Monday, January 30, 2012

Oldie Moldie Monday




Oldie Moldie Monday - showing some love to some old paper.  Gotta love those 6 x 6 pads of Basic Grey or all 6 x 6 pads - they hold a special place in my heart and all over my crafting area.  Three more cards for Operation Write Home.  The truck is a favorite for masculine cards - and the thank you stamp is from Hero Arts. 

If you want to see another card from this paper - check out Sunday's card.

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Thank You Very Much


My card today is the appetizer for Oldie Moldie Monday - come back tomorrow to see what other cards I made from this Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad.  Every Monday I try to show some love to some older paper - I have been doing it with my Basic Grey 6 x 6 pads - I collect them so therefore I must use them.

This is based on the sketch at Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog - I like this sketch.  I used my Silhouette to cut the banner.  I just trimmed the other end of the banner off.  The image is a free image by Paula - which can be found at this link.  Digitals are so great because you can size them so you have the size sentiment you need for each card.  I cut the circles with my spellbinders but you could size the circle to fit into your punches.  Thanks Paula for sharing this.  She has lots of other freebie digitals on her blog.

See you tomorrow for Oldie Moldie Monday.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Eat Cake Graphics


I  am proud to say that I am now on the design team for Eat Cake Graphics.  I know I am going to have lots of creative fun with their great stamps.  Both the stamps on this card are from Eat Cake Graphics - isn't that a fun sentiment.  This started as a card for Operation Write Home but then I decided to use my Stardust Gel pen on the cupcakes and sentiment.  One of my great nieces - decided she wanted to learn how to bake and decorate cupcakes this year - so I am going to send this card to her.  At Easter I will give her a cupcake recipe book I bought at Kohl's.  Kohl's has great items that all the proceeds go to charity - each item cost $5.  Many times they are books with coordinating stuffed animals. 

The card is based on the sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping.  I think this will be a sketch I used in the future.  I did put my sentiment in the block rather than lining it up with the edge of the card. 

I also am entering it on the challenge at Lily Pad sponsored by Simon Says Stamp to use patterned paper.  The paper I used is from an old Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad - I think it will be the paper I use next week for my Oldie Moldie Monday post.  I did dry emboss the aqua layer with a Cuddlebug folder.   I also added some ink along the edges to distress the paper.  The cupcakes and sentiment are pop dotted.  Three little orange rhinestones finish off the card.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday.  I need to buy some groceries to make dinner - my youngest will be here for dinner before she starts her journey to Alaska to start a new adventure in her and her husband's life.  July 2013 I will be planning a several week vacation to Alaska. 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

October Afternoon and OWH cards



I wanted to use some of the paper in this 8 x 8 pad from October Afternoon.  Once I grounded each element by mounting it on cardstock - they stood out more.  The rectangles are pop dotted.

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Oldie Moldie Monday





Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to some old paper - I took out one of my Basic Grey 6 x 6 pads and started making a few cards - they are very simple cards - but I think they turned out very nice.  All the cards are for Operation Write Home.

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Big Bunny Hugs


Today's card is inspired by the weekly sketch at Operation Write Home's card blog - Stars and Stamps.  I had colored a couple bunnies yesterday so I already had a cute image to use on a card - my card may not fit the exact dimensions of the sketch but somewhat follows the sketch.  The sentiment does not make it only for Easter.  Isn't that the cutest bunny - I do believe I got my $1's worth out of this stamp from Michael's.  The sentiment is a favorite for OWH cards - it is from Hero Arts. 

Of course, I did my cheater stripe - I just added another piece of paper down the middle rather than trying to line up 3 small strips of paper.  Everything was matted with a rose pink cardstock to make it pop a little more.

Now to accomplish my week end chores and get some more cards made.  I believe I have made 9 for Operation Write Home this week end - stop by tomorrow - Oldie Moldie Monday to see more of them.

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Bunny Card Challenge


A quick challenge on Operation Write Home's Facebook page to make a bunny card - very quick card - using a couple Studio G stamps - $1 each.  It is really not an Easter card so that helps make it less time sensitive.  I embossed the background cardstock (Bazzill Bling) with a Cuddlebug folder - adds some nice dimension to the background.  I cut the scallop with my Silhouette and the background pink circle and flower with Spellbinder Dies.

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Clean and Simple Card Class


I signed up to take the Clean and Simple Card Class taught by Jennifer McGuire and several others.  I am such a slackard and have not done one card until today and this took me several hours to make - I stuggle with Clean and Simple.  The cards look naked to me - I thought this class would help me - I will just have to get busy.  Gee too bad I have to work. 

The lesson today was to make a white card - YIKES - I made one this last fall that I really liked.  I looked through my paper - I wanted the Bazzill pin dot paper in white - I couldn't find it - I know I hae some somewhere.  So I took a piece of textured cardstock (very subtle) and ran it through an embossing folder.  The pink mat and Penny Black floral sticker are each pop dotted to add some dimension to the card.  I added the orange twine for some contrast and to also add some balance to the Hero Arts sentiment.  The centers of the flowers needed something so I added some pearls to the center - gee - should it have been bling - or maybe some clear Stickles - but it is pearls because you know if I tried to remove them I would tear the sticker.  I also cute the size of the card down some to it was more equal distance on all 4 sides.  Also rounded the upper right corner. 

I also am entering this card in the Moxie Fab challenge embossing/debossing challenge in honor of their special edition on Tools - fun issue. 

Whew I made one card for the class - maybe I have opened a flood gate.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Echo Park, Moxie FAB and CAS-ual Friday Join Forces


I have a new Silhouette and the little scallop background is one of the free shapes you get with the machine - I was just playing and cut out this shape - I made it smaller so it could be used on a card.  I decided I had to use it on a card.  The card is based on several challenges - Moxie Fab to use Die Cuts and CAS-ual Friday to use scallops. 

The card uses the Yours Truly collection (6 xs6 pad) from Echo Park.  I love that houndstooth plaid - in fact - I bought a couple extra pieces of that paper.  The die cuts are the Silhouette scallop background and Spellbinders hearts.  The heart and plaid stripe are pop dotted for a little dimension. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, January 16, 2012

Oldie Moldie Monday


Oldie Moldie Monday - time to share a card made with some paper I never showed any love to - I bought one sheet of this paper because I liked all the elements in it - knew it would be great for making cards - double sided (blue print and rusty print) and on the blue side there were two rows of these flowers.  I cut the rows of flowers off each end and then used th remainder ofthe paper to make 4 of these cards.  These cards are all for Operation Write Home - yes there are many soldiers still serving overseas that do not have access to a hallmark store.  The stamp is from Hero Arts.  The paper is from Graphic 45.

This card fits the challenge for flowers on Stars and Stamps - Operation Write Home's card blog.  Come play along with us.  Everyone has flowers in their collection of supplies.

And on that note - I Wish You a Wonderful Day.  I have a day off from work - have a haircut appointment at 11 - was going to work but I did not get the list I wanted to work on - so gee - I guess I will not go to work.  Enjoy your day whether you are working or doing other things.

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Another Unity Stamp Card and Authentique Paper


Unity Stamps had a challenge for a couple weeks using their Itty Bitty Stamps - so I had to play and I did ink up a couple I had not used before.  I like how this one turned out with the banner and the image actually hanging off the card edges - something a little different in size and shape.  Isn't that Authentique paper the best. 

If you want to see what else I created, just go down further in my blog.

Still toying with the idea of going shopping - driveway is shoveled, maybe if I go get the dishes done - then I could go out for a couple hours.  OK - talked myself into it.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

I love patterned papers!!


My first love in paper crafting is patterned paper and I have a new love in that area - 6 x 6 pads so the challenge for Operation Write Home Our Daily Bread Designs Challenge is to use three patterned papers on a card - I am sure there are more than 3 on this card but hey - I love patterned paper.  ODBD will pay the cost of shipping a box of cards for every 25 cards up to 2 boxes.  We have an entire month to meet this challenge and as said we usually eeeeeeek in by the sticky on our ATG tape.

Thank you ODBD for your support of Operation Write Home.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Authentique and Unity Stamps Unite


Good evening - long day of work - and it is suppose to snow tomorrow - YUCK - it could have waited for the week end and then you don't have to worry about going anywhere - but I need to go to work. 

This is a card I made over the week end for my brother whose birthday is coming up.  It is made with one the Itty Bitty stamps from Unity Stamps.  I love the mushroom.  I like how I added the polka dots to the cap by using the color removing pen from Copic.  I used a collection from Authentique Paper - there papers are so yummy.

The card is based on the sketch from I Heart to Stamp

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday, January 9, 2012

Oldie Moldie Monday






It is Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to some old paper and supplies.  I had seen several challenges for using chipboard and I knew buried within my Basic Grey collections was a collection with coordinating chipboard - and to my total amazement - it was in the first bin I looked in.  That has to be an Oldie Moldie Monday miracle.

The cards are very self explanatory - paper, chipboard and a great SRM Sticker to finish it off.  The challenges I have done are

Unstampabella Challenge site - anything goes (no stamps) - new challenge site - introduced to me by my friend Ivanka

and each card would qualify for all the sites.  All these cards are going into my Operation Write Home box.

Go dig in your supplies - show some love to some old supplies.

Sunday, January 8, 2012

More Silhouette and Hero Arts Fun


I am still having fun with my Silhouette - my daughter was visiting and she went out into the Silhouette store and found this fun mustache file - there I believe 6 different shaped mustaches in the file - I loved the handle bar one.  I couldn't quite figure out what sentiment to use with the mustache but yesterday I bought the Hero Arts stamp set (new this winter) which Hero Arts is donating 25% of their profits on this set and two other sets to Operation Write Home.  So of course I had to make a card (actually 3 total of same design) for Operation Write Home.

The design of the card is based on the sketch at Clean and Simple Stamping.  I had to add some texture to the kraft paper so I used one of my dry embossing folders and then used the backside of the embossed paper.  I also got out my Tonic Distresser and distressed the edges of the paper.   Fun Fun Fun - and of course, I had less stress when I was done. 

I have also been busy working on my Oldie Moldie Monday cards for tomorrow.  I have 4 done so I am going to put that paper away for now and see what other kinds of paper making trouble I can get in.  Have a wonderful day.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Silhouette and My Mind's Eye



Today I am sharing another card I made using my Silhouette Cameo.  It is going in my box for Operation Write Home.  I had to size the design down just a little to fit in the A2 envelope. 

I backed the cutout area with paper from My Mind's Eye to highlight the beautiful design that was cut by the Silhouette and added a stripe of paper and twine at the top.  I know that I will get my 99 cents worth out of this pattern. 

Last night before I went to bed, I put a beef roast in my crock pot with a can of cream of mushroom soup and dried onion soup mix.  Of course, my house smelt wonderful all night long - I am surprised I could sleep and did not make up ravenous.  This morning I have wonderful hot beef sandwiches for a luncheon later on today.  I had forgotten about this recipe until I was cruising the meat aisle and it popped into my head.  Looking forward to that sandwich later in the day - if you add extra soup - it also makes great gravy over potatoes. 

Have a wonderful day.

Friday, January 6, 2012

Favorite Cookie Recipe

dug out this recipe to make for my son in law - thought I would share it with all of you.  Very yummy.


Peanut Butter Fudge Bars

1 pkg (18 ¼ oz) yellow cake mix                         1 egg

1 cup creamy peanut butter                                   ½ c. vegetable oil

1 can sweetened condensed milk                        1 c. (6 oz) semisweet chocolate chips

2 T. butter


In bowl combine cake mix, peanut butter, egg and oil.  Press 2/3 of mixture into greased 13 x 9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.  Cool on wire rack for 5 minutes.

In heavy saucepan heat milk, choc chips and butter over low heat.  Stir until well blended.  Pour over crust.  Sprinkle with remaining crumbs.  Bake at 350 degrees for 20 – 25 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on wire rack.

Unity Stamps and My Mind's Eye


Unity Stamp Company has a challenge on their facebook page to use their itty bitty stamps - I have all my Unity Stamps together and I knew where they were - surprised aren't you - so I took out my sewing machine stamp - I always make my assistant a set of cards for her birthday - her birthday is in March and I am usually trying to get them done right before her birthday - so now I have one made.  I love the colors in this grouping from My Mind's Eye.

Sew happy you stopped by today.  I found a card shape on Silhouette - shaped like a spool of thread - I think I will have to use it with this stamp to make another card.

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Silhouette fun and Operation Write Home


Sharing another card I made using my Silhouette - check yesterday's post for another card.  This is one of the free cutting files that comes with the machine.  I decided to turn the tag into a cute card.  I sized the tag down to fit on an A2 card - put a color behind the words to make them pop - added some flowers from the flower drawer and some great My Mind's Eye paper.  I made this for Operation Write Home. 

This week's midweek challenge on OWH Stars and Stamps is to use something you got for Christmas - Merry Christmas to Barb - very fun to use.

Come back tomorrow - I may have another card for you to see.

Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Silhouette Adventures


I got a Silhouette Cameo at Christmas so now I am beginning to start to play with it.  This is one of the card I made this week end.  I used paper from My Mind's Eye - Everyday Flair and a sticker from SRM Stickers to complete my card.  I colored some pearls to match the pink in the card.

Come back  again to see more adventures with the Silhouette.  I am having fun.

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Lawn Fawn and Basic Grey



I love the saying on this stamp from Lawn Fawn - a perfect stamp for an Operation Write Home card.  I knew I wanted to use a paper that resembled a map and Basic Grey had this great paper which had some nice colors to compliment the design.

The first card is based on the sketch from Card Positioning System.  I used a circle in the middle rather than a rectangle.  I added dry embossing to the strip behind the circle. 

The second card is based on the sketch from Operation Write Home Stars and Stamps blog.  The little strips are paper I trimmed off the map paper (double sided).  It worked perfectly. 

I hope you enjoyed today's cards.  If you want to do something that makes you very happy, start making cards for Operation Write Home.  They are guaranteed to bring smiles to many faces.

Monday, January 2, 2012

1st Oldie Moldie Monday 2012




I have this wonderful pad of Making Memories paper called English Garden - I don't think I have hardly used any of it so I got it out and started making cards - I believe with the blue rose paper I have made 5 cards - and then I had to try out my new Silhouette machine and I cut the butterfly with it.  It was one of the free shapes you get.  I embossed the butterflies and then layered them to add some dimension to the card.  I tied some bakers twine around the butterfly. 

The stamps used on the top two cards are Hero Arts stamps.  I have gotten so much use out of this set - they is one more stamp in the set - Just Saying Hello.  I used a SRM sticker to complete the butterfly card.

The midweek challenge on the Operation Write Home card blog Stars and Stamps was to make a thank you card in honor of Dixie - our east coast shipper - who has retired from shipping so hopefully she can make more beautiful cards. 

So in 2012 dig into your old supplies and show them some love.  It is amazing how beautiful those papers still are.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Happy New Year 2012



Happy New Year - hope 2012 is filled with health and happiness for all of you.  I hve spent the day playing with paper and just relaxing - work is going to get crazy so I need to enjoy these quiet days at home. 

I wanted to send some New Year cards to a couple people so when Melonheadz Illustrating posted this cute baby New Year - I could not resist using it.  I had this great number paper from Authentique that I thought would add to a new year card.  Why oh why did I not buy a 12 x 12 sheet of this paper - maybe because I never saw it in 12 x 12.  The first card is based on the sketch at Authentique Papers blog.  I had this embossing folder of clocks and for a new year card it seemed appropirate and adds a little extra texture. 

The other card is using up all the different pieces I had of this particular grouping of paper.  Did you know that there is a certain color of ORANGE that is the color for 2012.

I added a couple stickers from SRM - it is from a birthday sticker sheet but I think Celebrate works for a new year's card.  I did add some sparkle to the baby's hat and flag and also the numbers on the first card.

Enjoy the remainder of today - and hopefully everyone cheers on the Wisconsin Badgers tomorrow in the Rose Bowl.