Strawberry Greetings

Are you having summer-like weather where you are? We are setting record highs here! It's nice, but I hope we do get to have a little bit of spring before summer is here to stay. Cool weather with thunderstorms is my favorite time of year.

Supplies Used: Strawberry Greetings (Unity Stamp Co.), Kraft paper (The Paper Studio), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Nook & Pantry), Ribbon (May Arts), Embossing folder (Dots, Sizzix), Black ink (Memento Tuxedo Black)
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How About Some More Recipes?

Since the recipe book is the only thing I've been working on lately, that's what I'm going to share. I have kind of taken a hiatus from cardmaking, so this is it for now. I have two recipes to share today. Apple stuffed pork chops and empanadas. I made a dinner of all mexican food one night and I served the empanadas for dessert. So yummy! I don't care for mexican food much, so I mostly only ate the dessert. :)

Supplies Used:Making Memories (apple patterned paper), Jillibean Soup (twine), Stampin' Up (Alphabet Appeal), Basic Grey (Lime Rickey patterned paper and alphabet stickers)
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Mix and Match

I made this card for Mother's Day using a whole bunch of different companies. Sometimes it's nice to mix things up a little. I also used the CardPatterns sketch #113.

Supplies Used: {Stamps}Blooming with Love (Stampin' Up), Giving It All Meaning (Unity), Notes to Mom (Gina K. Designs); {Paper} Nook and Pantry (Basic Grey); {Accessories} Circle Nestabilities, May Arts Ribbon, Water Color Pencils (Stampin' Up)
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Beautiful Balloons {and a winner}

I made two very simple cards for the Beautiful Balloon challenge over at Moxie Fab World. I used the hot air balloon from the Unity Stamp Co. Love in the Air set and the cloud paper is from the Basic Grey Mellow collection.

And the winner from my blog candy is Marcy H. (My Angel). Email me your address at katytipton at yahoo dot com and I'll send you the stamp.
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Raindrops on Roses and Whiskers on Kittens...

These are a few of my favorite things! Here is another valentine that I made. This time I used the sketch from Limelight with the added challenge of using a red embellishment. I am running out of challenge blogs to do this week, so let me know if you have any suggestions!

Supplies Used: Stamps (MFT Framed Greetings), Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather), Ribbon (May Arts), Die Cut (MFT), Chipboard (Basic Grey Sugared)

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Dreaming of Spring

Yep. I'm another one of those that was hit by a lot of snow this week. I'm pretty sure just about everybody is. Anyway, even before this snow, I was ready for spring! While I was snowed in, I made a card for the CardPatterns sketch #100. I tried to make it just a little bit springy. Only a few more months, right?! :)

Supplies Used: Rubber Stamps (Unity Stamp Co., Rain or Shine), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Nook and Pantry), Pearls (KasierCraft)
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Two In One Day!

I have another quick blog post to share with you today. It's the matching card that I made to go with my niece's purse (see post below this one). I wanted to use some of the fabric that I had left over in the card. I think it turned out so cute. I hope she loves it as much as I do! I had to flip it on it's side and the card size is a bit different, but I used the CPS sketch #202.

Supplies Used: Fabric (Jo-Anns), Nestabilities (Circles and Scalloped Circles), Brads (Making Memories), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Nook and Pantry), Stamps (Gina K), Ribbon (stash)

And here's the card with the purse. I think they match!

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Another Quick Post!

Here is another card that I made this weekend. It's for the CardPatterns Sketch 99. Have a great Monday everybody.

Supplies Used: Unity Stamp Co. Le Chic and Moments in Bloom, Basic Grey Nook and Pantry Patterned Paper, repurposed the ribbon from packaging, Memento Rich Cocoa Ink

P.S. Don't forget about the card giveaway that I told you about in this post!

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Close Your Eyes

Wait, no keep them open -- otherwise you won't be able to read. :)
I created this card for CPS Sketch #199. I really like how it turned out. I think it may be my favorite card that I've created so far this year (and I think I've created 2 so far). When I was putting the card together I was really surprised at how well I like the orange and plum color together.

Supplies Used: Rubber Stamps (Ippity Faith Blooms; Unity Stamp Co. Moments in Bloom), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Nook and Pantry), Accessories (Nestabilities Circle, Scalloped Circle, Rectangle; Making Memories Brads; Doodlebug Glitter; Sewing Machine)

Also, here is something I have been meaning to show you. My 6 year old niece made me this nugget tin for Christmas. How cute is this?!

I love that she crafts with her mom (my sister -- the one who got me into all this crazy stamping and scrapbooking stuff to begin with!).

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Candy Cane Holder (and winner)

Today I have a fun project to share. I cut out these adorable little stockings using my Silhouette. Then I stitched around the sides to close them up. I stuffed them with polyester stuffing to puff them out. Then I added some Liquid Applique to make the tops puffy. I wanted to embellish them a little more, but I have pretty much run out of time (my Christmas cards are still not finished!). I am going to put a candy cane in each of these and give them to my kids at school. I love how they turned out!

I wrote the kids names in Stickles at the top of the stocking. I smudged them in the picture on purpose (not sure if I needed to, but just to be safe!). They are NOT smudged in person...okay, yes they are, but only a little. You all know that I hate Stickles, right? :) Imagine that there is a candy cane in there, I haven't bought them yet.

And the winner of my blog candy was Karen B. also enduring the freezing cold state of Wisconsin with me! Email me your address and I'll mail your stamp. katytipton at yahoo dot com.
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Somebody's a Little Bit Windy

My last two posts have been a bit long-winded, haven't they?? To make up for it, I'll keep this one short and sweet! I have two more challenge cards to show you. The first is from the Basic Grey challenge blog. They have a sketch for us this week. I have noticed that a lot of sketches lately have been catering to my clean and simple side. But this sketch took me out of my comfort zone and was a real challenge -- lots of layers, that is for sure! I made my card a square 4.5" card. The Basic Grey that I used was the Kraft collection. The stamps are from Studio 490.

The second challenge card was for a Unity Hip Hop Sketch Challenge. I used my favorite patterned paper -- Cosmo Cricket Earth Love. And the stamps are from a store kit (I can't remember which one at this very moment).

I hope you all had a great weekend. I had the last 5 days off work, and now it's time to go back. It was fun while it lasted, anyway! Happy Monday!
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A Fungi Story

My dad tells bad jokes. You know the kind I'm talking about. The ones that make you groan. We call them "Al Jokes" (that's my dad's name). Growing up, whenever we heard a bad joke we'd say "That's an Al-joke!" So when my dad told this joke, I knew it would be bad (it was), and I knew it would stick with me (it did). Here goes (is your groan ready?).

A woman announces to her friend that she is getting married for the fourth time.
"How wonderful! But I hope you don't mind me asking what happened to your first husband?"
"He ate poisonous mushrooms and died."
"Oh, how tragic! What about your second husband?"
"He ate poisonous mushrooms, too, and died."
"Oh, how terrible! I'm almost afraid to ask you about your third husband."
"He died of a broken neck."
"A broken neck?"
"He wouldn't eat the mushrooms."
{insert rim shot here}
So, in honor of my dad (who I am pretty sure doesn't read my blog), I have a mushroom card that I made for the caardvarks challenge to make a card with both the outside and inside decorated. Who knows, maybe I'll even send him the card...since he is such a FUN-GI! :)

And just so you know, I do often threaten my husband with mushrooms...or else. ;)
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Busy, Busy Blog

My blog has been awfully busy this week! That's because my husband has been gone and he left me to my own devices...what else is there to do but stamp?? After two weeks, he is coming home today. YAY! He's going to have a very hard time reclaiming his side of the bed, as I have taken to sleeping smack dab in the middle. But that's what he gets for leaving me alone for so long, right? :) So here are two challenge cards that I have made. The first is for the Limelight sketch challenge. I flipped the sketch on it's side.

I used Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday paper and a Unity stamp from Another Sweet Day. 
The second challenge card is for the Basic Grey challenge to use paper piecing. Paper piecing is my favorite method of "coloring" so this was right up my alley.

I used the Basic Grey paper Lime Rickey. The stamps are both from Unity (Love in the Air and Endings & Beginnings)
I'm sure that next week my blog won't be quite as busy since not only will my husband be home, but I start my new job! I hope you all enjoyed my week of blog posts (I think I only missed one day -- how insane!). Enjoy your long Labor Day weekend!
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CardPatterns Sketch #76...x2

I made two different cards for the CardPatterns current sketch. The first one is a square 5 1/4" card. I need to make a baby card for somebody, but after I finished this one I realized it's more appropriate for a little boy, and I need to make one for a little girl. I think if I swapped out the brown for a pink or yellow, it would make a cute girl card.

 Supplies Used: Rubber Stamps (Stampin' Up Bundle of Joy, Stampin' Up Warm Words), Cardstock (Bazzil, Stampin' Up), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Kraft collection, Jillibean Soup), Accessories (Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch, Making Memories brad, Nestabilities scalloped circles, lace, buttons)
The second card is a standard A2 size card, but I still used the CardPatterns sketch.

Supplies Used: Rubber Stamps (Unity Stamp Co. Stuck on You), Cardstock (Jillibean Soup kraft, Stampin' Up Very Vanilla), Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday), Ribbon (American Crafts), Accessories (Basic Grey rhinestones, Martha Stewart Scallop Punch, sewing machine)

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A Birthday Card and a Little Update

Well, I have lived here in Wisconsin for 2 months...and I've already rearranged my craft room! There are still boxes that aren't unpacked in other rooms of the house...Priorities, you know? :) I had to give up a few things that I liked about the old arrangement, but I like this so much better. I'm not so crowded and everything has a spot where it goes. I don't have to try and work in messiness anymore! But before we get to that, here's a card I made using the CardPatterns Sketch #74. It's a birthday card for my niece.

Supplies Used: Rub-ons (Crate Paper), Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Kraft, Cosmo Cricket Earth Love), Ric-rac (American Crafts), Rhinestones

And here's one picture of my new layout of my craft room. I won't bore you with lots of pictures...today. :)

Also, just a side note. I have listed a bunch of stuff for sale on Splitcoast. Stampin' Up, Unity, Hero Arts, and some odds and ends. Not having a job means I need to clean out the stuff I'm not using. Boo.

Thanks for looking. And now that my room is organized, I should be back to crafting and blogging more.

 

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A Disappearing Act

Did you notice that I pulled a disappearing act of sorts on my blog? I'm not even really sure what I was doing...but apparently it wasn't blogging! So today I tried to be inspired to make something. I tried a couple of different challenges -- sketches, Basic Grey, and so on. I finally found something that sparked a little bit of creativity. It was the Finding Inspiration in a Layout Challenge from Moxie Fab. Here's what I came up with:

I was inspired by the layout of the patterned paper in the middle and in the leaves with buttons on the corner of the layout.
Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Nook and Pantry), Rubber Stamps (Unity Burberry Tree, Lizzie Anne Designs Sketched Sentiments), Buttons (SEI), Border Punch (Fiskars Apron Lace)  Pin It Now!

Corner Table and Some Corner Bookmarks

Jon and I were given a gift card to a restaurant and last night we decided to go. First of all, this has nothing to do with the bookmarks, so you may skip reading this part if you like. Secondly, you should understand that we eat at places like Cracker Barrel and McDonalds. Places like Applebees and Red Lobster are our fancy birthday/anniversary places. So, off we went to this restaurant. Here is what we experienced:

• They put us in our own little "private" room, right next to the, uh, entertainment. (I use the term "entertainment" loosely.) The entertainment was a keyboard/piano/little magic black box with a guy singing (again, I will use the word "singing" loosely).
  
• The wall paper was green with huge pink flowers. The ceiling was draped in fabric to match. The lamp on the table was leopard print (are you picturing it?! Pretty, huh?).
  
• The food was good
• A little girl wanted to sing, so the guy attempted to play Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star. However, it wasn't on his little magic black box, so... anyway, the girl was cute. Then the guy was inspired to sing a song to her. The Barney Song (I love you, you love me...). Here was where I made my mistake. I asked Jon if we could go any further downhill then this.
  
• Drunk hispanic guy decides he wants to sing with the keyboard guy too. The keyboard guy doesn't speak spanish and can't get the drunk guy to go away. Mostly all I understood was it was his birthday and he wanted to sing.
  
• The food was good -- *ETA: I had roasted chicken, mashed potatoes and carrots. Jon had a half rack of ribs, salad, and a baked potato. For dessert (the best part), was a white chocolate cheesecake. (we wanted to use up the gift card! hehe). Sorry for leaving the most important part out! :)
  

OKAY! So, onto the bookmarks. I made these cute corner bookmarks using the tutorial on Splitcoaststampers. I love how they turned out!

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Basic Grey Nook & Pantry), Cardstock, Border Punch (Fiskars Apron Lace), Nestabilites (Labels 4), Ribbon (May Arts), Rubber Stamps (Taylored Expressions Faith & Hope)

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Jillibean Soup Old World Cabbage Soup: Caraway Seeds/Diced Tomatoes), Felt Ribbon (May Arts), Cardstock (SU! Very Vanilla), Brad (Making Memories), Border Punch (Fiskars, Threading Water)

P.S. These bookmarks and more are for sale in my ArtFire store!

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Some Father's Day Card Creations

I started a little card shop this past week (you can see it here). One of my friends requested some Father's Day cards, so I got right on it (ahhh, the joys of unemployment!). Well, I felt that this would be the perfect opportunity to go check out the local scrapbook store that is here (The Memory Bank). I figured out quickly that if you want to buy stamps for a special holiday, you better not wait until the last minute -- they were out of most "Father's Day" stuff. So, after working my way around the store twice, I decided to bite the bullet...that's right, I bought clear stamps. I love the look of the stamps, but had a horrible time getting a good image (I did run an eraser over the stamp first before I inked it, but it didn't seem to help). However, as many of you know, the good thing about clear is that you can see where you stamped and "fix" the image. So here are a few cards I made:

This is the first one I made. Jon was disappointed that I sold it, so I made another one for him to send to his dad that is somewhat similar.

The stamp set is from Tim Holtz and is called The Journey.

The next two I made using some Soft Spoken stickers.

To see other Father's Day gift ideas, sponsored by Craft Critique, click here.
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