Whoa?! Friends with Flair?!

It has been forever since I've done a Friends with Flair post! I made this card for the FWF challenge that Christi and Maren do every week. I was needing something to inspire me and ran across that challenge in the Unity forum and decided to try it. I love the layout of the card - it was so easy to use!

 

I used My Heart Sings and Distressed Dots from Unity. The paper is from my new Cosmo Cricket Garden Variety, and the ribbon is May Arts.

Here's the link to the Unity blog if you need the rest of the Friends with Flair list. Enjoy your blog hopping!

Pin It Now!

Random Thoughts By Katy

So, here are just some random thoughts that I feel like sharing with somebody...anybody..and YOU win!

• I really want a Reese's Pieces Blizzard from DQ...Why? Because I saw somebody's user name -- Reesez Piecez -- on a message board, and a few minutes later on Facebook I saw somebody talking about a blizzard (the kind with snow). My mind put the two random things together, and I have been seriously craving one since then. How odd. And fattening.
• I feel like I'm beginning to think like an old person. Young people bother me. Change is annoying me. I also feel like screaming one of my dad's favorite phrases when we were kids -- "A lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine." Oy. I guess admittance is the first step right?
• This past weekend my husband bought me a coat and dress. I had pointed them out to him in the store. The coat was "so cute but I already have enough coats" and the dress was "for a special occasion, but with that price tag, the occasion wasn't special enough." Apparently, he disagreed. I love him.

And that concludes random thoughts with Katy. While I am indeed random every day, there is no need to worry. I won't share my thoughts too often. Oh and since this IS a crafty blog -- one quick crafty thing. I got my prize back that I won from Paper Maniac -- the 3 packs of new Cosmo Cricket paper, the Flourishes background stamp, and the American Crafts brads. It was very exciting (especially since I gave up buying paper for Lent!). I really wanted Material Girl, but when I flipped through them -- Garden Variety ended up being my absolute favorite! Thanks Paper Maniac for such a great prize!!

Pin It Now!

Fun and Frustrating!

Okay, let's get a few things out of the way first.

1. I do not own a big cutting mat or a rotary cutter so I used a small self-healing mat (that fits into my scor-pal) and a pair of scissors.
2. I cannnot cut straight.
   
3. I used this tutorial to make my project and I also do not own the scalloped square die cut, so I used my square Nestabilitie (no scallops). It sort of worked.
   
4. I cannot cut straight.
   
5. I didn't have any cotton batting so I used polyester...I will use cotton next time.
6. I cannot cut straight.
   

So, in my opinion, my project turned out decent for not having any of the right tools and for it being my first non-paper sewing project!

 

  

 

My fabric frayed really bad -- I guess I used the wrong material?? And my sewing machine jammed so many times -- that's where the frustration came in. I think my tension was too high?? Or maybe too low?? I don't know, I have no previous experience to base it on.
Before you know it, I'll be on Project Runway -- I could be the person they have on the show that's purely there for entertainment value! Pin It Now!

It's Not a Christmas Card!

This was one of those cards that took on a whole life of it's own after I started it. I envisioned it so much prettier....and so less Christmas looking!

 

I used May Arts ribbon, Gina K. kraft cardstock, Our Daily Bread Designs stamp, Unity background stamp, Fiskars border punch, and Cosmo Cricket pp. 

I have been working on a fun (and frustrating) project all weekend and I can't wait to show you! Hopefully tomorrow!!

  Pin It Now!

More "Spring Cleaning" Cards

Okay, I hope you're not too tired of these scrap cards, because here are a few more! These are all really simple and it was nice to use up my scraps and things from my stash. And now I have a good amount of cards ready for mailing on a moment's notice!

 

Pin It Now!

Scrappy Cards

Here are some more cards that I made using nothing but scraps! I am feeling inspired to clean out my stuff -- that means spring must be coming right?!

 

Pin It Now!

Using Up My Stash!

I went through my stash and decided it was time to use it up! No more hoarding it for the "special" project. If I own it, I'm using it! And one of those things that I tend to buy and never use are cute journaling cards. Please don't even ask when the last time I scrapbooked was, because I don't know! So, I used a few of them on some cards.

 

  

 

Pin It Now!

I {HEART} My Janome

I bought a $5 sewing machine at a garage sale and took it home. I stared at it in utter confusion. I took a cloth and cleaned it (it was DIRTY). I stared at it some more. I went to the store and bought thread. I stared at it some more. I sold it at a garage sale for $5. The end.
I broke down and bought a Pixie Plus at JoAnn's about 4 months later. I tore it out of it's box and set it up. My husband (yes, my husband!) showed me how to thread it. I sewed. The thread broke. He showed me again how to thread it. I sewed again. The thread jammed. He yet again threaded it for me. I sewed. I don't remember what happened, but I do remember the machine went back in the box. I then read all of the bad reviews on the original Pixe, decided that it must be the machine and returned it. However, I got a small taste of sewing, and I wanted a machine!
We took a little trip to Hancock Fabrics. The lady said, "Don't buy the mini. Buy the next step up. This isn't that good for sewing projects." I said, "I just want to sew on paper, it will be fine." She said, "Paper? You're going to sew on paper? *insert weird rolling eye type movement here* Well, I guess it will be fine for that. But what if you need to fix a zipper or something?" I repeated "I just want to sew on paper. *insert just take my money and quit talking to me look*" and handed her my Visa gift card to pay. It wouldn't work. I thought it was a sign. I was done, no more sewing in my future. My sweet husband pulled out his wallet. He didn't want to hear any whining, I'm pretty sure. I've owned a Janome for 3 months. I love it. I can't stitch straight to save my life, so I use the zig-zag a lot. Oh well. I love it. I've gone through a few spools of thread already. A lot of it is thrown away. That's okay. I'm learning. I love it.
ON TO THE CARD!!!! I use The Daily Dare blog to come up with different challenges to do when I'm stuck. I found a new one called Allsorts Challenge Blog. I tried the sketch. I liked the card. And what do you know, they are having a DT call right now too. Amazing timing, you think?

 

This card uses Basic Grey Mellow pp, stamps from Unity (Sweet Affections), and buttons are SEI.

Pin It Now!

Who's the Coolest? YOU ARE!

I bought a pack of Basic Grey Lime Rickey awhile ago, but I am pretty sure I never used it (story of my life). I love the fun, vibrant, happy colors, but I am "fun, vibrant and happy challenged." So I challenged myself to use it. I secretly LOVE this card (not much of a secret anymore, I know). And to shock you even more - there is no stamping on it at all. But that's okay, I'm using up my stash! I also made this card for the Basic Grey challenge to make a card with animals. How fun is this bird/chickie/whatever you wanna call it?! LOVE IT!

Completely 100% (okay 99.9% if you count the stitching) Basic Grey Lime Rickey.
Pin It Now!

HA! How Ironic.

Well, I feel like I need to make a second post today...sorry to make you come back to my blog. hehe However, the Scripture Challenge word that I just finished was... (dum, dum, dum) TEMPTATION. HA! So here's what I came up with.

I used the verses Luke 22:45-46. "When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation." I often find myself looking for comfort in other things (i.e. PAPER! hehe) or when the going gets tough, I forget the most important thing -- prayer! I am currently reading a book called Manna, and it's calling us to depend daily on God. Not to fall into the temptation to depend on worldly things. It's really been challenging me to live my life differently.

The paper is from SU, chipboard letters are Sassafrass...I so cannot stitch straight, good thing I was going for the fun, funky look, right?!(ha!)

Okay, that's all for today!

Pin It Now!

Terrible Temptation!

Today I am going to show you the rest of the bookmarks I made for the kids at church (see yesterday's post if you missed the fun girly ones!)

And here's a close up:

So, I am having an awful time. It's dreadful really. I currently have enough patterned paper to wallpaper my entire house....twice! And I am IN LOVE with the new Basic Grey, Cosmo Cricket, Jillibean Soup, and Dear Lizzy American Crafts paper lines. So, how in the world do I use up all that old paper so that I can buy the new stuff?! Or, better yet, how am I going to afford all that new paper?! AND if I break down and buy the new stuff (Let's face it. I'm weak. It's gonna happen), where am I going to put it?!

For those of you comedians-who-missed your calling -- no I will not store it at your house. But thanks for the offer. Hehe.

Okay, I'm off. I've got some more staring, drooling, and contemplating...I could donate plasma...sell my husband...quit eating...cancel the cable...How much is a Wii fetching these days on eBay? Yeah, like I said...more contemplating to do. :)

Pin It Now!

Some Ippity Love

I made the bookmarks using this tutorial. It's a great way to use up scrap paper and make a cute gift for somebody. I used the Because of You set.

I made these bookmarks for the kids at church and I'm going to attach some yummy candy to them. Can you believe that it is February?! Well, for me January seemed to go forever. Probably because it's the first full month of work after the holidays. And speaking of work...it's Monday. Yay. (Complete and utter sarcasm. In case you missed it!) Enjoy your day!
Go on back to the ippity blog to keep on hopping!
Come back tomorrow and you'll see the fun ones I made for the boys!


Pin It Now!