute birthday card and apologized for not having pretty cards to send -- you see, she is 86 years old and has vision problems so doesn't drive anymore. So, I am sure this was not a hint, or anything, but I have decided to make her a stash of pretty cards that she can send when she needs one. She won't have to wait for someone to take her to the store and then try to figure out with her limited vision which is appropriate. And its been raining all the live long day so I, still in my pjs at almost 6pm, have been in my basement parked at my craft table the entire day! HEAVEN!!

So here are the cards I have made:

My Gugger lives in Florida and although never goes to the beach, I thought this would be nice for her to give out.




All the above are birthday cards. She has a daughter and two sons, 13 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren plus a ton of friends :)


She also loves to cook and is famous for her home baked bread and apple pies. So these two are "just because" cards and I left them blank inside.

And this last card is my submission for Heather's "Good-bye Challenge" -- check her blog out here (its great!!): http://hksginger.blogspot.com/

Okay, I need to give my kidlets some attention and get started on dinner for my husband, who is on his way home now. I will post again tomorrow or very soon!

Happy Creating!