Accordion Purse

Isn't this the coolest? I found it at http://stampininspirations.blogspot.com/2009/06/4-x-6-accordion-file-purse-tutorial.html and the instructions are very easy. I cut all the paper first then followed her instructions and it didn't seem like it took very long at all to put together! I love this thing! You can put cards or envelopes or even make a recipe holder out of it! This one is a little plain but I thought if I got to decorating then I would probably go overboard and ruin it so I left it simple. The last few photos are so you can see what size it turns out to be. Let me know what you think!

Almond Trees in Bloom

Today, I went for a drive about 2 miles down the road from my house here in Bakersfield, CA and the almond trees are in full bloom. I snapped a few pictures and wanted to share these gorgeous trees with my blog buddies. Maybe it will even inspire a card! You have to send me a picture of your card if it does!

Drawer Easel Instructions

Ok you can all feel special because I have never done a detailed photo session for instructions but I figure as lousy as I am trying to get my ideas out I had better have some pretty good photos to show what the heck I am trying to say. Here we go!

For the drawer box/case:

6" x 9" card stock
on the 6" side score at 1" and 5"

on the 9" side score at 4" and 5"

snip center square scores to the 1" score to make flaps

fold a long side then the flap and cover with the other long side (short flaps inside box make it hard to slide the drawer in all the way)

set aside

Drawer:

7-7/8" x 7-7/8" card stock

score at 1" and 2" on all sides

remove 'L' shape from each corner

snip ends to make flaps on 2 ends

fold flaps in and adhere

fold paper over flaps and adhere

fold the other ends

set aside

Easel top:

4" x 8" cardstock

score at 2" and 4"

Assemble and decorate your really cool Drawer Easel Card!!!

I hope you can follow these instructions but if you have any questions please feel free to comment and ask! Thanks for visiting!

Drawer Easel

My Stampin' Pal Trudy in Katy, TX sent me an Drawer Easel and I loved it so much I had to make one (almost identical because hers' is just perfect! Go to Stampin' Pal Trudy in my blog archive for a picture of hers!) for one of my best friends living in Erie, PA working her way toward medical billing and coding certification and has already received a degree in Medical transcription! I am very proud of her as this year is not only a mile marker birthday for her (I am certainly NOT telling which one) but she is proving to me that one is never too old to make achievements or to better themselves. Anyway, she voiced a need for book marks and asked if I would send her scraps of card stock, which I did, but I found some really cute book markers for a decent price and got her 20 and this little drawer holds them so nicely. I think she'll have a pleasant surprise in her mailbox next week! Woohoo! Hey, somebody send me something! I haven't gotten anything in a week! lol. Oh, the addiction.

Paper Roses

Hey, look at these! My good stampin' friend Pam at Sweetpea-Bunny over there --> made some of these and I had to try my hand at it and what do you know? They are SO easy to make! Thanks for the idea ONCE AGAIN, Pam!

God's Butterflies

Remember the embossed butterflies that I couldn't decide what to do with? Well, I had a wonderful time last night having block color ideas fly around my craft studio! Yay! I love it when I come up with a nice idea that keeps going. I hope you like these as much as I do. The hardest part is cutting the butterflies out - the rest is so quick and easy it you would think it came in a kit! I left them blank so they can be used for any occasion.

More of a Good Thing

So, of course, after receiving all those wonderful goodies from Penny I had to go and make a few myself and I also made a few more chocolate boxes like the one I made previously. I like these colors better but after looking at the original one I am beginning to really like the odd color choice I made. The little pillow boxes hold a whole box of SweeTart Hearts but only 3 chocolate hearts but either way they are wasy too cute. All items are SU! except for 2 ribbons and the sticky stones.

Care Package

I have the BEST SU! Upline ever! Look what Penny aka www.penguinstamper.blogspot.com (She's on my blog list to your right so give her click!) sent me 'just because'! It was labeled "Care Package" and it sure makes me feel special to go to the mailbox and find an unexpected goody addressed to ME and then open it to find FOUR fabulous goodies inside!!! There were pretty valentine colored M & M's in the 4 You package but I could not control my inner M & M monster. It looked very cheery with the colors inside. The little pink Chew Chew I like you is a gum holder and there are a few missing from that too but you can't tell. Ha! The card is beautiful and I think the clear goody bag is just adorable. I love them all and thank you ever so much Miss Penny! You are the best!

Live Like You Mean It

I have a friend whose son just got his wings as a Marine helicopter pilot! How cool is that? So here's the card I made for him and I hope he likes it. I incorporated the Marine flag colors into it and thought I would do something a little different than using a butterfly or dragonfly or other winged creature so I chose Live Like You Mean It because he obviously is. How proud my friend must be of the accomplishment her son has already made with his life.
Stamps: Live Like You Mean It, Sanded, Extreme Elements
Inks: Basic Black, Real Red, Sahara Sand, Basic Gray, More Mustard
Paper: Real Red, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, More Mustard
Embellishments: Square Fire Rhinestone Brads

Heart Cards

Boy did I get carried away with this CASE. My friend Pam over at www.sweetpeabunny.blogspot.com (Click her over there on my blog list!) made this adorable card that I said I was going to steal and I stole it and stole it and stole it. Anyway, it was a fabulous idea for a card. The little skunk card is all mine. I wanted to do something a little different and a lot darker and this card works for men and kids. I wouldn't mind receiving it either!

I Stink You're Sweet -
Stamps: Pun Fun, Holiday Best, Print Pattern
Inks: VersaMark, Basic Black, Real Red, Watercolor Wonder Crayons Basic Black and Real Red, Stampin' Write Yo-yo Yellow
Paper: Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray
Embellishments: Label Punch, Modern Label Punch, Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, Black Embossing Powder

Love Heart -
Stamps: French Script, Ever After
Inks: Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink
Paper: Pretty In Pink, Chocolate Chip
Embellishments: Non SU ribbon, Movers and Shapers Heart Die, Heart Punch

With Love Heart -
Stamps: Yummy
Inks: Melon Mambo
Paper: Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink
Embellishments: 5/8" Very Vanilla Grosgrain Ribbon, Movers and Shapers Heart Die, Heart Punch, White Shimmer Paint, Backgrounds 1 Texture Plates

Pirouette Heart -
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes
Inks: Pretty in Pink
Paper:Whisper White, Pink Pirouette
Embellishments: Movers and Shapers Heart Die, Heart Punch, 5/8" Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Backgrounds 1 Texture Plates

Well Scripted Heart
Stamps: Well Scripted
Inks: Pretty in Pink
Paper: Whisper White, Pretty in Pink
Embellishments: 1/2" Pretty in Pink Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, Movers and Shapers Heart Die, Heart Punch , Perfect Details Texture Plate

Hope you see something that you like or inspires you. =]