More Fun with Simon Says Stamp!

I am still on my mission to use up supplies that come with the Simon Says Stamp Card Kits.  It is quite a task as SO MUCH STUFF is included in each kit!  Not complaining....just stating fact, ma'am!
Anyway, I am continuing with my fun with the March kit which you can see here:

Here is a card I made with some of the contents as well one of the little Kraft envelopes that came with the February card kit. 

The sentiment was stamped on a Lawn Fawn sticker and then I just punched some assorted hearts out of some of the paper that came with the kit with a Martha Stewart punch.

I made a little card to be inserted with another sentiment from the set as well as some Washi tape (that also came with the kit, too).

I love this wood grain paper:

Fast and easy!

Happy Crafting!

Another Mother's Day Card

Mother's Day is just a few days away....I sure hope all you mother's out there have a wonderful time and get to spend it with your the children who made you a mother!

Here is another card I made with scraps from a Close to My Heart kit I had.

 The sentiment is from Paper Smooches...the punched edge is Martha Stewart.  The crocheted flowers were given to me by my friend, Christine.  I think they might be from Close to My Heart. 
A few pearls finished the card.

Happy Crafting!

Oh, the Things You Can Find!

I was looking through a little file I had the other day and came across some Christmas dies that I had cut out from some sheet a loooong time ago.  Probably had planned to use them but ended up not....they got filed away never to be seen again....until Christmas 2012!  I saw them and thought...well, these are still pretty darned cute and I think I'll use them on a layout.

I have no idea where they came from so can't help you there but they are at least 5 or more years old so probably not available.  Probably not the most trendy scrapbooking stuff on the market now but I liked them then and I still like the folksy little look now.

Here is the two page spread:

And of course I added some Glossy Accents because we cannot leave things the way they are, can we?

And here is a border done with a Martha Stewart punch that I also used a Hero Arts stamp on with some Versamark and embossing powder to give a little more dimension and glittery look.

Trust me...the glittery look is there.
And here's the right side of the layout:

The little cut out pieces were popped up on some dimensionals.  The journaling block was made with a Martha Stewart punch set, too.

And I just thought Mr. Santa was so darned cute.

 And to give you some idea of what they look like side by side:

That's it for today, my friends!

Happy Crafting!

Halloween!

I love Halloween! I think it's a great holiday for young and old alike.  We took the little ones to a Trunk and Treat yesterday where some folks decorated the trunks of their cars or vehicles and gave out candy to the children.  David loved it and Taylor "got" that whole idea quickly and really seemed to enjoy taking her little pumpkin bucket around and filling it up!
I made a few Halloween cards and here is one with a Tim Holtz stamp and Authentique paper.  I love these blueprint stamps he's done.  This set came with four stamps and is sold online at Archivers Annex for $21.99 but I found this set at Overstock.com which has the larger stamps PLUS the fall ones for just $23.99.  And if you go through my favorite rebate place, EBATES you can get a 5% cash back!  If you're not an Ebates member check it out HERE.
OK, so I got all excited about that buy but I already have all those stamps! LOL!
Anyway, here is the card:

 I love that spooky bat.  Looks like something Dr. Frankenstein would be drawing...
I used a Martha Stewart border punch and added a little sparkly Stickles and a few gems and just a tad of inking.  I used a We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper, as well. That's it!  (And Cyndi....I almost got to the point where the Stickles were dry before I touched it!)
This card with a $20 bill inside it brought a huge smile to my son's face.  LOL!

Happy Crafting!  And may those of you along the east coast with Frankenstorm bearing down on you....I hope and pray you stay safe!

Spooky and Scary!

I love Halloween.  I used to make most of my kids' costumes...well, that's probably not true but the costumes I did make them were just wonderful!  I do remember making a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle for my son and a mime clown costume for my daughter and I did make the cutest little devil horns for my son to wear on his first Halloween as we strolled through the neighborhood.  Of course, now my children are adults so I don't get the fun of making their costumes anymore.  But they both still like Halloween, too.
I'm in the process of making a few Halloween cards to send to a few special folks...I bought this set of Tim Holtz creepy and spooky stamps at Archiver's recently...I believe they are exclusive to Archiver's.  I just love the blueprint look to them.
Here is the first card I made with this set (no, I haven't made a second card but I'm hoping to get there!):

 It is actually a shaped card on top of an A2 card sized base.  The background print is Authentique.  I cut the little bats out on my Silhouette from the free shape that was in the store a week ago.  I added a little green Stickles to the eyes to give them a little eerie glow.  The grass was done with the Martha Stewart fringe scissors.  Here you can see how the tombstone opens:

Well, I'm off to a fall festival with the grandkids today. 

Happy Crafting!

More Halloweeny Stuff!

I almost titled this RIP but was worried my followers would think something bad happened! LOL! Nope...all is good!
Here is another mini card that I think is just so darned cute!  I love the punched "fence" and the way it is bowed out and stapled with Tim Holtz's tiny attacher.  The punched bats are a Martha Stewart punch.  The tombstones were hand cut and stamped with Hero Arts stamps.  Very simple and oh so cute!
I love these little pre printed (with the white stitching) mini cards from Doodlebug.  You can buy them individually which is great.

 A closeup of the tombstone....love that spider web stamp. 

That's it for today.  I was a bit under the weather the last couple of days but feel like a new person today!  I'm heading down to my craft room shortly to play!

I'm putting this in the following challenge:

Scrappy Moms Stamps: Terrific Tuesday Challenge: Halloween

Happy Crafting!

Congratulations!

A friend of mine commissioned me to make a card for her college freshman daughter who pledged the Sigma Kappa sorority at Auburn, University.
The sorority "things" (don't know what they are called) are doves, pearls and hearts so I incorporated all of those into this card:

 The dove was cut on my Silhouette Cameo with a design from the Silhouette Store.  Isn't she pretty?  Love the swirly layer which cut so nicely!  I used some Bazzill cardstock as well as some purple cardstock from a huge pack I had been hanging onto following a baby shower for a friend several years ago.  I don't use purples all that much, I guess....because that pack has just been sitting here!
The backgrounds were embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder run through my Big Shot.  The hearts were punched out with a Martha Stewart punch.
I found the Greek font at DAFONT and it is called "Ancient Geek" (not Greek, mind you!) and cut them out with offset to create a nice backing.  The banner was from cut with a Die-Namic die and stamped with a Papertrey Ink stamp.  I added some pearls and a purple pearl for the little doves eye.
Oh, and the border was cut with a Papertrey ink edger die (which I LOVE!).

 I adhered some of the pieces with foam tape to give more dimension.
And I also decorated an envelope....with the young lady's name as well as  few more hearts....and....

 ...Sigma Kappa symbols on the back.

That's it for today!
I entered this in the following challenge:
Use it Tuesday: Challenge #39: Anything Goes! (what have you been hoarding?  I've hoarded that purple paper pack!)

Happy Crafting!!!

Tote-owlly Cute!

Here is another card I made at Archiver's....one of my favorites.  It's a little matchbook card.  A few scored lines and folds made this cute little baby.
I just loved that a Martha Stewart punch was used for the owl feathers.  How smart was that?!

 Below you can see the matchbook type fold:

 The flap was adhered with some velcro.  We punched some circles for eyes and adhered some whopping gems on top.
Simple....yet oh so cute!!!

Hoping to get into my craft room today.  I went downstairs yesterday to do a few things and marveled at how neat it was! LOL!  I forgot I had cleaned it up before I left for my beach vacation.

But first....things to do, places, to go, and errands to run including a trip to the grocery store!

Happy Crafting!

Sympathy Card

Sympathy cards....not the "funnest" to make, perhaps, but it's nice knowing you are making for someone who may receive a bit of comfort from it.
A friend on one of my tennis teams lost her mother a few days ago and I made this card to mail to her.

 I used Basic Grey's Little Black Dress papers.  The border was punched with a Martha Stewart punch (one of my favorites!).  The 3 layer flower is from Recollections and had a little Glimmer Mist Sprayed on it.  The brad if you're interested is from Basic Grey....I know we should give credit or acknowledgement for the products we used in cases someone wants to know or use them too...but seriously...a brad, an eyelet?....where a clear button came from?  What 4 types of adhesive I used?  LOL!  OK, I digress....
Here's a closer up photo of the flower...it has a little gauzy shimmery layer which is so pretty to me....

The sentiment is from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings....a wonderful stamp set that I've used several times.

I entered this in the Basic Grey Challenge 76: Punch It!!!

That's it for today....off to get some errands done and hope to get into my craft room later today!

Happy Crafting!

So Proud of You!

Disclaimer:  This does not have the same meaning as "You must be so proud" which we southerners say and is not necessarily the most sincere thing and is basically used to shut you up.
As in:
Conversant #1: My daughter, who graduated from high school at 12 and went to Harvard and graduated from law school at 16, just married the brilliant brain surgeon/bank vice president and pro golfer and moved into a million dollar mansion on the beach in Tahiti which they now own.
Southern Belle Coversant #2:  You must be so proud.  (Which really means, "shut up, I'm sick of hearing your mouth".)


I'm so mean.  Crafters are generally nice people....but we southerners can have a little streak hidden behind sweetness! Beware of the southerner!  LOL!


Now...onto my card.  "So Proud of You".  Not the same...trust me.


I just placed an order to There She Goes Stamps...placed the order on Saturday (a week ago) and received it on Wednesday!  Wow...fast shipping.  The stamps are just awesome quality...they stamp beautifully!


I used the World's Best set to make this card:

 I used Cosmo Cricket papers "Joy Ride" which is an older line but I still have some scraps from a 6x6 pad...I think this works so well for another hard for me to do masculine card!  
This stamp set also has coordinating dies.  The ribbon was embossed with some black embossing powder...the banner was cut with the die. and I just looped the ends over the Papertrey Ink twine and used my little Tiny Attacher by Tim Holtz to secure the little flags.  A small Fiskars thumb punch was used for the little stars.

The center of the ribbon was punched out with a Martha Stewart punch.

 And below you can see the little pinking shear look which was done with a Papertrey Ink die.

And what am I proud of??? My son found a full time job and started work last Monday!  Yay!


Today I am off to crop with some friends.  I went down to my craftroom last night to pack up for my day with the ladies and ended up getting distracted and made this card instead.  LOL! So now I am unprepared and disorganized!  Definitely not proud of that!

I entered this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge.


Happy Crafting!

"Card" ;)

I went to a crop yesterday and when people would come by and ask me what I was working on  I would reply "Card".  No typo there.....Nope....I didn't work on CARDS...I worked on CARD.  LOL!  I spent hours and hours fiddling through my stuff and shortly after lunch, despite cropping most of the morning, I had one card done!  That's my style, though....fiddle,fiddle with low output!  But I did have fun!!!

By the way, I did actually get a few cards done for Operation Write Home.

 The above butterfly cards were done with a Martha Stewart butterfly punch (punches out 3 little butterflies...too cute!) and were CASED from Vicky at Clips-N-Cuts.

The top cards were done with DCWV papers, Papertrey Ink stamps, dies and ribbon.  

I'm entering these in the following challenges:
Paper Crafting Journey: Challenge - Feeling Krafty? 
The Kraft Journal: Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet: Anything Goes Challenge

OK, back to the crop.  This crop was a benefit for a real American hero, Travis Mills.  

I posted about him earlier in the week but in a nutshell, Travis was serving in Afghanistan and critically injured in April.  He lost both arms and legs.  He is currently in the Maryland area at Walter Reed Army Hospital going through rehab and is doing remarkably well....he has a very positive attitude and I know this will serve him well.  He's actually already up and walking.  Travis has a beautiful wife and baby daughter and they all could use your positive thoughts and prayers.

If you'd like to "meet" Travis you can go HERE to this incredible website.  If you click on updates there is some awesome video of Travis's progress including some of him walking.  Amazing.

During our crop Travis was "skyped" in and was so humble and then so grateful for all the support and assistance he has been given.  He says no thanks are necessary for "doing his job"  but I have always thought it was important to show our gratefulness to the servicemen and their families for the sacrifices they have made for our freedoms.  My father was a 31 year US Army soldier who served during WWII and the Viet Nam conflict.  Yes....I was an Army brat and still proud of it!

I hope you'll check Travis out...his story is very inspiring.

Happy Sunday and happy crafting!

Sweetness

Another NBG layout....New Baby Girl turned 9 months yesterday....I guess I will not be calling her NBG much longer!  How the time flies.  She is as cute as a button, happy, smiling, content...and she's pulling up!  I was looking at my beautiful glass topped coffee table yesterday and it is just loaded with little fingerprints.  I love it and don't even want to wipe them away!  She'll be walking soon...off to school before we know it....ahhhh...how the time passes!

I took these photos of Tayter (my new name for her) exactly one week after her birth.  I love this little blue cornflower looking dress...and thought she looked so cute in it.

This is the left side:

And here is the right:

Or here is how they will look side by side:

Again, I love using enlargements in my layouts especially of my best photos.  Costco is so reasonably priced when it comes to enlargements that I think it is very much worth it.

This 2 page layout took me a while to do...just wasn't coming together.  I tried doing it on black cardstock but it was just too "heavy" so went with trimmed yellow that I adhered to white cardstock.  I used a Martha Stewart corner punch to do the fancy corners.  I really wanted to use one of my new favorite things the Hero Arts Sizzlits which are stamps and dies that coordinate.  I love these sets.... I love dies that coordinate with stamps and the Hero Arts ones are so wonderful because with these you stamp first and then place your cut out die over the top of the stamped image and run it through your die cutter.
This is the set I used:

I colored in the stamped die cuts with Prismacolor pencils and used Gamsol (odorless mineral spirits) to blend a bit.  I used a little Stickles for the bees wings and some Glossy Accents for the flowers and bug's bodies.  I love the way they turned out!

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the "Sweetness" title with Black Jack which is a TTF I downloaded a long time ago from DAFONT.  I have always loved that font and it cut perfectly with the Silhouette.  I was able to weld the letters together AND I was so proud because I figured out all by my little self HOW TO MAKE A SHADOW!  It was so very fast and easy and I was so excited and just had to share with you my AHA moment! I have also been using the tip to flip my designs and place my textured paper upside down on my mat.  I think the Silhouette cuts well without doing that but I just figured I'd do it and I've gotten great cuts each time.

Here are a couple of closeups:

Isn't that ladybug the "CUTESIEST"?

It's going to be a rainy day here in Georgia today...a great day to stay inside and complete some layouts!

But first I need to run to Michael's.  Sunshine Honeybee alerted me that there is a coupon for 50% off one scrapbooking adhesive.  It's just like anything scrapbooking related...you cannot have too much adhesive!

Here is the Michael's coupon but run(!)...it's only good through today:

Happy Crafting!