Happy Birthday

Happy Tuesday all,

This is the second card that I made on Sunday. I need a birthday card for a friend whose big day is coming up next week. I also wanted to get a card made using Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #36 before Thursday when her next sketch comes out.

I stamped the presents first, then masked them off to stamp the balloons behind. The ink was applied directly to the stamps prior to stamping. The birthday banner is part of the stamp set and I carefully trimmed it out to use as the corner element in the sketch.

Supplies
Stamps: Patterned Party by Stampin' Up
Paper: TE blue, green, red and snow white and My Minds Eye Lime Twist "Out of the Blue" patterned papers
Ink: all Stampin' Up markers Island Indigo, Lucky Limeade, Real Red, Sahara Sand and More Mustard
Other: Kaiser red and green pearls, sewing machine and dimensionals

Thanks everyone,
Colleen

Frosty and Fabulous

Monday Monday, So Good To Me. . .

Another work week is here. As I mentioned a few days ago, this week will find me working in Arizona for three days. At least it's not  July. I'm excited to get this week started because I'm taking the Standard Copic certification class on Friday. WOOT, WOOT! I am SO excited. I've grown to love my Copics and I can't wait to learn more ways to blend and shade while coloring.

I've been noticing many of you getting started on your 2012 Christmas cards and thinking I should get started myself, so with Karen's new Sweet Sunday Sketch #151 yesterday, I decided to get to it. I even have a new Christmas/Winter stamp set that I had not used yet to get started with.

Ms. Fabulous snowlady is colored with Copics and I used some Stardust Stickles to glam up her hat and scarf. She is framed with some tiny pink rhinestones around the big scalloped Nestie.
Here are the Copics that I used:

Supplies
Stamps: Frosty and Fabulous Snowman set by My Favorite Things
Paper: Stampin' Up red, pink and pool party card stock, TE buttercream card stock and Echo Park Season's Greetings patterned paper
Ink: Memento tuxedo black and rich cocoa, SU Riding Hood red and Copics
Other: Wonky Rectangle and Big Scalloped Rectangle Nesties, small pink rhinestones, SU pool party button, SU pink baker's twine, sewing machine, the Big Shot and dimensionals

Have a wonderful week everyone. Thanks for stopping by,
Colleen

Love Shack, Baby Love Shack. . .

Who doesn't have this song running through their mind while playing with this sweet TE stamp set? :)

Here's my card for the new TESC151 challenge. Love the sketch this week and I'm so glad that Taylor and her crew are back with the Friday sketches.

I paper pieced the "Love Shack" with papers from January's Key Ingredients kit. (I think that the small heart paper kind of looks like bricks.) The heart windows are pieced with the dark red card stock from the kit then covered with red Stickles. The heart bushes in front are covered with green Stickles. The heart coming out of the chimney is from the new TE jumbo heart border die.

The rest of the papers and the heart buttons are also from the January KI kit.

Supplies
Stamps: Love Shack by Taylored Expressions
Papers: TE card stock and Crate Paper-Paper Hearts patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Riding Hood Red and R27 Copic
Other: classic circle and lacy circle Nesties, TE heart buttons, Stickles, sewing machine, the Big Shot and dimensionals

Thanks all,
Colleen

Hope Your Day Is. . .

I hope your Saturday is "as happy as happy gets."

Hi everyone,
I'm on a stamping and blogging roll this week. I think this is my sixth day in a row of posting cards. I stamped almost every evening this past week, and I loved it! Unfortunately, starting Tuesday, I will be working out of town for the next two weeks, (sad face inserted here), so I'll be back to only stamping on the weekends.

Today's card I made with two challenges in mind. The layout is this week's MFTWSC56 sketch, and the papers I used fit for the Recipe Sapping In Print challenge at Linda's Catered Crop blog.

I used one of my favorite PI girls (is it possible to pick a favorite?) and several MFT Die-namics dies. Lots of sewing again as well.

The fence Die-namic is cut from cork for even more texture. To give the black newsprint papers more "pop," I added black pearls to the corners and to the center of the flower element.

Here's a peek of the inside:

More sewing and another Die-namics flower, this time with a black button and baker's twine for the center. The "happy birthday" stamp on the inside is from SU.

Here are the Copics that I used to color the image:

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence Feelin' Froggy set by My Favorite Things and Teeny Tiny Wishes set by Stampin' UP
Paper: Taylored Expressions red, pink and buttercream card stock,
patterned paper from a TE Key Ingredients kit from 2009 ???
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU real red and Copics
Other: Die-namics Dizzy Doily, Woodgrain Fence, large Scallped border and Fringed Perennial dies, cork, Want 2 Scrap black pearls, sewing machine, the Big Shot, SU button, baker's twine, and dimensionals

Have a great weekend all and thanks for checking in today,
Colleen

Love Is In the Air

TGIF!

I put this card together one evening this week while watching the Australian Open tennis matches. I love watching tennis, both on TV and in person. I played a lot in high school and college, and still love the game.

My card uses the current Card Positioning System layout, #252, sponsored this week by Taylored Expressions. Stamps, papers and dies used are all TE.

The papers are from the Valentine's Day Project Pantry kit. I love the reds and pinks with the kraft card stock. Speaking of kraft card stock, I'm entering this card in Jeanie's That's Krafty Thursday #57 challenge as well.

Supplies
Stamps: Love Everywhere set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: TE kraft, red and choice buttercream card stock and Pebbles With Love patterned papers
Ink: SU crumb cake and ridding hood red, Memento tuxedo black
Other: TE cloud border and clouds dies, TE hearts impressions plate, classic circle Nesties, pink rhinestones, SU corner rounder punch, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

I hope you all have a fabulous weekend. Thanks for stopping in today,
Colleen

Thinking Of You

Happy Thursday,

I finally got my January SFYTT card done. I am going to try to do all of them this year. Last year I missed a few. This card certainly evolved. I had picked out my patterned papers to use, but when I was putting everything together, I decided I didn't like it, so, I ended up going with completely different papers, which I think work much better with the stamp. The first were way too bright and tended to over power the image.  Anyhoo, here is my card.

The papers are from Taylor's January Key Ingredients kit. I was inspired by this card by Jodi and added lots of bling.

The heart and circle background is done with an SU letterpress plate and whisper white craft ink. I was hoping for a more embossed look, but I think I needed to add another layer to my sandwich prior to running it through the Big Shot. It ended up looking more like a stamped image instead of letter pressed. I still like the way it looks.

Supplies
Rose Wreath set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: From TE January KI kit, TE card stock and Crate Paper "Paper Heart" patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU craft Whisper White and Copics
Other: SU letter press plate, classic circle and scalloped circle Nesties, SU corner rounder punch, SU rhinestones, TE ribbon, the Big Shot, sewing machine, and dimensionals

I'm looking forward to the weekend, how about you?

Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen

Love You

As promised, here is the second card that I worked up for my craft group get together on Saturday. Since the other card is so feminine, I  thought I should try for a more masculine card. The supplies are mostly from the Stampin' Up.

To get the dots fairly even around the large heart cutout, I placed the framelit die in the cutout area and then used a Spica glitter pen to make the dots along the edge of the die.

Supplies
Stamps: PS, I Love You set from Stampin' Up
Paper: SU grey, black, Cherry Cobbler and red glimmer card stock, SU DSP retired
Ink: SU Cherry Cobbler and black Spica glitter pen
Other: SU embossing folder, SU Hearts Collection Framelits dies, SU tripple heart punch, the Big Shot and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in today,
Colleen

From My Heart To Yours

Last Saturday was my craft group get together. The first of the new year. We usually try to meet once a month and periodically, I will do some "make and takes" for the gals. Here is the first of the two cards that I worked up last week for Saturday.

This is an all Stampin' Up card using some of the newest items in the Occasions Mini catalog.

Supplies
Stamps: PS, I Love You set by Stampin' Up
Paper: SU Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder,  Island Indigo and Whisper White card stock and Sweet Shop DSP
Ink: SU Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder and Island Indigo
Other: (all supplies are SU) large heart and Boho Blossom punches,  Fashionable Hearts embosslits die, clear heart button, Island Indigo bakers twine, rhinestones, houndstooth embossing folder, dimensionals, and sewing machine.

I'll post the second card tomorrow. Thanks,
Colleen

Feel Better

HI,

I made this card for a friend of my mom's who had a heart procedure on Saturday. He's doing very well and will be going home from the hospital tomorrow. I hope this card helps his recovery to be speedy.

The layout is MFTWSC55. The paper is all Stampin' Up. I added lots of stitching and Fred is colored with Copics.

Here is the inside:

Supplies
Stamps: Fred Bear Gives Comfort set by My Favorite Things
Paper: Stampin' Up Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, So Saffron and Whisper White card stock, SU DSP retired
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, SU Chocolate Chip and Always Artichoke, and these Copics:

Other: SU round and ticket punches, twine, sewing machine and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in all,
Colleen

Pink Bear {{Hugs}}

Hi all,

I've been slowly working on my Valentine's Day cards. Here's my latest. This one uses Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch #150 layout combined with Taylored Expression's new Valentines Project Pantry kit. I love the reds and pinks combined with Kraft in this paper pack.

I decided to color the bear pink, it just seemed fitting for Valentine's Day and I think she looks great. I also tried doing a straight stitch around the circle instead of my usual zig-zag. This is not easy! and clearly, I need some more practice, but I like the way it looks.

Supplies
Stamps: Buddy Bear set by Taylored Expressions
Paper: TE pink, kraft and buttercream card stock and Pebbles With Love patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics, SU Crumb Cake
Other: Spica glitter pens in red and lipstick, Glossy Effects, classic circle and lacy circle Nesties, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

I'm looking forward to the week end, how about you? Thanks for stopping by today,
Colleen

Sweet

Happy Wednesday everyone,

I started this card on Monday evening with the intent of taking it's picture on Tuesday to post for last weeks MFTWSC54. Unfortunately, I came down with a really strong case of the stomach flu Tuesday morning and didn't feel like taking the picture for posting. After spending all day in bed yesterday, I'm finally feeling better this afternoon. I got my picture taken, so even thought this sketch is over, I thought I'd post the card anyway.

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence "Make Mine A Double" by My Favorite Things
Paper: Stampin' Up Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White card stock and Sweet Shop DSP
Ink: Memento tuxedo black and Copics
Other: Die-namics border and pennant dies, SU brads, sewing machine, SU ribbon, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in today,
Colleen

Love You, Kiss You, Miss You

Hi all,

I received some new Stampin' Up goodies last week and opened them up to play with on Saturday. Since the new Sweet Stop 141 Sketch was out, I used the layout to craft this sweet card.

This is a SU only card and many of the supplies come from the new Occasions Mini Catalog.

Supplies
Stamps: PS I Love You set
Paper: SU Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Wisteria Wonder and Whisper White CS, SU Sweet Shop DSP
Ink: SU Wisteria Wonder and Basic Black
Other: (all Stampin' Up) Labels Collection Framelits Dies, triple heart punch, scalloped border punch, Wisteria Wonder ribbon, Swiss Dot embossing folder, corner rounder punch, pearls, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in today,
Colleen

Sewing Mends the Soul

Happy Wednesday afternoon everyone,

I got home from work a little on the early side yesterday afternoon and decided I had enough time to make a card for Jen's Deconstructed Sketch #33. This card just "clicked" as it was being put together. Mostly, I design as I go, so sometimes a card will take awhile to put together. This one just worked with each idea that I came up with and was done in no time.

The papers are, once again, from a TE Key Ingredients kit, November 2011. The main element with the Quilt sentiment is pre-printed and came with the kit. I used the "receipt card" (also part of the kit) to stamp random images from Taylor's mini stamp set "Sew Happy".

The background papers were put through the SU Square Lattice EF to make them look more like fabric.

The buttons were put on as an afterthought and I think they work well with the theme of this card. They also make this card perfect for the current recipe challenge at Linda's Catered Crop. The challenge is to use buttons on our project.

Supplies
Stamps: Taylored Expressions "Sew Happy" stamp set
Paper: TE Parakeet and Frosted Teal CS and Jillibean Soup - Homemade 6 Bean PP
Ink: SU Early Expresso
Other: SU Square Lattice EF, buttons, mini glue dots, TE ribbon, TE small scalloped border die, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Have a great day all and thanks,
Colleen

You Captured My Heart

Hey all,

Ok, Monday and Tuesday down and only three days until the weekend. Can you tell I'm having a hard time getting back into the work mode after my holiday vacation? LOL

I finished this card last night and I think it turned out pretty darn cute. The layout is SSSC149, and as usual, Karen has a great sketch for us to use. All of the papers are from Taylored Expressions December Key Ingredients kit.

Supplies
Stamps: You Captured My Heart set by Taylored Expressions
Papers: TE Chablis, Red Devil and Choice Snow white CS and Bella Blvd - Christmas Wishes PP
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics and SU real red
Other: classic circle and large scalloped circle Nesties, red and crystal Stickles, SU triple heart punch, red Viva paper pen, sewing machine, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in today,
Colleen

Getting Sketchy with MFTWSC53

Good Monday evening,

Here's my card for the current MFTWSC53 challenge. I used the super cute MFT PI Ski Girl stamp set. Her clothes are paper pieced and her skis and ski boots have Glossy Effects over them for a shiny effect. In keeping with the circle theme, I used the Seeing Spots embossing folder for the background on the top circle and the candy dots for accents. She is colored with Copics.

The colors come from the current CR84FN Color Challenge. The colors for this challenge are medium blue, orange and yellow.

Supplies
Stamps: Pure Innocence Ski Girl by My Favorite Things
Paper: SU card stock and patterned papers
Ink: Memento tuxedo black, Copics and SU tangerine tango
Other: small and large classic circle Nesties, Seeing Spots EF, candy dots, silver gel pen, Glossy Effects, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

Thanks for looking in all,
Colleen

Happy 88 Birthday

Happy New Year all,

This is my first post after taking some time off over Christmas and the week after. I did some traveling to northern California and to Portland, OR to spend time with family. It is always so great to see them.

My first card of 2012 was made for a good friend who turned 88 last month. She is a Japanese American and eighty eight is a special birthday year in the Japanese culture. Her family held a luncheon yesterday for a belated celebration as two of her grandchildren attend college away and they are home now on break.

The layout is this week's Mojo Monday #222 sketch. The patterned papers are Japanese paper that I picked up over 10 years ago in Hawaii. The greeting is computer generated, so no stamping on the outside of the card. I looked up the information for Japanese 88 birthday on the web, and hopefully, I have the symbols correct.

Supplies
Papers: SU black and whisper white card stock, Japanese patterned papers
Ink: computer generated greeting
Other: classic circle Nesties, paper flowers (SU, TE and Creative Memories), Kaiser red and black rhinestones, the Big Shot, and dimensionals

I hope your weekend is going well. Thanks for stopping in,
Colleen