Friday, February 26, 2010

Marching On!

Would you believe I am sick with a head cold AGAIN! Ugh! I was just sick less than a month ago! How is this even possible? It must be exposure to all those germs from working in retail. That's the only thing I can think of. And yes, I did get a flu shot. I'm suppose to do a 4 hour demo on the Cricuit Machine tomorrow. I don't know how I'm going to do it, not just because I'm sick, but because I really don't know it that well. I was given two hours of paid time to learn the machine. Well, it took me an hour just to watch the DVD and set it up! LOL! So after my two hours were over I said 'The heck with it' and just bought the machine so I could play with it more at home. I always planned on getting one anyway, I was just waiting till my daughter's wedding was over and I could build my new craft room. The Cricuit takes up a lot of counter top space that I just don't have in my existing craft room. Anyway, I feel more comfortable with it, now that I've played with it a bit more, but I'd rather have weeks, or months of experience with it before I have to demo it! I figure if any customer asks me a question I can't answer, I'll just have to be honest with them and tell them I only had a few days to play with it myself. But, I am amazed with this machine. Now that I have one, I wish I would have bought one years ago. When I think of all the money I spent on alphabet dies and punches, I could have bought 6 Cricut machines by now. My favorite thing about the machine is how the size of what you want cut is never limited. Before, I never seemed to have the right size tag die or letter for my project, now, I can make it any size I want anytime! I love it!

Today, I have a scrap book page to show you that I made with my Cricuit Machine. I used last week's sketch on SCS. I use to have to take a plate and draw a circle around it to make large circles. Not anymore! Just hit the circle icon, dial up the size, and look....a giant circle. No plates or scissors needed. The letters were also made with the Cricuit. What's especially wonderful about all the Alphabet Fonts is that there are so many variations of fonts within one font cartridge! For example, the word 'Marching' is in the original font. I just made the capitol "M" an inch bigger than the rest of the letters. Then the word 'ON!" was made even bigger, plus I 'italicized' it to give it a different look and highlight it! The combinations of letters styles you can make with one font cartridge is truly amazing. The stars were also made with the same cartridge, there are about 4 different star styles you can make. Here I used the Italicized Star, but I made small stars for the center and two larger stars for the corner. Here is a close-up of the pictures. My son is marching with his high school band.
The paper is from a new DCWV Stack for men. I think its called 'A Guy Stack' or 'A Guy Thing'. Anyway, its absolutely fabulous! I love the masculine papers in it, that are normally so hard to find.
Wish me luck tomorrow! It will be my very first demo I've done! I'm kinda nervous, and being sick doesn't help! Have a great day! Amy

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Wink Wink Ink

Today I am excited to announce that I have been chosen to be a designer for a fabulous new digital stamp company called 'Wink Wink Ink'. Although I've been a designer for two Challenge Blogs, this is my very first time as a designer for a company. I am so looking forward to this new adventure.

'Wink Wink Ink' has such a great assortment of images to choose from. There are lots of wonderful cat and dog images, baby images, some great new baby animal/farm images for spring, and many other various images. I am looking forward to making cards and projects with these adorable images that are so fun to color. What's also great about 'Wink Wink Ink' images, is that if you don't like to color, they are also available pre-colored for you. Doesn't that sound wonderful for the paper-crafter short on time also?

Here is my very first 'Wink Wink Ink' card I made. This image is actually FREE on the 'Wink Wink Ink' Blog. Be sure to run and get it before its gone, its a beauty! I printed the image twice so I could pop up the envelope on dimensionals. I colored the image myself with Copic Markers. The designer paper is from DCWV 'The Pet Stack' Here is a close-up so you can see the coloring and the dimension.

Be sure to check out the 'Wink Wink Ink' store and see all the other wonderful images available.
Have a great day! Amy

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'A Card for Mum'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a card for your 'mum'. Our sponsor this week is the Fabulous Dustin Pike and he is giving away three digital images to one lucky randomly chosen winner!

To make my card, I used one of Dustin's freebies on his blog. I just love this sweet elephant! I don't have a 'mum' so I made a card that was appropriate to give to a mother, but I generalized it so I could give it to anyone. The inside of the card reads 'How much I love You', it is computer generated. The designer paper and ribbon are from JoAnn's. I embossed the center panel with the Cuttlebug Hearts Embossing Folder. The button is from Making Memories. I put the main image panel up on dimensionals. To get the pink highlight around the sentiment, I first colored the embossed section with a marker, then I went over that with a blender pen to remove some of the ink. Here is a close up of the image. There are Stickles on the heart and the image is colored with Copic Markers.
If you'd like to play along with our challenge this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge in my right side bar and it will take you directly to the challenge site with further instructions.
Have a great day! Amy

Saturday, February 20, 2010

Youth Symphony

I'm still working on my son's high school scrap book, hoping I'll have it done before he graduates in May. Today's page is a perfect example of how to scrap some of those large eight by ten group photos you might have lying around and don't know what to do with. When I saw this sketch on SCS, I was ecstatic, because I knew exactly what to do with it! My son plays percussion in the local youth symphony, and the large background photo is their annual group photo. It was originally an 8 x 10 with some writing on the bottom. I cut the writing portion off and moved it to the top left upper and bottom corners. The other two pictures are of Jordan with his drum set. Here is a close-up of Jordan in the group photo. He is in the second row, first boy on the right.
Here's a close-up of one of the smaller pictures. I stamped the music notes on the strip of card stock that runs across the page.



And here is a close up of the other smaller picture. I framed this one with a different color to really make it pop.

I hope I have inspired you to scrap those big 8 x 10's you have! Have a great day! Amy


Friday, February 19, 2010

Faith

Good Morning! Today I have a piece of Altered Art to show you. I found 5 of these wooden words at my local store that all say a different word like 'Faith', 'Angel', 'Country', etc.. I thought they would be a fun thing to play with and I could sell them at my consignment store. The one I'm showing you today is 'Faith'. I simply painted it a bright Kelly Green, and added some dots with a white gel pen. Then I added some designer paper to the base and some Nestabilities 'Flying Beauties' and ribbon for embellishment. Easy Peasy.
I wish I had some close-ups to show you of the butterflies, but I forgot to take pictures of them before I carted this off to the store. I used Vellum to create a second layer to the big butterfly. All the butterflies are embossed and have pearl accents on them. I also added some chalk to highlight them.
Have a great day! I have the day off today, so I KNOW I will! Amy

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Sharing in your Sorrow

A distant relative of mine recently lost her mother so I made this card for her. The stamp set is Stampin Up! 'Thoughts and Prayers'. I orginally started to case this card from the SU! Catty, but somehow it took a turn and became its own original creation. That tends to happen to me a lot. I needed the card quickly, (as is the case with most Sympathy Cards, I tend not to have any on hand and have to make them at the last minute), so I decided to just 'case' one. But, by the time I start messing around with it, and use my own papers/embellies, it becomes an original all on its own. LOL! The paper is by K & Company, all the ribbon, lace, and fabric flowers are from JoAnn's. The colors are Pale Plum and Very Vanilla.

Have a great day! Amy

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Stationary

Good Morning! I know its 11:00 a.m., but when you work retail, that's morning for me! LOL! I was suppose to have the day off yesterday, which I was greatly looking forward too so I could work on my living room drapes which are STILL NOT FINISHED! UGH! Then I got called in to work because one employee's child was sick, another employee had a 'family emergency', and yet another 'forgot she had to work today.' UGH! Sometimes I think there is way too much drama going on at my work place. I don't get it. When I'm scheduled to work, I show up, sick or not. I guess I'm in the minority. I work today too. But only a short 4 hour shift, so I have a few hours to 'play' at home before I have to leave.

Today I want to show you some stationary I made to sell at my local consignment store. I've made some before, and I don't know why, but for some reason it sells. The store manager actually requested that I make more. Its so quick and easy to make, I don't know why anyone would buy it, especially when you can pick up much nicer stationary at Walmart for $1.00. But hey, if someone wants to pay me to make it, I'll do it. LOL!

Here's the first set. I bought the plastic containers on Ebay probably 2 years ago. I use these all the time. Mostly to put card sets in to sell. I hardly paid a thing for them, and still haven't used them all up. To make the box, I simply covered 3/4 of the clear container with designer paper, and added ribbon, primas, and a tag for a final touch. The stamp set is retired Stampin Up! 'Delight in Life'.
For the papers, I used a high quality copy paper, the kind you would use for a job resume. I cut the paper in half, then I simply stamped the images on. I do not color the images for two reasons: number 1 being that it is too time consuming to color 50 pages of flowers, and number 2 being that the coloring would probably show through the backside since the paper is too thin. I suppose one could try colored pencils, but I prefer to color with Copic Markers. The owner of the stationary could probably just color the images themselves too if they want.

Here is my second set of stationary. It uses a retired Stampin Up! music stamp set.
And here is a picture of the what the actual stationary looks like.



Have a great day! Amy


Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Girly Cards'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is very simple: make a girly card using at least one digital image! I think that is what most of us tend to make anyway, so this should be an easy challenge for everyone. Our sponsor this week is Digi Sparkle and they are giving away a gift certificate to their store for not one, but TWO lucky randomly chosen winners. Aren't they generous?

To make my card, I used the Digi Sparkle image from 'The Ballerinas' set. There are two different ballerinas in this set, each in two different poses. So if you have a little 'ballerina' in your life, this might be the perfect set for you!

I used a lot of pink, flowers, and 'bling' on my card to make it girly. The designer paper is K & Company. The sentiment is from retired Stampin Up! The sketch is from Our Creative Corner.
I put two layers of the skirt up on dimensionals, and added a 'poof' of Stickles to the flower on her shirt and earrings.
If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions.
Have a great day! Amy

Monday, February 15, 2010

A Couple of Old Sketch Challenges

Today I have a couple of old SCS Sketch Challenge Cards to show you. The first one uses the SC266 sketch. The hardest part about this sketch, was finding the right stamp set to use. I chose the retired Stampin Up! set 'Ahoy Matey' which I never even used before until now. I even had to cut and mount the rubber! I bought this set when it retired because I thought it was so adorable. I guess I never used it because my boy isn't a boy anymore. But I needed a card for a little boy at church, so it worked out perfectly. The paper is DCWV 'All About Boys' Stack. It matches the image perfectly doesn't it? My second card was made for SC264. The image was a gift from an on-line friend, so I'm not sure where it came from. I think it might be Penny Black. The paper is DCWV 'The Pet Stack'.


So did everyone have a wonderful Valentines Day? I had to work, but my husband surprised me with flowers and candy in the morning and we were able to have lunch together before I had to leave for work. My son was with us though because we stopped for lunch after church. He thought it was silly to go out with us and laughed and said 'This isn't very romantic for the two of you'. I just replied, 'Well, now I can go to work and tell everyone that TWO handsome men took me out for Valentine's Day." It was actually really nice working on Valentines Day because all day I watched 'couples' come in to the store and everyone seemed happy, in-love, and in a very good mood. I think the men must have taken the ladies out for a lunch or supper and then shopping.
Have a great day! Amy

Saturday, February 13, 2010

Stamps Collectors Book

I know the last thing I need right now is another hobby, but when I was in Italy we stopped at one of their post offices, and I thought 'How cool it would be to buy an Italian Stamp as a souvenir'. Then when I was at my own local post office in Wisconsin, I saw this new line of postage stamps called 'Legends of Hollywood'. Each sheet of stamps comes with a story of the famous actor or actress. I thought they were so cool, I bought a sheet. When I brought it home, I didn't have the heart to use the stamp on an envelope and 'send it away' so I decided to 'collect them'. But now, I needed a book to display them in. I looked at the Post Office, no such luck, then I looked at Walmart, nothing. So, what do I now? I decided stamp collecting must be a out-dated hobby and I probably needed to make my own book. So out comes my old, trusty 'Bind-it-All' and I made this: Its 8 1/2 by 11 inches. I used card board for the front and back covers. I covered the card board with designer paper and ribbon and then I randomly put some stamp images all over the front. The title is stamped using a retired Stampin Up! Alphabet set 'Well-Worn Alphabet'. For the inside pages, I just used card stock. I slipped each piece of card stock inside a page protector. Then when I made punched holes through both the card stock and the page protector.

Now, the next picture simply shows the sheet of stamps I bought at my local Post Office. The actor is Gary Cooper. Wasn't he a hunk? Mmmn. Anyhow, for now, I just slid the stamp in the page protector. But, as I start to collect stamps, I will probably make a 'scrap book page' of them...something much more decorative and artsy than this. But, since these are the only stamps I have for now, it will have to look like this:
As my collection increases, I'll be sure to show you more pages. In the meantime, Have a Great Day! Amy

Friday, February 12, 2010

Yum!

I made this card awhile back for a challenge on Paper Craft Planet. The challenge was to make a card using the colors with red and brown and a Phindy Digital Image. Well, the only Phindy image I had, was this one, and I had the hardest time making this card because I didn't feel those colors went with the image. I see more 'pink' colors with this image. But, I did it anyway. The papers are DCWV 'The Green Stack'. I printed the image twice, and cut out the cake and popped it up on dimensionals. The strawberries are covered with Crystal Effects. Here is a close up of the cake and the shiny strawberries.
Well, I technically have the day off today, but I still have to drive the hour to work to 'sew'. I have to make my project for the class I'm teaching and the work has to be done at the store. I do get paid for it though! So that's fun...getting paid to sew. My friend Bonnie will be joining me too cause she has to make a project for her class that she is teaching. So that should be fun...sewing with a friend. Tomorrow is our first 'open house' where students can meet the teachers and see the projects they will be making. I hope someone even signs up for my class!
Have a great day! Amy

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Rock On!

I said a few posts ago that with both my daughter's wedding in June, and my son's high school graduation in May, that I may not have time to finish my son's high school scrap book in time for his graduation. A few of you made me feel guilty about that, and said that I really must make it a priority. I agree. So I decided I would make a minimum of at least one page per week, and hopefully, it will be done for his graduation party.

My son is 18 and is a percussionist. Music is his dream, and he hopes to make a career out of it someday. Since music occupies 75% of his life, most of the scrap book pages I will show you, will probably involve music. Here is a page I made showing his love for Rock Music. I used my all time favorite designer paper for teen boys and young men called 'Urban Youth'. I don't know if they even sell it anymore. I bought it about a year ago, and its such a thick, thick stack, that even though I use it all the time, I have barely put a dent in it. It just has such cool graphics that boys love. The pictures are of Jordan in front of his drum set, showing some music he wrote and acting like a 'cool rock dude'. He tends to do that a lot. LOL! I created the sentiment using a computer. The skull is from Inkadinkado. I stamped and embossed the image in black embossing powder and then cut it out.
I forget what you call this 'poem'. The first letter of every sentence is part of the letters in his name. Jordan had to write this for a school project. I reprinted it using my computer so I could make it really small. I used a Stampin Up! Spiral Punch for the edge.


Well, Inventory at work was really interesting. I understand now why they had us 'watch' the people doing the inventory. They did make a few errors. I caught one guy who was just scanning bolts of trim and not measuring them. My boss was so proud of me for catching that! That could have been a disaster! Our store looks like a tornado went through it. They certainly did not put things back in the same condition in which they found it. It'll probably take two weeks of work to clean things up. But, at least the worst is over, and maybe now I won't have to work so many hours and can get more work done on my daughter's wedding.
Have a great day! Amy

Wednesday, February 10, 2010

A Tea-rific Friend

I made this card awhile back for an old Paper Craft Planet Sketch (SK011610). I bought this MFT image 'Tea for Two' a long time ago, but like a lot of images I own, I never used it until now. I'm terrible about that. But I think most stampers/crafters are. We buy far more than we ever actually use. LOL! The paper is K & Company 'Hopscotch', but, the image is NOT paper pieced. I actually colored the image to look like the paper.
Well, yesterday I did an ALL NIGHTER at work. I worked from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. It was the first time in my life I stayed up all night. I took a nap the day of work, so I really felt good most of the night. But the hour long drive home on bad, snowy roads was torture. And then, all of a sudden, it hit me. I grew so tired, and actually felt really sick, like something was physically wrong with me. I thought I'd never get home. And as soon as I walked in the door I just flopped into bed without washing my face or brushing my teeth. I don't even remember falling asleep. I was out like a light. Anyway, now I feel great and back to normal, and I only had 4 hours of sleep! Now tomorrow I get to wake up at 4:00 a.m. to be at work at 6:00 a.m. Yippee! Note, that is sarcasm. I hate to wake up early! If your wondering what were doing working these odd hours, its INVENTORY TIME! Last night I spent 9 hours unrolling every spool of By-The-Yard Ribbon, counting the number of yards, and rolling it back up. Fun. Talk about a long night. The worst part of it, was that us gals couldn't even talk to each other, or we'd lose our 'count'. So it was really a slow night. Now tomorrow, an outside company is arriving to do the actual inventory and it my job to watch them to make sure they are doing everything right. Another fun day. Just standing for 8 hours watching somebody else work. Ugh! I'll be so glad when this over and life at work can return to normal! LOL!
Have a great day! Amy

Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'Its All About the Animals'

Hello and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is 'All About the Animals!' Simply make a card or project using at least one digital image on it that has something to do with animals. Our sponsor this week is our very own Digital Stamp Oasis and they are giving away 3 digis to one lucky randomly chosen winner.

To make my card, I used the Digital Stamp Oasis image 'Bestest Buddies'. The sentiment is computer generated. The paper is DCWV 'The Pet Stack'. The main image is colored with Copic Markers and is mounted up on dimensionals. The layout is last week's Paper Craft Planet sketch. Here is a close-up of the main image.

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions. If you'd like to purchase this image, simply click on the Digital Stamp Oasis Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Etsy Store.
Have a great day! Amy

Monday, February 8, 2010

The Last of My February Christmas Cards

Yeah! I finished my February Christmas Cards for the Christmas Card Challenge on SCS early for a change, instead of waiting till the end of the month Oh, what a relief that is! LOL! As you already know, I make 5 Christmas Cards a month so I'll have 60 cards at the end of the year, instead of having to make them all in November/December. I already showed you two of my Christmas Cards using JustRite images, here are the last three.

The first one uses a digital image by Heather Ellis. I know MFT also sells these images as stamps, but some of them are also available as digitals in Heather's Etsy Store. To make my card, I used JoAnn's 'Peppermint Forest' designer paper. I colored the image with Copic Markers and I added a white gel pen to the berries in the mistletoe. I also added Liquid Applique to the hats, some 'puff balls', and a holiday button. Here is a close up so you can see the detail of the Liquid Applique.
My second card uses last week's sketch from Midnight Madness. This is also another digital image by Heather Ellis. The paper is Cosmo Cricket. I embossed the heart with a Cuttlebug Folder and rubbed some white craft ink over the raised snowflakes. There are Stickles on the Snowflake Die Cuts, the main image is mounted up on dimensionals, and also has Liquid Applique on her fur trim. I love this image. It reminds me so much of how I feel in the winter. UGH!


Here is another close-up so you can see the Liquid Applique detail.



And, my last card, I'm not thrilled with, but I decided to post it anyway. It is another JustRite image embossed in Silver Embossing Powder. The sketch is from a challenge blog, the paper is from My Minds Eye. This card is so much prettier in real life, but is just one of those cards that is really hard to photograph. The designer paper is very glitter IRL, and that is Silver Metallic paper, not grey paper. The ribbon also has lots of metallic/glittery accents in it.



Have a great day! Amy


Saturday, February 6, 2010

A Few Crafty Secrets Cards

Here are a few cards I made this month using Crafty Secrets Products.

My first card was made using last week's sketch challenge on SCS (SC265), and last week's Crafty Secrets Challenge to use something old and new on our card. Well, just about everything on this card is old...the stamp set, the paper, etc., but the sketch, was brand new! LOL! I know that's a stretch, but it was the only thing I could of. The stamp set is 'Coffee and Tea', and the paper is DCWV 'Nana's Kitchen'. This card was made using the 'Sweet Kids' Stamp Set and I know I made it for a Crafty Secrets Challenge, but for the life of me can't remember what that challenge was. LOL! I think I need to post my cards a little sooner after I make them so I don't forget why I made them in the first place. Anyway, I believe the sketch is from Paper Craft Planet, and the designer paper is K & Company 'Small Wonders Girl'.

And finally, this card was made for FS155 on SCS when the fabulous Karen B. Barber was the Featured Stamper. My, what an amazing gallery she has! HERE is the card I cased. I loved Karen's card so much, that the only thing I changed was the sentiment and the image. It was so perfect the way it was, I couldn't bear changing a thing.


Have a great day! Amy

Friday, February 5, 2010

Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate

Mmmn, I love DARK chocolate. My favorite treat! In fact, I just finished munching on a dark chocolate candy bar my husband bought me. I was dipping it in a peanut butter jar as I blog hopped. I'm suppose to be on a diet in a quest to lost 20 lbs before my daughter's wedding. But, with my love of food, I doubt that will happen. But hey, I just had a my annual physical on Tuesday, and my doctor told me I was in PERFECT health, and my cholesterol levels were amazing! So There!

Anyway, I forgot to show you these little chocolate treat packages I made. I actually received the envelopes from my EX-Stampin Up! demo. I no longer am a demonstrator, nor do I buy their products since their decision not to allow demos to post pics and links to other paper crafting companies. My ex-demo sent me these envelopes, but they were a bit too plain for me, so I dressed them up a bit. They are just the cutest envelopes that a Ghirardelli Chocolate Square fits perfectly inside of. This one I made using a dollar stamp from JoAnn's, a Cuttlebug Die, and a fabric flower and ribbon. The little heart on the sentiment is a red adhesive gel sticker.


This sentiment is from the retired SU! set 'Like it a Latte'.

Here is what the back of the envelope looks like. Isn't it cute? Such a cute gift to hand a co-worker or friend for no special reason other than to brighten their day.

Well I finally got around to visiting all your blogs since today was my day off. I've only been on the Internet for about 4 hours now. Sheesh! That's what happens though when you have dial up and about 87 emails to respond too! LOL! Have a great day! Amy


Thursday, February 4, 2010

Longing for Spring

Well I know the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, so were going to get 6 more weeks of winter, but here in Wisconsin we would have gotten 6 more weeks of winter anyway, so it makes no difference if the groundhog saw his shadow or not! LOL! Yesterday at work I was absolutely freezing. They keep it so cold in the place to save costs, even the customers complain and they have winter coats on! I wore two undershirts, plus my work shirt, and I couldn't stop shaking. Today, I will wear a sweater too! And then in the summer, we sweat at work, because they don't cool the place. UGH! Anyway, I'm tired of being cold and longing for spring. Spring is my favorite time of the year because there are no bugs and my garden looks it best with all the blooming trees, and before heat, disease, and insects arrive to wreck havoc on my garden. I always try and get friends and family to come and see my garden in the spring, but everyone always puts it off, and puts it off, and usually shows up in July and August after everything is done blooming, looks fried, and is full of weeds. Its a good thing my daughter's wedding is in the spring, because then everyone will be FORCED to come then! LOL!

Anyway, I haven't scrap booked in probably a year, which is pretty funny because I originally began my paper-crafting adventure as a scrap booker. But, being on design teams, and selling my creations, forces me to mostly make cards and projects, and not scrap book pages. I really need to FINISH my son's high school scrap book before he graduates this May, but I fear, that may never happen with my daughter's wedding preparations taking priority. That's so sad, he may not have a scrap book to display at his graduation party. Oh well, only so much time in a day.

Anyway, since I was longing for spring, I was looking through some old photos of my garden last spring. Oh, I tell you, my garden is like heaven on earth in the spring! I hate to brag but, it really is. Between the scent of the flowering crab apple trees, the lilacs, peonies, iris, etc., the air is just filled with perfume. You can smell it the second you step out the door. And everything is just so perfect because the insects, heat, and drought haven't arrived yet to destroy it yet. The birds are chirping like crazy, having lots of babies, and building their nests. The weather is absolutely perfect, not humid, not to hot, not to cold. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE spring. There is no place I would rather be than in my own yard at springtime.

So in honor of that, I made this page. My garden is mostly pink in the spring, and then changes to all the 'hot' colors of yellow, orange, and red in midsummer. The top picture is an overview of just the west side of my garden, the second picture is a close up of a peony, and the bottom picture is a close up of a bleeding heart. The pictures were placed on white card stock and I sponged the edges with green ink. I made the flowers with the Peony Dies from Spellbinders Nestabilities. I cut each layer out of a different shade of pink and sponged the edges. I hand stitched the stem with floss. The title was made with Cuttlebug Alphabet Dies.
Here is a close up of the butterflies that were made from 'Flying Beauties' from Spellbinders. I colored them with chalk to bring out more detail and added dew drops for their heads.


I hope I've 'warmed you up' a little today. Have a great day! Amy

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

JustRite Challenge 003 'Valentine Love'

First of all, I apologize to everyone who's blogs I have not been visiting this week. I've been working extra long hours trying to get our store ready for inventory. I'm absolutely exhausted. And when I am home, its a challenge just to read all the emails I receive, much less visit and comment on blogs. But I promise, I will get to all your blogs soon.

For today's card, I did the JustRite Challenge 'Valentine Love'. The company just started doing challenges, this is their third one, but the first one I've been able to participate in. I think they actually wanted to see a Valentine 'Project', but I've already made all of those because I have to work a month in advance since I sell my creations at a consignment store, so I decided to make a card that could be used for an anniversary or wedding.

I wish you could see this card in person. It is so much prettier in real life. The entire card just SPARKLES! I used the gorgeous new DCWV 'Maribosa' designer paper. The green background paper is 'glitter paper', and the ribbon has a gold sparkly edge, and the butterfly designer paper has gold glitter on it, and I put Stickles on the frame of the sentiment. Its so pretty! So, since you can't see the shimmer, just use your imaginations.

The sentiment and decorative frame are from JustRite, and the sentiment is embossed in clear embossing powder and is up on dimensionals. Do you remember this card HERE? I just found out that it won this week on Paper Craft Planet and is featured in their Newsletter. I am once again their 'Shooting Star'. I was excited to hear that news.

Have a great day! Amy

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'A Different Fold'

Hello, and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a card that has a different fold. Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Bee Crafty! They have the CUTEST bunny images!

For my card I used the Bee Crafty Digital Image 'Fluffy Bunny Birthday'. I never made an easel card before, so I decided to try one. They are quite easy to make, but my only issue with it is that if you send it in the mail, you have to include a little note on how to open it and set it up. LOL!

Anyway, onto the details of my card. I used DCWV 'Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy' designer paper, and Bashful Blue and White Card Stock. The balloon is cut out separately, covered with Crystal Effects to make it shiny, and then popped up on dimensional. I also popped the cake up on dimensionals and added some Stickles to the flame. The sentiment is a Cuttlebug Die Cut, and the border punch is Stampin Up!
Here is a close up so you can see the dimension, the Crystal Effects, and my coloring with Copics.
Here are a couple of side views.




If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions.
Have a great day! Amy