Life's Too Short

I love this Itty Bitty from Unity Stamp Co. Life's too short to match socks! I think instead of matching socks, we should all craft instead! I'm going to try and make a better effort to not only craft, but to blog more too. I really enjoy sharing my creations. And I have about 100 things that I've been thinking of that I would like to make/do. Anyway, on to the card!

Supplies Used: Unity Stamp Co., Jillibean Soup (Blossom Soup) patterned paper, May Arts ribbon, Circle Nestabilities, Sizzix Dots embossing folder **This card now available for sale in my Etsy store!**
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How About Some Invitations?

Even though I have kind of given up the card making for now, I had a request from a friend to make some baby shower invitations for her. I decided since I had the stuff to do it, I might as well. She wanted a farm animal theme. Pretty much everything on the card was cut with my Silhouette (talk about easy).

Don't you just love the little tush on the back??
The hardest part was my Silhouette wouldn't read my registration marks on any of the cardstock except the yellow. It was weird. I tried manually setting it up, but it wasn't centering it very well. So here's a trick I figured out. I did the printing using a plain white piece of paper. Then I loaded that into the Silhouette and had it read those registration marks. Then I pulled out the white piece of paper and put in the colored cardstock and lined up the registration mark with the cutter. It cut perfectly almost every time. However, it was a pain. So you can see I used a lot of yellow cardstock. :) I tried changing my ink cartridge to a new one, I tried printing the thickest, darkest registration marks that I could, but nothing would work. Anyway, they turned out pretty cute anyway. I plan on making some cupcake flags using the little animals for the party too. I think they will be cute.
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Sunshine!

Sunshine! There is FINALLY sunshine!! Hooray!! I'm not even going to jinx myself by saying that winter is over...however, for now I will enjoy the nice, warm weather. And in honor of the sun, I made a card. Unity has a new sketch challenge where you have to use a kit of the month. I am not a kit of the month subscriber, but I do have a whole bunch from when I use to be (and also, the grab bag I won had a few from kits too!). So this stamp is from an old kit of the month, a pocket full of... (July 2009!), but it's still a good one.

I used Jillibean Soup twine and Blossom Soup paper, EK Success scallop punch, and nesties for this card.

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Ribbon and Trims

Today I have a few cards that qualify for the Clear It Out challenge to use ribbon or trims on your projects. First, I needed a birthday card for a boy turning 10. Ten is about the age where a boy turns into almost a full panic mode when anything remotely girly is near them. You know how girls scream at snakes? That's how boys scream at ribbon. Okay, I'm generalizing a little bit -- but for the boy I made this card for, it's true. He does NOT like girly things. So I tried my very best to make a plain, no frills card for him. Instead of ribbon, I used some twine.

I also needed a sympathy card. So I made this card using some of my favorite May Arts ribbon.

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Another Mother's Day....

With Mother's Day right around the corner, I have been working on getting some cards made. When I was growing up, my dad would always get his mom something. Whenever somebody would ask him what he got his wife (my mom), his response would be -- why would I get her something, she's not my mom? So to me, it also seemed normal that you just got something for your own mom. What I've learned is that my dad is the exception, not the rule. There are many people that send Mother's Day cards to everybody -- aunts, Grandma's, Godmothers, and so on. I know this because my husband is one of those people. :) So here is another Mother's Day card that I made. This one uses CPS Sketch #216.

Supplies Used: Blooming with Love (Stampin' Up), October Afternoon 5 & Dime patterned paper, Circle and rectangle Nestabilites, May Art ribbon
So, whether you celebrate just your mom or all the moms, I hope everybody has a great day...and I'm sure I'll be back to share another Mother's Day card soon!
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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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A Woodsy Birthday Card

Today I used CardPatterns sketch #111 to create a masculine birthday card. I also wanted to post for FWF so I used the Ippity stamp from Life's Little Moments set. Then I decided that I would go ahead and do the inside of my card too, and enter it into the My Unity Place challenge. I didn't really use a lot of stamps since the paper is the star of this card, but I really like how it turned out.

Supplies Used: Ippity(Life's Little Moments), Nikki Sivils (Tree Love Patterned Paper), Jillibean Soup (Bean Sprouts), Nestabilities (Labels 1)
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Spring Birdies

This week is my spring break. I had grand ideas of working in my garden and planting some vegetables. Apparently nature had other ideas...winter isn't over just yet. Today the sun's shining (even though it's still cold) and the snow is starting to melt! So instead of working out in the garden, I decided to work in my craft room. I played along with the Unity theme challenge for the month. This month's theme is birds.

Supplies Used: Unity Stamp Co. (endings and beginnings), Ippity Stamps (Life's Little Moments), October Afternoon (5 & Dime), Nestabilities (Labels 1), Fiskars Border Punch (Apron Lace), Jillibean Soup (Bean Stalks Red)
I hope you are all enjoying your spring -- and don't have too much snow on the ground!
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Let's Hang Out

Well, I didn't make anything yet...but I have a card that I made a little while ago that I still need to share. I had fun paper piecing the tiny little clothes on the clothesline. These stamps are from one of my favorite kit of the months, Perfect in Every Way. I don't get the kotm anymore, but this month's looks so cute and is a little tempting!

Supplies Used: Unity Stamp Co (perfect in every way), Jillibean Soup (Egg Drop Soup), Nestabilities (Scalloped Rectangle), Fiskars Border Punch (Threading Water), May Art ribbon
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A Birthday Card

Wow. How's that for a creative title, huh? Well, that's what I made today. A birthday card. I used the SFYTT sketch, which is being sponsored by Unity Stamp Co. this month. I needed a masculine'ish birthday card and I thought this sketch would work well. Here's the sketch:

And here's my card:

Supplies Used: Unity Stamp Co. (Sassy Alphabet),Nikki Sivils patterned paper (Tree Love), twine, button, brads, Nestabilities Rectangle, Clear Mini Stamps (happy birthday)

Check out my post here if you are interested in learning more about my blog and winning an Itty Bitty from Unity Stamp Co.

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A Short One

Well, after my two long rambling posts this week, I am going to give you a break! A super short post. Here's my card for CPS Sketch #206. Short and "sweet"!

Supplies Used: Unity Stamp Co. Rubber Stamps, Kaisercraft Rhinestones, Nestabilities Circle, Rectangle, Scalloped Rectangle, Paper Piercer, Melissa Frances Kitschy Kicthen Patterned Paper
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A Lesson in Simple

This week Card Patterns is celebrating their 2nd anniversary by having a blog hop. What I like about their blog hop compared to others is that you only have to visit one blog a day. Usually on a blog hop by the time I hit the 4th one, I'm scrolling down and looking quickly (like when I am in Google Reader, I just scroll with my finger on the down arrow until something catches my eye). So with their blog hop I am actually taking the time to read the entire post and look at the card. A card that DT member, Tracy, made particularly caught my attention. It was a clean and simple card with bright colors. Here's what caught my attention and really got my wheels turning -- she put three buttons on her card. She only tied twine onto one of them. I seem to think that if I do something to one element on the card, I have to do it to ALL of them. Apparently not. Who knew. Add to this "stunning" realization an article that I read on the Paper Crafts blog by Go-to Gal Jessica Witty and I was ready to tackle a card. My card is still not perfect. It's still actually a little busy. But let me show you a short list of what I would have done originally.

1. The background of the card was originally the words "sweet pea little peanut" across the whole thing. Talk about BUSY
2. I was going to replace the background with patterned paper (instead I opted for a solid piece of cardstock)
3. I was going to stitch around the whole square with words, instead I just did zig zag stitches in the corners
4. I only added two scalloped circles instead of doing all 3 that way
   

So, even though my card is still not quite where I pictured it to be and is still a little bit too busy...I think I can call it a cleanER and simple card...or a not quite so busy and simple card...or a not quite as much card vomit on this and simple card. Take your pick. And thank you to Tracy and Jessica for getting me back on track!

Supplies Used: Little Me by Unity Stamp Co., Circle and Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, We R Memory Keepers Ribbon, Fiskars Apron Lace Border Punch, Sewing Machine, Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday patterned paper Pin It Now!

Sometimes a Card Just Won't Do

Can you believe that I said that?? Well, you know sometimes you feel like you should do more then just send a little card...so I sent a little card and some delicious (if I do say so myself) homemade cinnamon rolls! Sorry the picture is so bad. My battery died so I used Jon's BlackBerry. It doesn't take very good pictures.

Supplies Used: October Afternoon Patterned Paper, Our Daily Bread Designs rubber stamps, Labels 4 Nestabilities, American Crafts lace, button, Fiskars Threading Water border punch
And if you want to make some delicious looking cinnamon rolls (with a bread machine, they are so easy!), you can find the recipe here.

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What's Shakin'?

How cute are these salt and pepper shakers?? Another perfect Valentine card! I made this card using the CardPatterns sketch #101. I've been on a roll with these challenges this past week! My blogging will probably slow down again here pretty soon because I have some sewing projects that I have to get done for a birthday gift. You'll get to see those soon too, though. :)

Supplies Used: Rubber Stamps (Unity What's Shakin'?), Patterned Paper (Melissa Francis Kitschy Kitchen), Accessories (May Arts ribbon, Making Memories brads, Nestabilities rectangle and scalloped rectangle)

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Everyone Is a Star

Here is a valentine that I made for one of my nephews. I used the current Get Sketchy sketch.

Supplies Used: Rubber Stamps (Unity a pocket full of...; friendship, love, miracles), Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket Material Girl), Accessories (Nestabilities Circles and Scallop Circles; American Crafts lace)
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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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Nothing But Blue Skies

Well, nothing but blue skies and a snow-covered ground around here anyway. Brrr, it has been C.O.L.D. Anyway, on to my card. I made this for the CPS Sketch #201.

That's all I have for now. Stay warm!
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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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Christmas Hope

Happy Blizzard Weather! And I'm not talking about the delicious treat from Dairy Queen either. It's a blizzard here in Wisconsin, so I spent my day working on Christmas cards (and not getting very many done either...whoops). Here is a card I made for the caardvarks challenge to make a monochromatic card. This is the last caardvarks challenge. It was one of my favorite challenge blogs, so I am disappointed to see them go, but I'm sure it's a lot of work.

Supplies Used: Patterned Paper (Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather), Cardstock (SU Riding Hood Red), Ribbon (May Arts), Die Cut (Nestabilities Labels One), Rubber Stamps (Unity Snowflakes Fall from Heaven, Taylored Expressions Christmas Blessings)
So what is one of your favorite blogs to visit for challenges? This weekend is the last chance to enter a comment for my blog candy. Stay warm!
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Apparently I'm a Little Too Dramatic

Maybe you noticed this in the last post? I write for effect...I wasn't literally crying about the snow or anything. I will survive the winter. No worries. There is one thing that I love/hate about winter though. That's wearing sweaters and sweatshirts. I love being all cuddled up in a comfy sweater. What I hate though is when I have to put on a coat over the top of them. Let's just say I'm big enough without all the layers...add the coat and I have a serious oomp-a-loomp-a problem. I look like I could do some serious damage to some bowling pins. I better not bend down when standing on top of a hill... You get my drift. Big and round. :) Someday I will figure out how to be warm and stylish. Until then... I have a card! I am really loving the Cosmo Cricket Mitten Weather paper. I really like the non-traditional colors for Christmas cards.

P.S. The snow didn't stick, the sun is shining and it's pretty nice today! YAY! Pin It Now!