I'm baaack

Alrighty, then. After 17 1/2 hours of travel yesterday I have finally arrived at my cozy little home! The travel included a 3 hour train ride, 1/2 hour train ride, 6 hour lay over, 2 planes and a truck to get home. I really enjoyed the train rides. Not at all what I expected and I think I would love a cross country trip on a train. Very pleasant. I know, I know get on with the cards! I shall and will post as they emerge.

I'll be back

One of my best friends passed away Sunday evening so I will be in Texas for a couple of weeks. I'll post new things in October.

Cowabunga Bears

Here's another spin on da bears.
Paper: Bermuda Bay, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP
Ink: Mambo Melon, Crushed Curry, Bermuda Bay, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Blush Blossom, Pink Passion, Basic Black, Craft White
Other: Filigree brad blossom with yellow Circle Fire rhinestone brad, 2 - way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin' Dimensionals

Imperfections

You know, I thought I was a perfectionist, but when I see my card photos close up I see things that I didn't when taking the photo or making the card. I can't believe I made a card that a dimensional is visible. Boy, my inner perfectionist must be on vacation. I see a spot on the pink card but after seeing it I was able to blow it off because thank goodness, it was a ribbon fray but then, what the heck? I see streaks on my bear card and haven't an idea what would have caused that unless I had glue streaks or something on my wrist when applying the 'stars'. Ok, I fixed it. It was some glue streaks so you should not see them now. Maybe I'll fix the rest and repost the new photos and delete this blog altogether. =] Then again, no, it wouldn't be fair to let you think that I, a flawed individual, was absolutely perfect. This note is to let you know that, yes, I do see the sloppies and I promise to NEVER post a card less than perfect on this blog ever again. Witches honor! If I do please feel free to call me on it, I mean, it should be no less than gorgeous,right?

Under the Stars

I LOVE this stamp set. I have seen so many things done with it in entirely different areas. I will make a few more later today to show what I mean. I have a BIL having a bday later this month and he likes to camp so I thought I would do something with the bear and racoon. I need a tent! This is my first play with this set so if you're not crazy about this card just hang on there, I may do something that you like later!
Cardstock:Handsome Hunter, Sahara Sand, Going Gray, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Brocade Blue, Certainly Celery
Inks: Basic Black, Night of Navy, Craft White, Sahara Sand, Brocade Blue, uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (teeth and eyes), Mellow Moss
Stamps: Itty Bitty Backgrounds, Under the Stars, Lovely as A Tree, Just Beachy
Embellishments: 2 - way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Stampin' Dimensionals
All products from Stampin' Up!

Eastern Bella

A simple card. I bought the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder a while back and just used it for the first time here. I think I like it. I saw an item while web shopping that had this fab color combo and knew I had to make a card with it!
Cardstick: Pink Passion, Basic Black, Whisper White
Inks: Pink Passion, Basic Black
Stamps: Eastern Blooms, Bella's Bloom
Ribbon: Black Gingham
Embossing Folder: Elegant Bouquet

Direction of Your Dreams

So, I have this dilemma: I love Decor Elements but I was not so sure about putting them on my wall because if I ever had to move, which is possible since my dh is in oil and gas, then I would have to leave my beautiful creation behind. That made me think again. Off I went to find a frame of a strange size that no one would make unless they wanted to frame the Decor Elements that I did so I had to compromise. Turns out it was a good compromise. I did buy a photo frame that had spots for 4 pictures so out came my Exact-o knife and the 3 dividers were cut away. It was very nerve racking but I managed to do a pretty god job. I'm pleased with the finished product but it still needs a little something, I haven't decided what . . . feel free to suggest here!
Decor Elements: Direction of Your Dreams (small) in Chocolate Chip
DSP: Kaleidoscope
Ribbon: Soft Sky Stitched Grosgrain (retired)

Cork Shadows

Here is an 8 x 10 shadow box - add some Whisper White cardstock, cut a 2" frame all around, stamp with the French Script stamp in Basic Black. I added a Pretties flower and punched 3 5-Petal Flower punches in Real Red then punched a 1/2" circle of Night & Day DSP and stuck it to a Build-A-Brad for the center. The ribbon is Real Red Grosgrain. The corks are Velcro-ed and can be repositioned or changed.

Something for wine corks

Since moving to California I have become something of a wine drinker. ;) Now with all this tasting and all these corks - I can't seem to be able to throw the darn things away. It's like a souvenir or something or just bad karma to throw them out, so I keep them. All. I've been in California for a little over a year and have a significant supply of corks. These are the ones that we have drank at home with friends or a bottle with dinner or a bottle with a bath or - you get it. The ones that opened with a meal out with friends goes home with whoever buys the bottle. Ok to the point! What am I supposed to do with these little corks? I'm thinking then one day I get an idea and I am putting it together tonight so you'll have to wait until the sun comes up so I can get a good shot of it. I like it and it's inexpensive and it looks good. Now, I didn't use all of them, in fact, I only used 8. Just so you know.

DVD Calendar

Here is a little something I made for family and friends and of course, I had to make one for myself! You get a DVD case and take the movie stuff out of it then take a piece of Basic Black cardstock and place it on the back cover. The calendar pages go in the front cover and I made them so I can print off calender months for the next year so they can be replaced and used indefinitely. Just use you imagination and the months will all be so cute! I love them all. The background (DSP) for each month and back cover (in Basic Black) measures 5-1/8" x 7-1/4". Calendar is 2-1/2" x 3-1/4" shadows are 2-3/4" x 3-1/2" and 3" x 3-3/4". Be sure to highlight the holidays and maybe use a single different color for birthdays throughout the year.

Circles Tree

This is my original design that I used for the Convention swap this year. (If you CASE this please give me credit and a link. ) I made 100 of these buggers so I am a little weary of the stamp sets used. They'll come back into my heart just not too soon. The main cardstock is So Saffron, and the accents are Always Artichoke, Old Olive and Very Vanilla cardstock. Background is stamped in So Saffron with the Print Pattern large stamp. The tree is from Thoughts and Prayers and is stamped in Chocolate Chip. Stamp a bunch of images from Circle Circus in Old Olive on Old Olive then punch out with the punches that coordinates to the size of the circle image. Add a stamp of your choice for the sentiment. Here I used the HB from It's Your Birthday in Chocolate Chip. You can add embellishments such as the rhinestone brad or a ribbon or both. The more stuff the better! I put a Stampin' Dimensional under the rhinestone circle to make it stand out more.

For A Friend

These colors just compliment the snot out of each other! (This DSP will probably be used well in my craft room.) The cardstock it's made with is Orchid Opulence, Old Olive, Whisper White and DSP Cottage Wall. The sentiment is from All Holidays and it is embossed in clear then Orchid Opulence is sponged over it. I then added some Elegant Eggplant and Old Olive grosgrain ribbon.

Pocket Silhouettes

I saw these cards on Splitcoast and had to make them. They are sooo cute and easy! I thought they needed a little something extra so I added the ribbon. =] These will be my next Coffee and A Card project. I think the ladies will love them. I know I do and I can spit these babies out very quickly. They are great for spur of the minute cards, don't use much of anything and look great being minimalists!

Stamps: Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Bashful Blue, Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, Basic Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, DSP Night & Day Specialty
Ribbon: Bashful Blue, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery all 1/4" Grosgrain
Punches: 1-3/8" Circle, Scallop Edge

Flight of the Butterfly

Don't you just LOVE Flight of the Butterfly!!! It is my absolute favorite at the moment. I just can't get enough of it.

Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly, All Holidays
Cardstock: Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Whisper White, Vellum
Ink: Summer Sun, Tempting Turquoise, Kiwi Kiss, Cameo Coral, Basic Black
Ribbon: Crushed Curry 1/2" Polka Dot Grosgrain, Pacific Point 5/8" striped Grosgrain, Organza
Punches: Butterfly

These can be made in any color combination and looks great no matter what. So versatile!

Halloween cards

Here are a couple of cards made for Halloween at my last Coffee and a Card event. I CASE-d the skull from www.inkspelled.blogspot.com who is a friend of mine from Houston. The little ghost has 2 sentiments because I was showing my party attendees they have a choice in what to put on their cards and where.

Skull card:

Stamps: From the Crypt, All Hallow's Eve
Cardstock: Elegant Eggplant, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant
Ribbon: Elegant Eggplant grosgrain
Embellishments: Silver brads and Clear Rhinestone brads

Ghost card:

Stamps: Little Boo, Holiday Best, Twick or Tweet
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, DSP Ghostly Greetings
Ink: Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie
Ribbon: Pumpkin Pie
Punches: 1/2", 3/4", 1" Circle punches