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Nov 30, 2009

The 'Jiffy' Girls are at it Again!

Happy Monday everyone! Today's Jiffy Challenge was not much of a challenge at all. When you've got such CUTE products to work with... it all just comes together easily. :) Just to re-cap... JiFFy stands for "Just For Fun". Each month, one girl sends everyone patterned paper & anther girl chooses a stamp. Then... we all make something using the same product and see what everyone comes up with.

This month, Michele chose THE cutest image from My Favorite Things. (This little sweetie is from the Snow Day set in the new Pure Innocence collection.) And... to make it even sweeter, Kim from MFT sent each of us a set of our own! Thank you Kim!!!! :)

Lori chose some paper from Cosmo Cricket's Nutmeg line (a collection that I've been DYING to get my hands on)..... so that was just icing on the cake!

Here's the card I came up with, using the latest sketch from CPS:

I added sparkly glitter accents (although you'd have to click on the pic to get it enlarged enough to tell)... and added a heart from one of Kim Hughes' sets to the sentiment.

Make sure to check out the other FABULOUS girls' projects! I can't wait to see them myself! :)

Alli Miles
Carole Burrage
Lori Craig
Kim Hughes

& Michele Boyer

Nov 26, 2009

Season of Blessings

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! Hopefully most of you are out spending time with family & friends today. :) We have so much to be thankful for & I'm so glad that we have a day set aside to just think about those things.

Earlier this week, our family delivered some food to another family who needed some help this year. They were watching for us from the door and came out to meet us and take the bags of food inside. I couldn't help but overhear two of the boys as they ran inside with a bag of food. They were yelling excitedly, "We have food! We have food!". It made my heart break. I wonder how long it had been since they had a good meal.... or any food at all. Our family has had it tough this year, but after witnessing that... I felt like a millionaire. No matter how rough it's been... we have been SO blessed and are so fortunate to have so many of our needs met. My heart is definitely filled with thanksgiving this year.

My little guy invited me to his preschool's Thanksgiving feast yesterday. I had to show you this picture. Is he not the CUTEST pilgrim you've ever seen? LOL!

Here is a card that I gave to the family that we delivered food to earlier this week. I used the frame from November's KOM and cut an opening for the sentiment to peek through.

Thanks for visiting my blog! I hope you have a wonderful holiday! :)

Stamps: (frame: Nov. KOM); (sentiment: Sept. KOM); (fall flourish: Simple Blessings set) Unity Stamp Company


Nov 22, 2009

Christmas In the Old Country

Have you seen the latest Moxie Fab World challenge?!? I am a sucker when it comes to folk design. There's just something about it that makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I found this AWESOME paper collection months ago by Kaiser Crafts (Mumma Bushka) and have been waiting for the perfect time to cut into it. One of the pages is full of large Matryoshka dolls and I wanted to use one of them for my focal point.

This project started out as a card... but then I spotted this cute packaging from Making Memories & I knew I had to utilize it. So... I dumped out the embellishments that it held and 'recycled' it to become a neat Christmas gift box.

Matryoshka Christmas Box

I did a lot of work to my doll to make her look Christmas-y and festive. First, I cut some patterned paper to fit her belly... and then I used Copics to change the color of the rest of her outfit. I wanted to try my hand at the latest Embellish challenge too... so I added eyelets to her belly. Jillibean Soup makes some really cute felt flower embellishments... so I used one to create a poinsettia for her head wrap. All of my patterned paper is from Cosmo Cricket's Fa La La collection. The sentiment is from the Vintage Christmas Expressions set by CHF.

Thanks for checking out my 'Old Country' Christmas box! I hope you have a great Monday!!! :)

Nov 19, 2009

Getting in the Holiday Spirit

Good morning!!! I woke up today feeling all crafty and motivated to get creative. Tonight, my Crafty Chicks class meets for our monthly get-together and I have all kinds of Christmas projects up my sleeve! So... I'm putting last minute touches together for that and also made this card using November's Kit of the Month from Unity!

As soon as I saw this kit, my heart started pumping a little bit harder because I LOVE to use game pieces on my paper crafting projects. I think this crossword has so much potential! You could use it for any occasion and fill it in with words to match your theme. But... today, I decided to leave it blank and pair it with a sentiment block from the set. Once again, I think the sentiment could be used for so many things... but I'm in the holiday spirit and went with a Christmas theme.

Unity - Christmas Game Piece

I found this great sketch from Everything But the Kitchen Sink & wanted to utilize it on my card. I just cut up the striped paper and altered the angles to create my pattern. I found these tiny jingle bells at JoAnn's the other day and thought they would look festive tied up on my card. The star is a chipboard piece from Cosmo Cricket that I inked and antiqued a bit to coordinate. All in all... I think I'm pretty happy with how it turned out! It almost makes me want to put up my Christmas tree right now! ;)

Make sure to check out the Unity Blog today! They're having a Garage Sale & you've got to love a bargain! :) Have a good one!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: (crossword, sentiment block: Simply Magical kit) Unity Stamp Co.
Ink: (Dark Brown & Burnt Sienna chalk ink) Clearsnap; (Stonewashed Adirondack ink; Antique Linen & Brushed Corduroy Distress Ink) Ranger
Cardstock: (Birchtone Dark) Prism; (Rustic Cream) PTI
Patterned Paper: ("Toy Soldier Parade": Playtimes Past Collection) Graphic 45
Accessories: (Star: Buck Naked Chipboard Buttons) Cosmo Cricket; (brown gingham ribbon) May Arts; brown twine; jingle bells

Nov 17, 2009

Unity Tuesday

Hey there! I have a couple of projects to share with you today using some of my yummy Unity stamps! I had several of these wooden blocks left over from a project waaaaaay back and thought it would be fun to decoupage them to create something cute for my house. The letters I used are stamps from Unity's Playing Cards Alpha set. If you look at the set, you'll notice that they have a border around each letter (which I love... but wouldn't fit on my blocks) --- so, I just inked up the letters by themselves. I love how they all have a different font. It makes for an interesting, homespun feel. I used several scraps of Early Bird paper and stickers... and then inked the edges & finished it with a coat of Modge Podge.

And... here is a fun little turkey card I made using the Build a Turkey set. I just stamped the feathers onto scraps of paper (mostly Cosmo Cricket) and cut them out. It made for a super quick card. The sentiment is from the set too. I know some of you flip out when you see 'Happy Turkey Day'... thinking that we've forgotten to be thankful... yada yada yada. But... if you read my blog, you know I am completely thankful for so many things in life. And, for those of you who can't believe that someone would mind the sentiment... I am just telling you the way it is. Some people take serious offense to the turkey line. I'm not even kidding! :) Personally, I'm thankful for the turkey and everything that it stands for... so I'm all for having a Happy Turkey Day. Moving on... the 'gobble... gobble' at the top of my card is a rub-on from Melissa Frances. I'm pretty sure that sentiment is safe ;)

Thanks for coming for a visit! :)

Nov 15, 2009

Happy Fall

This weekend, I had a chance to get together with a few friends and get crafty! This is one of the cards I made using this adorable scarecrow image from Whipper Snapper. It was nice to just sit and color... and chat with the girls (even with a house-full of screaming kids). ;) I hope we can do it again sometime!

Happy Fall Scarecrow

Stamp: Fall Scarecrow (Whipper Snapper)
Paper: ??? Sassafras I think ???
Copic Markers
Fiskars' Apron Lace punch
Rub-on: Melissa Frances

Nov 14, 2009

Snowbody... and I mean Snowbody!

(This is post #2 today (I know! What's up!?!), so if you want to see more, scroll down)

Today, the Unity girls are showcasing the November Store Kit - Believe in Fairytales!


This kit is packed full of images that you can use all year through! I think this snowman image is just adorable! I love the different patterns in the stamp... and decided to play off of them just a bit with my paper. I tied a piece of string around his twig and 'dangled' a gold heart from the end. I bought these heart brads about a year ago and had no idea what to do with them (hate it when I do that!)... but thought this worked out pretty well! Now I just have to find a use for the other 50. ;) The sentiment is just perfect (and is part of the set too!).

Thanks for coming over! Now... I'd better go feed my children before Social Services comes after me. ;)

I've Gone Plum Crazy!!!

If someone would have told me six months ago that I was going to fall in love with the color purple, I would have probably thrown up a little in my mouth. (Sorry, but it's true. Hated the color.) I don't know what happened, but I have to say --- there are certain shades of the color that I can't get enough of. That yummy, hint-of-red beet color is EVERYWHERE these days. I had to compliment Freda, the 90 year old lady at church, because she had the perfect shade on last week. She's still got it, I tell you! (Maybe it's because she's got a crush on my 30 year old brother and wants to stay on top of the fads. I don't know.)

Anyway... this month's Moxie Fab Challenge was to use this popular color on our paper crafted projects. If you're coming to my local card class this month, this is one of the projects you'll be making, btw! :) I love the unconventional colors for Christmas. Fun stuff! Thanks for the little push, Cath!

The snowflake was an ugly chipboard gray color initially. But... with a little ink and Glitter Mist... it turned into a vibrant, shimmery focal point. The ribbon and cardstock are 'Beet' from the Paper Source and the patterned paper is an older Stampin' Up design.

Nov 12, 2009

The Artist in You

Hey everyone! Today I have a card to share with you using Unity's newest set - The Artist in You by Donna Downey. This is such a beautiful set! I love the silhouette images and the sentiments are fantastic. The mix of handwritten and old type fonts is really cool too. :)


This card was super simple to make. These images just do the work for you. I inked up my stamp in dark brown and then highlighted with a warm red. Stamp and go. Easy peasy.

Make sure to check out Donna's set in it's entirety and take a peek at the HUGE sales going on today -- which can all be found on the Unity Blog! :)

Have a great one!

Nov 9, 2009

JIFFY Girls Post

Morning! :) Today I get to share a card I made with my JIFFY (Just For Fun) buddies. This month, I got to chose the image and used Papertrey Ink's Autumn Abundance set. I LOVE fall. The warm but vibrant colors... the smells... the crispness in the air -- I just wish it could stay like this forever. This is also the season of thankfulness -- and I have SO much to be thankful for! :) I made this card for one of my blog readers (you know who you are) who has the most amazing heart. Makes me all teary just thinking about it. This card reads, "Thanks just doesn't seem like enough"'.... and it is so true. Thank you again from the bottom of my heart!

I'm so thankful for my boys & their amazing & pure hearts. I'm completely grateful that my husband has a job... and one that he LOVES! I'm thankful for my extended family & all that they've done for us to help us make it through tough times. I'm thankful for true friends... both locally and those I've met through blogging. Your encouragement has meant so much. And... I'm thankful for a God who has never left my side through it all. No matter what the day holds... life is good! :)

Alli picked our paper this month. I was a little nervous when I found out that it was from My Mind's Eye's Colorful CHRISTMAS collection. Yikes! --- fall + winter??? But... thank goodness it was double sided. I really love the orange and aqua together!

Several weeks ago, I bought this roll of thin, adhesive backed cork & knew it would come in handy one day! I used one of my dies and cut out a panel using my Cuttlebug. Worked like a charm! And... it takes ink pretty well too! I stamped my sentiment using chalk ink & made 'stitches' with a fine tipped marker.


Want to see what the other girls made using the SAME image & paper??? Check them out here:

Alli Miles
Lori Craig
Kim Hughes
& Michele Boyer

Nov 5, 2009

An Encouraging Message

Hey everyone! Today, I have a fun little card using an image from Unity's November Kit of the Month - Simply Magical! Tanis designed this adorable retro typewriter & I just think it's the cutest thing ever! (Thanks, Tanis!) :) Make sure to check out the Unity Blog to see all the sales & specials going on today!!!

The paper in the typewriter is actually blank when you stamp it... which makes it really easy to customize! I used a Melissa Frances rub-on for my sentiment... but you could even hand-write a little message if you wanted to. (my handwriting stinks!) There's also a super cute sentiment in the set that's made to coordinate with the typewriter. Lots of options. :)

The sketch is from this week's Mojo Monday Challenge.

I used black sticky-backed felt to layer behind my typewriter image. I bought a sheet of it to make Emery's Luigi mustache for his Halloween costume... which turned out so cute! (I'll have to post pics later!) It's great to use on craft projects - but... just so you know, the adhesive on this type of felt is made out of some NASA-like, super-glue derivative. I'm not kidding! I just about peeled my son's face off trying to take of his mustache. It was not a pretty sight. And... his face was pink and gooey for about 24 hours. What a wax job! LOL! Mustache #2 was covered in a layer of baby powder on the sticky side. Worked like a charm. ;)


Stamp: Simply Magical set - Unity
Paper: Sweet Marmalade 6x6 pad - Sassafras Lass
Cardstock: Curry, Red - The Paper Source; blue Core'dinations
Rub-on: Vintage Transfers - Melissa Frances
Markers: Copic
Tools: Apron Lace Punch - Fiskars; sewing machine & thread
Embellishment: flower - Sassafras Lass; button & string - craft supply

Nov 2, 2009

A Hodgepodge of Cards

These past few weeks have been a blur! For some reason, I feel like I've been playing catch-up for awhile now. So.... this is going to be a long post, but I wanted to show you some of the things I've been working on & haven't yet had a chance to blog. :) You can find a supply list & instructions at the bottom of the post for each card.

#1 - You're One of a Kind

#2 - You're Rad
#3 - Feel Better
#4 - Chicks Rule
#5 - Christmas Wishes

And... #6 - 100% Happy

#1:
Clear Stamps: Papertrey Ink (Teacher's Apple set)
Ink: Ranger (Denim Adirondack); Papertrey Ink (Fresh Snow); Tsukineko (Versamark)
Cardstock: The Paper Source (Night, Pool, Curry)
Accessories: Ranger (clear embossing powder); Prismacolor (cream pencil); Creative Impressions (Tape Measure twill); Copic (markers)
Tools: sewing machine & thread; hole punch (craft supply)
Computer Generated Font: “Penmanship Print” from dafont.com

1. Stamp apple outline image repeatedly onto aqua cardstock using navy ink. Stamp center of apples using watermark ink. Emboss with clear embossing powder. Ink edges of aqua panel with white ink.
2. Stamp one apple outline image onto curry cardstock. Trim. Use colored pencil to add detail. Adhere onto aqua panel. Color stem and leaf with markers.
3. Adhere twill to top corner of card.
4. Machine stitch around aqua panel. Adhere panel to navy cardstock base.
5. Print sentiment from computer. Punch hole in one corner and trim with scissors to give the appearance of notebook paper. Adhere sentiment to card front using dimensional adhesive.

#2:
Cardstock: The Paper Source (Chartreuse, Beet, Red)
Printed Paper: Cosmo Cricket (The Boyfriend, “Borders”)
Computer Generated Font: (Madonna, from fontriver.com)
Accessories: Cosmo Cricket (The Boyfriend, Ready Set Chipboard)

1. Create card base from red cardstock.
2. Trim purple cardstock to create card front.
3. Trim slightly smaller piece of green cardstock. Print computer generated sentiment. Adhere to card.
4. Trim cassette tape paper and layer onto red cardstock. Adhere to card.
5. Adhere chipboard boom box to card.

#3:
Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms (bandages, sentiment – Comforting Hugs set)
Ink: Tsukineko (Memento Tuxedo Black); Clearsnap (Blackbird chalk ink)
Cardstock: Memory Box (Paprika, Eggshell); Papertrey Ink (Kraft)
Printed Paper: Graphic 45 (Playtimes Past, “Dollie’s Teaparty”)
Accessories: Copic (markers); Spellbinders (Scalloped Square Nestabilities die); sewing machine & thread, sandpaper

1. Cut square from Paprika cardstock. Sand edges and layer onto die cut patterned paper. Stitch in place.
2. Adhere die cut panel onto kraft card base.
3. Stamp two bandage images onto Eggshell cardstock. Color with makers and trim. Adhere onto card front using dimensional adhesive.
4. Stamp sentiment.

#4:
Stamps: Unity Stamp Company (Chicks Rule sentiment – “Everything Extraordinary” set)
Ink: Tsukineko (Memento Tuxedo Black)
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink (True Black); Memory Box (Persimmon)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey (June Bug “Crazy Quilt”); Daisy D’s (Gazette); Cosmo Cricket (Early Bird Elements)
Accessories: Cosmo Cricket (Early Bird chipboard); Sakura (glitter pen); denim fabric; sewing machine & thread

1. Create card front using black cardstock.
2. Trim & adhere slightly smaller piece of blue patterned paper.
3. Adhere square of ‘newsprint’ patterned paper to center of card.
4. Cut square ‘frame’ from denim and stitch in place.
5. Stamp sentiment onto word balloon panel. Add color with glitter pen. Adhere chipboard flower. Layer stamped panel onto Persimmon cardstock and adhere to cardfront using dimensional foam adhesive.
6. Adhere bird image onto card front.

#5:
Stamps: Cornish Heritage Farms (Night Before Christmas)
Ink: Clearsnap (Dark Brown chalk ink); Ranger (Brushed Corduroy, Antique Linen Distress Inks); Tsukineko (Versamark ink)
Cardstock: Bazzill Basics (Honey); Papertrey Ink (Pure Poppy); Prism (Suede Brown Dark, Simply Smooth Natural)
Accessories: Ranger (Clear Embossing Powder); Fiskars (Apron Lace border punch); Copic (makers); craft supply (pom-poms, string); sewing machine & thread

1. Create card base from brown cardstock.
2. Adhere slightly smaller piece of red cardstock in place.
3. Trim small strip of yellow cardstock and adhere to top of card. Punch border along bottom edge of another piece of yellow cardstock and adhere to bottom of card. Ink edges and stitch in place.
4. Thread string through two pom-poms. Tie ends to secure and adhere between the two yellow cardstock panels.
5. Stamp vintage Christmas image onto cream cardstock. Color with markers and layer onto brown cardstock.
6. Ink entire stamped image with Versamark ink. Heat emboss with clear embossing powder.
7. Adhere onto card front using dimensional adhesive.

#6:
Stamps: Unity Stamp Co. (100% Happy set)
Cardstock: Prism (Birchtone Dark); Martha Stewart Crafts (green decorative card base); The Paper Source (Papaya)
Printed Paper: Sassafras (Faund of You Too, “In Love”); The Paper Source (Papaya Flower Circle)
Ink: Clearsnap (Dark Brown Colorbox chalk ink)
Accessories: Kaiser Crafts (pearls); October Afternoon (Cherry Hill cardstock sticker)
Tools: EK Success (large corner rounder)

1. Trim dear image from patterned paper. Adhere onto papaya cardstock. Round top left corner and layer onto dark brown cardstock. Round same corner of brown cardstock.
2. Adhere pearls to the back of deer.
3. Stamp sentiment onto cardstock sticker. Adhere to deer panel using dimensional adhesive.
4. Adhere deer panel onto floral patterned paper using dimensional adhesive. Mat patterned paper with brown cardstock. Adhere to green card base.


Nov 1, 2009

It's November?!? Seriously???

Wow! Where does the time go? I can't believe it's November already! (But... I did thoroughly enjoy having the extra hour to sleep in today!!!) My husband has my camera, so I can't show you any projects or pics yet... but I did want to show you the newest Kit Club set from Unity! I think this one is my favorite one yet!!! Whoo Hooo!


And... I JUST saw the newest incentive set & I'm DYING HERE! I HAVE to have this set! :)


Want to know why?????........................ (Here's a pic of my hubster & I 10+ years ago on our wedding day!)

Hopefully I'll be back with some projects. But... until then... have a FANTASTIC day!!!

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