Artwork..surprised aintcha?

I made this little goodie for my new Sup's step-mother for Mother's Day…she's a very elderly, traditional Asian woman who likes things simple but appreciates hand-made goodness.

The papers used are retired from Close To My Heart, but you can still purchase the box  and the stamp set on my website along with other fabulous treasures.
A fun technique for the dress form and antique sewing machine: I embossed with black powder after inking with VersaMark onto overlays then cut out carefully and adhered with our Liquid Glass.

Here's another project for another Team's Sup that I make quite a few things for;

Using the My Creations Mini Banner (love this for quick gifts so I try to keep a couple of sets on hand)

Again the papers are retired, but you can utilize any of our beautiful papers.

Our exclusive AP Cricut Cartridge cuts the paper perfectly to fit over the banner pieces and the package gives you some mini-mini Chipboard banners to get you started!

Another gift for a co-worker who retired after 21 YEARS as a phone agent. Can you imagine? We added some photos of her over the last few years.
(people didn't take pictures and keep them before I came on board…can you believe that either?)
Using our newest QuickPic Album, it was perfect for the few pages we needed. I did add one FlipFlap in the new 6 x 6 size for some nice notes people emailed in.

I love using Liquid Glass to highlight our cut out letters using the AP Cartridge and threw in some Bling because she was such a Blingy type gal...


I have created a lot of art lately honest! I just forget to share here more than Facebook!
More coming…promise.

Use up those old products and welcome the new!

Raise your hand if you have a lot of retired products from your favorite stamp/scrapbook company! *waving both hands here*
Raise your hand if they are out of sight, out of mind! *waving both hands and a foot here*
Raise your hand if you need a last minute birthday card and run to the nearest Target.
*waving both hands and feet in shame here*

Well, NO MORE ah say, ah say! (sorry, the rooster on the porch is starting to influence me)
I have 3 packages of these cute retired CTMH letters/numbers, a tons of Stamp Sets and I swear I will start using them…RIGHT NOW!

Aspire Set

Not that it took me all day to make this card, but I admit it…I did have a nap between starting and finishing. While on vacation from work, all my REAL plans fell through, but I've been resting my mind, and body…which I desperately needed anyways.
So heading for the Studio:

I've been a "flower" kick lately…see previous post. This cute little pom-pom style flower is simply made with a 1"scalloped punch and about 11 punches. Fold them around a wooden BBQ skewer and glue down to a base punch. Try it for a larger size using our new 2" scalloped punch!
I found the idea on another blog and am trying to find it to reference here…may need to add that later though.

I used Aspire stamp set C1455 and the newest Sweetheart Level 2 Paper Kit and Wings
which you can get for yourself by clicking here on my website.

A Whole Lotta Rollin' Goin' On!

I learned how to roll paper roses, and am now ready to harvest, and sell in bouquets.
(not really, but I do have enough, really.)


For a full tutorial on how to and to see the incredible original idea, visit
Tracey Mason's Blog

Her inspiration holds no bounds, people! And check out her post showing her Studio!
(it's what mine looks like in my dreams)


But for now and without a drum-roll, here's my lowly version

I used the same techniques as Tracey (why reinvent the wheel?) however being the first time
(no comments from the peanut gallery) I had ever attempted the flowers, they are a tad on the large size. This took me almost a month! I'm getting better though…the 2nd one only took a day to roll the roses and it's ready for embellies. More on that one later.

A little bit Shabby, a little bit UN-original! **Edited***

One of my very talented Team Members Shelley, designed this on no less than a 3 x 6 scrap paper!
My lowly interpretation using our newest kit Caboodle!

 

 

 

duh: here's the basic instructions!
The pattern is basically:
4 sheets 12 x 12 cardstock
Score on each end at 6"
The bottom left piece is folded up at a diagnal to the top left to form the pocket.
The bottom right is folded at a mountain fold to bend closed.
Then you close it shut and glue each back to each other inward by an inch or so.
(this is so the flexibility of the open book can sort of allow the cover to move inward.)


The cover was like 6.5'ish chipboard covered.
Glue your ribbon on the inside cover and back cover before you adhere it to the closed pages.

Another Sneak Peak...

Slow but sure, people!

Sneak Peak 2

Sneak Peak...

Sneak peak of something special to come...
This day was spent doing fun stuff...never getting out of my yoga pants and shirt...watching Twilight for the umphteen time, along with some other fav movies and in between laundry and cleaning sporatically, I worked on this little goodie.

BaseBall Card Albums

I realized that these were post-blog days, so I thought I would share...
Using our Game On papers and of course the cricut cartridge, and of course the team members pictures.

Guest Artist

A long time friend Ms. Betsy Gully shared this DARLING altered rolodex on another board I stalk visit.
Idn't it just the cutest thing?!

Yes, I'm baking...AGAIN!

A little change to the cast of characters this time...
instead of dample crimpled paper for the whipped cream toppings, I used white grosgrain ribbon just like on the first layer at the base of the top.

My only problem is what type of gift cards to slip in the clip...Michael's, Joann's or iTunes!

Mini Album Thirty & Flirty

Here's a giftie to the birthday girl from the previous layout.
I used the cute coveralls you can buy for use with the Bind-It-All and our Daydream Paper Pack, Rub-Ons and all sorts of goodies laying around...

Drats! I ran out of black rub-ons...so had to use white that says;
Zero-2-3rdT in a blink












thanks for stoppin' by!

SCORE!

Soccer Circle Albums....done...it was definitely a GOAL of mine to SCORE bigtime!
Cute cake! It has the Team Photo on it!
I think so!
Look at that impish grin...ya'd never know this little firecracker can go a mile a minute!
Love ya Cam...you GOAL girl!


Now to finish the another project in the works...woof

National Card Making Weekend!

Project DONE!

Ok, so I didn't make cards (maybe tonite, who knows?) HOWEVER I did have a major project to get done, and am glad to report that it is...DONE!

You may remember last year I made these white paper bag albums for my friend Tracey's daughter and her soccer team buddies...then I made those cute baseball trading card type albums for her son's teammates...

Well, back to soccer time!
I wanted something with a "round theme" like a soccer ball (get it?) and what else would be perfect than CTMH's Circle Albums?!

So here is the "in the box album" before and the finished one back in the box waiting for the girls pictures (come on, Tracey, get that camera/computer issue figured out, k?)

The papers used were blush, black and daisy white, ink used was mostly black Stazon.
Alpha set on the cover is the new Friendship (small).
I had to use some contraband like soccer ball brads, ribbon and soccer related papers.

The round border is the cover with the chipboard element page punched out. The girls' picture will be peeking through, and of course they are all personalized.



On the blank white pages will be the individual photos of each girl...11 of them!
The backsides are the decorated pages.
This one has the decorator flower element painted black. It comes with the other chipboard pieces included with the circle album.

A peek of all 11...





Once I get a picture of Camryn (and with her mom's ok) I'll post hers all finished.

Ode da Perfect Circle...

Ya know how I just L@@VE all the advantages of clear acrylix stamps from Close To My Heart?
Perfect placement every time!
Storage issues solved!
Lasts a life time (although whose I'm not quite sure)!
Cost effective to be sure!

Well, sometimes....I wish for a great wood mount stamp and my good ol PAST
(place a stamp tool)


Here lies my dilemma...
Placing this perfect circle stamp


On this clear block



to be exactly stamped on the outer edge of this circle page from our Circle Albums.




Easy enough you say?
HA!
See I can't draw, therefore I leave it to others to design all my favorite images and styles.
If I could draw (even little repeat squares) I'd still have my hair right now.
So here's my first attempt



ok, it wasn't TOO bad...but still not quite a full circle.
Here's my second attempt




hmmmmm not much better, eh?
Here we go again...number 3. 3rd time is suppose to be the charmer, right?
whattaya think?

and the 4th time???
Never mind because at that point I flicked the stupid fabulous acrylix stamp and it stuck to the window...in the shape of a perfect circle I might add. And in spite of my inclination to just run the block over there and press it on there, I had to walk away for a brief moment.

Ok, this is reDICKulous! I am a professional after all...note how I did NOT say PERFECTIONIST!

K, SOOOOOO...here's what I did...

Lay the stamp set rubber er...acrylix down on it's foam sheet.

it's not really upside down in the photo, k? Just go with the flow here.....


Lay that lovely Acrylix block on TOP


ha! get where I'm goin here?

Now...simple take the stamp and lay on the block while using it's master pattern from the set!
and VIOLA!

Now ink and stamp....


ode da PERFECT circle!
Now, go order the block buddies from me on my website...
item # Z1289