FWF...A first for me :)

This is my first time participating in the Friends with Flair blog hop. All the details and blogs can be found on the Unity blog.

My first card is from the May '09 Kit of the month. It's for the monthly Unity challenge. It's my second entry.

These two cards are for the Ippity monthly challenge. The first card is the week 4 challenge. It is to make a card with no sentiment. The second card is a sketch challenge. The stamps for both cards came from the Where You Should Be Ippity set.

Hopefully I can make that ever elusive Time to play along with FWF again! Go check out the other blogs & leave comments. There is a prize to be won on one of the blogs.

Unity & Ippity Challenges

Unity & Ippity have recently changed the way they do their challenges. Unity now has a monthly themed challenge. This month, April 15th to May 14th, is to use a bird stamp. You can check it out at the Unity blog. There's an awesome prize to be had...100 random stamps and FREE KIT of your choice valued at $45 or under! The first card is for the challenge. I used the April Kit of the Month.

For this next card I used the March (leopard print background & butterfly) kit of the month and the January (Happy Birthday) kit. This one isn't for any challenge, I just love the stamps :)

The next 2 cards were for last month's Ippity challenge. Each week there is a new challenge posted. The first week is a sketch, next is color, then inspiration, and last is anything (a twist). You can participate in any or all the challenges. There's an awesome prize for one lucky person. I haven't started this month's challenge yet. Hopefully today I'll get a couple cards done for it.

Ippity kit, I think, is the same name as the stamp I used.

Ippity kit: You Deserve
I can't seem to get the pages to link but they can be found here: http://www.unityopportunity-blog.blogspot.com/ The challenge info, kits, and a list of Ippity chicks are all there.

New things :)

I was at Michael's recently and found a few things on clearance that I've been wanting for a while now. First up is the Making Memories Distressing kit. It has ink pads, stains, paints, files, sponge brushes, and an edge distressing tool. The sponge brushes are unusual in this kit. Instead of having a wooden handle there is a clip (that round green thing in the pic) that holds the sponge tips. The box is cardboard that can be altered. This kit was originally $29.99 on sale for $12.99.

Next up is the Making Memories Tool kit 2. I have the original tool kit but this one has more to it. Instead of a separate hole punch & setter there is one tool with interchangeable tips. There are scissors, a blade, dual tipped embosser/piercer, and mini mat that are not in the original kit. The only thing that I'm not real impressed with are the scissors. They're a little weak. Other than that I'm happy with this kit. The price on this kit is the same as the distressing kit. There is a pink kit too but it wasn't on sale. That's ok by me...green is my favorite color :)

This last item is the reason I went to Michael's. It's the Dymo Caption Maker. I have been wanting this since I saw Tim Holtz use it on one of his Christmas tags. It has 3 interchangeable discs. There is an upper case, lower case, and lower case script. It uses the same labels as the original embosser. It comes with a little drawstring bag for storage but the embosser doesn't fit inside...only the discs. This was only $9.99 instead of the $24.99 online price.

I was really surprised to find these things. Usually the only scrapbooking clearance I see are empty pegs.

Elmers & X-acto

I have been doing BzzAgent for a couple years now & I finally got a crafting campaign! I was sent this assortment from them for review so here it is.
From X-acto I got a corner rounder and 2 pair of scissors. I like all three of them. The corner rounder cuts great and is so easy to use. The scissors are scalloped and zig-zag. It's been a while since I've used deco scissors. I like these ones better than the shorter ones I have. I actually used them on a couple cards :)
From Elmer's there was a tape runner, glue stick. glue spots, and a glue pen. The tape runner in the package was the worst. It didn't run, only made an occasional step. I still used it all but not in the way it was intended. I had to take out the spool and use it like a roll of tape. I read comments from other BzzAgents about the tape runner. Most loved it. There were only a couple of people that had trouble with getting it to work right. I've used the glue stick and glue pens from Elmer's before and I like them both. The glue pen is double ended with rubber tips, one wide & the other narrow. I like the rubber tips because it gives me the ability to spread the glue as I use it. The glue spots worked out well. The only thing I don't like is the way they're packages. I'm used to having spots on a roll instead of a sheet. But I still like them.

American Crafts...MINIs

SUPPLIES:
miniMARKS-accents book 3, spring & summer book 2
matchtone scrapbook stickers
matchtone patterned cardstock.

I came across some American Crafts paper, stickers, and miniMARKS. I thought they would make some cute mini cards and made these 2 sets. I'll definitely be making more of them because they're fun, quick, & easy.

I'm on the unity blog!!

I can't believe I'm on the Unity blog today! Maria asked for challenge ideas and using an ATC on a card was my suggestion. These are the other two cards I made for the challenge. On the red and black card I used the Unity tree. I only stamped the top of the tree...right side up then upside down. On the second one I used the Love Bug set.
Lissa made a card using this idea and her card is in the previous post. She drew her ATC and added it to a card. Only things is...she didn't use Unity. I still think she did a great job. I wonder if I can get her to create some drawings for me to use as digi stamps?

Etsy entry

The last entries for the Etsy Inspired 100th Challenge!

Hey! So it's Jamie's daughter here, and I used the same inspiration as my mom did in her last entry. The "Be Free" one. To be honest, it was hard picking just one, so I think I kind of incorporated all of them, mainly because I think all the pendents are just gorgeous. But the one that struck out to me the most was the Be Free one. Now I like to draw, so my 'freedom' so to speak, mainly comes from my art. And so, I couldn't just place an image on my entry without it meaning something. So yes, I did draw the girl on the right of the card. That is not something I printed out! lol, I hope you enjoy!



Jamie here. My inspiration from Cathy Walters Etsy shop. Love the pop of red :) She does that on several of her pendants.

ATC using Unity stamp and a Prima flower. The stamp I used was the tree one. I just stamped the branches twice.
It was fun doing this challenge.

Another entry

I made this ATC for the Etsy Inspired 100th Challenge.

The inspiration from Cathy Walters' Etsy shop

I used Unity & Ippity stamps to make this ATC.

I'm hoping to do at least one more. My daughter even made a card to enter that I'll post here on the blog.

It's been a while.....

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted last. I want to start doing challenges so maybe I'll get better at posting.


I made this ATC for the Etsy Inspired Challenge. We had to pick inspiration from Cathy Walters' etsy shop. I chose the butterfly pendant as my inspiration. I've been thinking of my mom lately. It will be 7 years in Sept. since she passed away. I used the butterfly because it reminds me of her. After she passed, I asked her to send me a butterfly and there was a beautiful butterfly on my porch the next morning.


This is an altered One bath and Body box. I used an Ippity stamp and my Cricut to make it. I added a little black Stickles around the top to give it a little sparkle. She really liked it :)

Unity & Ippity Hip Hop

Just a quick post today. There's a blkog hop going on today at Unity & Ippity.
If you are need of Ippity, check out Rona's blog http://scraprona.blogspot.com/. She has a sale going on right now with a contest too! http://scraprona.blogspot.com/2010/03/flatterday-saturday.html. I hear you'll have a great chance at winning ;)
Almost forgot...there's a chat going on at SCS in the Unity forum with prizes!

Playing with Word

I really love Just Rite Stampers but they're not in the budget & I don't have the room to store them. So I decided to try and recreate the look with Word. I looked around the net for some new fonts and dingbats. I found all sorts of dingbats...flowers, teddy bears, guitars, music notes, flourishes. I made these and then I printed them on cardstock. I used a circle punch or my coluzzle to cut them out. Then I made shadow flowers on my Cricut to back them. I colored them with copics and zigs. These were fun and easy. All I need to do is add them to a card. If you want to know how they're done just leave a comment.

Using my stickers..

The PaperCrafts blog has a post about using letter stickers...a whole sheet of them. It inspired me to use up some of those stickers I've had forever. You know the ones....bought because they were cute, on sale, or some other reason. They sat in your stash...forgotten. Well I pulled out a stack of Me & My Big Ideas stickers and went to work. They're not the greatest but I cleared out at least a dozen sheets and started using some letter stickers I've been "saving". Most of them are border stickers that I cut to make backgrounds on the cards. I still have a few cards that need sentiments added.

Operation Write Home also has a new challenge posted on the Homefront blog. It's a 50/50 challenge and the details are here...http://www.owhhomefrontblog.org/2010/02/half-and-half-challenge-due-march-15.html
Hope your having a good day & USE THOSE STICKERS :)

Almost forgot...Paper Hugs has a challenge with candy http://paperhugs.typepad.com/paper_hugs/2010/02/some-fun.html using PaperCrafts as inspiration...

Happy Valentine's Day

I hope everyone is loving their Valentines today. I just finished up a few projects from the Cosmo Cricket kit....all 'LOVE' related.

The mini book was fun to make. I love how it turned out. Just need to add pictures.

This accordion book uses the letters from the banner. I decided to make it a tribute to those that are no longer with us. I'll be adding more pictures to the tags as I find them.
I finally have a Valentine's Day decoration!

cards

Outside there is 20" of snow. Today they are forecasting about 6"-10" more. No newspaper, no mail, no school for the kids....only SNOW! Since I am snowed in I decided to make some cards. They were all made using scraps from my never ending pile. I even started figuring out how to use my Cricut!
The front card is DCWV paper and a See-D's birthday stamp. The card on the left is Provo Crafts paper, embossed happy birthday stamp, & a Prima flower. The card on the left has swirl vellum and a flower from Prima.
I can't remember who made the papers. The rose was downloaded from Microsoft (I think) and colored with Copics. The Hi card is Provo Craft(blue) and HOTP(blue/purple). I used Making Memories Clears flowers and Simply Stated rub-ons.
These were made using the Cricut. The pink one has a rub-on from Royal& Langnickel layered on a scalloped circle. The birthday card is Provo Craft paper and a flower technique I saw on a lot of blogs. It's 3 cuts of the same flower that are layered then scrunched around the brad. Once they are flattened back out this is how it looks. The flower layers can be the the same size or different and they can be punched or torn.
I've been wanting to try this weaving technique for a long time & finally decided to do it. The paper is probably DCWV edged with brown ink and the flower is Prima. The second card is another take on the petal card above. These flowers are so easy to make! In case you're wondering...I tend to wait until I need the card before adding the sentiment because I might use it for a birthday, thank you, hello.....
I think I'm going to make some things from the Cosmo Cricket kit today.
Thanks for looking! :)

One sheet...

I found a sheet of Making Memories snowflake flocked vellum from the Fa La La collection in my stash. I had been "saving" it. I put it to good use re-doing a Christmas layout, making 2 cards, and an ATC. There's still some left over that I'll use for a recipe page for snowball cookies (Russian Teacakes). In addition to the paper I used Thickers velvet letters, Adornments fibers, and a Making Memories snowflake with crystal brad.

I know I said I wasn't going to buy any mre paper till I used up more of my stash but....I couldn't resist. Tuesday Morning had the 9,000 piece kit that was on QVC for $48+ for only $14.99! Look at all this! There's albums, paper, frames, a LOVE banner, magnet sheet, brads, ribbon, adhesive squares, sticker & chipboard alphas, and more....all sorts of goodies. At $14.99 I couldn't even get the chipboard stuff. Wish me luck using it all :) *photo from QVC

There's a snow storm that started today and will last through tomorrow. Since I don't like the snow, especially driving in it, I'll be spending the weekend scrapping!

Making Memories

I came across my Making Memories paints and foam stamps the other day along with a box of Avery cards that were for use with a printer. After cleaning and some organizing yesterday I decided to play today. The paints had thickened up but a little water mixed in made them good as new.
I made these gift cards with matching envelopes.
Two of the cards were made with the stamps and one just with the paints. The painted one was my attempt at Donna Dewberry's technique.
Speaking of Making Memories, Crop Chocolate has their Distressing kit. I don't have it but it looks very useful.

I'm Back :)

I can't believe it's been over 2 months since my last post. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's always takes up time for me. My computer was being uncooperative & forced me to reinstall windows. Can't afford a new computer yet. Add to that a January Bridal shower, it's been busy. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season!

Here are pics of a few of my recent projects.
This was a gift for my daughter's boyfriend. It's done with 2 strands so it worked up quickly and it's WARM. He really liked it.

Last summer I bought a few boxes from Walnut Hollow's clearance sale. Two of the boxes were painted and decoupaged for Elissa's 2 friends. I forgot to take a picture of them. Anyway, I still had one left. When shopping after Christmas at Michael's I wound up buying a pack of 8 note cards for a quarter. I added some cardstock & stickers from my stash to 3 of them and used the other 5 for the last box. After painting it black I used the cards to hide the straw looking insets. Elissa now wants to keep it.

Now that things are settling down, I am trying very hard to work on scrapping. I started my son's school pictures. I just have the background & pics done on most of them right now. Still have to add the accents/embellies. I'll post them when I get more done. My other scrapping projects are to catch up on these:
6x6 favorite pics-one for each kid
8.5x11 school pics-one for each kid
12x12 school pics of the kids
8x8 all about me
8x8 Christmas
There's more that I want to do, including cards, but these are first. Wish me luck & I promise to post more.

Cards for OWH

These cards were made from my scrap stash. The stamp on the purple/blue card is from Unity and you can see it better here . There's also a sale on at Unity so you might want to check it out.








These mini papers are from Elle's Studio as part of their Christmas line. They're cut just the right size for cards! I decided to use them for Miss You and Happy Birthday instead of Christmas.







I was digging through a folder of patterned papers and came across some Valentine Looney Tunes papers and punch outs. I can't even remember when I bought them. I didn't think I had anything for Valentine's Day. It's amazing what I find when I start looking through my stash.




In case you haven't guessed, I'm still in use-it-up mode. I have a lot of 8.5x11 paper that I bought when I first started scrapbooking. I know I'll never use it for my books but it's great for making cards. One of these days I'll get to buy some new papers :)

The book is done

I've been working on my nephew's book trying to get it finished by the anniversary of his death. I have it done as much as I can. My sister needs to do the journaling and I'll probably add a little more to it after she's done. It's hard to believe that it's been a year....