big girl crafting panties required

Oh happy day! I am in love with this sweet, spring project! It's totally decorative and has no purpose, other than to make me smile! And smile I do, every time I walk by this little beauty.  

Admittedly, making this was a bit futzy. Please don't ask me how many times I let a few choice words fly while making it. (I blush.) But having made one, and worked out the kinks, I can't wait to make another!

In fact, I love this cutie so much, I decided to use it as a 3D project for my upcoming Stamp Camp! I know that the ladies will fall in love with it, just as I have. 

I hope that they bring their A crafting game, and wear their big girl crafting panties. Maybe then only a few explicatives will fly! ; ) 

And if you happen to be attending Stamp Camp, don't forget to bring the secret ingredient! The 4 1/4" circular lid from a canister of Progresso bread crumbs! 

Happy stamping!

simple texture

I've been dying to try this technique for quite some time. I just couldn't figure out which stamp set would work well with it. Betsy's Blossom turned out to be the one! 

First I stamped some flowers and leaves in the corners of a Whisper White rectangle. Then I ran that through the Big Shot in the Honeycomb Embossing Folder. 

I love the amazing texture and the fact that the card took me ten minutes to create!

Happy stamping!

CASE (copy and share everything)

I totally stole this card. The design, the stamp set, just about everything! But here's a link to the original.

http://dostamping.typepad.com/dostamping_with_dawn/2012/05/stampinup-apothecary-arts-double-fold-gate-card.html

I love the double gate fold, the way the Apothecary Art stamp is the perfect size for the design. I love that the image is stamped in Old Olive, and just by using blender pens and markers, the flowers have such depth. I love that the card looks complicated, but it's actually very simple and quick to make. I only had a little bit of time to craft today, so this knock off certainly fit the bill! And it's another Stamp Camp Project in the bag!

Happy stamping!

twisting it up!

I'm getting ready to host another Stamp Camp! This is a good thing for so many reasons.

1. It forces me to make time to craft. 

2. I get to catch up with people I don't get to see that often.

3. It gives me a "valid" excuse to browse Pinterest for hours with no guilt!

Most of the time I use Pinterest to get new ideas. To find a jumping off place for my own creativity. To discover new color combinations. But sometimes I come across a card that is so beautiful, that I must make one just like it. Here is one such card:

http://jen-icreate.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-birthday-to-my-aunt.html

And here's my own twist on it! I changed the layout, but kept the colors and stamping. 

I think that my Stamp Campers are going to love making this card!

Happy stamping!

bird song inspiration

The birds have returned with the return of spring! While I was drinking tea this morning, a dozen birds were in the bush outside, serenading me. It was a great way to spend a lazy Saturday morning.

The birds' song made me think of one of my favorite Stampin' Up stamp sets, Serene Silhouettes. Pinterest never fails to inspire me and I stole the idea for the main image of this card from a Pin. I used a die to cut the butterfly from copy paper. I used the negative space as a mask. I sponged some sunrise colors, working from the edges into the center, and then stamped the birds and branches image. Then I removed the mask. Easy peasy!

Because I was making a sympathy card, I wanted to keep the design simple and uncluttered. So a little wmbossing, a mat and a sentient was all I needed to finish up. 

Happy stamping!

this means war

Spring has finally sprung in the great northeast! How do I know, you may ask? Well, it's not the temperatures. They vary wildly. Just yesterday it was so beautiful out that I was running errands in a t-shirt. But we had a fire roaring that night just to stay warm in the living room! I know that spring is here because of our dog, Remy. Here he is. Isn't he just adorable? Yup he is. And I love him tons.

It's a good thing that I love him tons. Especially in the spring. So, let me tell you how Remy tells me that spring is here. Every time he moves, twitches, shakes, rolls around on the floor, brushes by the couch, sneezes... he leaves behind massive amounts of puppy fur! There are dog hair tumbleweeds under every piece of furniture in the house! And the moment I have them all swept up, he drops more hair. It's an unending war between me and Remy hair. So, it's a good thing that he's so dang lovable. I guess we'll have to keep him.

The good news is that winter has lost it's icy grip on my world. I'm starting to think about the flower bed that needs a bit of attention. I know that when I finally make the time to go out and tend to it, I'll find itty bitty green things doing miraculous things! But today, I only had enough time to put together a card featuring flowers. It's pretty cute too!

I used one of my favorite techniques for the multi colored flowers: coloring an acrylic block with marker, spritzing it with water, and stamping onto paper. I make my own patterned paper that way. Incredibly quick and easy for a big payoff!

Happy stamping!