Storage Solutions

The end of the year always makes me feel like cleaning and organizing (so something  will be clutter-free when the new year starts :o) In all my re-org endeavors, I've been trying to make my craft room "green" and reuse what I can.  One of the things I am short on is organization stuff.  I don't want to use too much of my work bench as I tend to sprawl when I stamp, but I don't have a lot of available wall space for shelves either.  Plus I have a couple of left over book cases from a redeco of a few years ago, so I want to use those.

When I go my last PTI order, I actually ran out of storage space for my stamp set CD cases.  I thought I would never run out because they were so small and compact, but I did.  So got a new storage system to sit behind my sideways book case that stores all my card stock.

(The ribbon is a ribbon board I made on the back of my book case to display my faves - see green :o)

This storage unit I picked up a W-mart for about $10.  It's sturdy enough to do the trick plus it fits the CD cases from PTI as well as the DVD sized cases for the SU! clear mount stamps debuting in January.  I can always dress it up with some white rub ons so it looks like a stamp garden ;o)

Another thing I seem to acquire a lot of is punches, and those can be hard to store.  I  found that inexpensive curtain rods will store them on a section of wall next to my basement storage room/cave.  They are just far enough from the wall to allow the punch handle to slide in behind (even the smallest ones).  I was concerned about my storage system when SU! announced they were changing their punch style, but the new ones fit in just fine (see them there on the lower left ... )

But what to do with my old CD case storage.  I stumbled upon a great idea this morning.  See down there in the bottom right corner of the punch picture ... CD storage rack filled with .... patterned paper.

I took the pads of PTI paper and also my mini-decks from Cosmo Cricket and slid them in.  A couple are fairly new so still prettty full and they fit perfectly. 

Its great because it's green, but also because now I don't have to sort through the whole stack to find what I want ( I even found a pad I forgotten that I bought .... will have to start using that one again too love black & white :o)

Have a happy day!

Another peak

We’ve got a mix of stamps today … some yet to be released SU! And some staples from Papertrey.

I love how this card turned out … sort of hip and cool which is not typical of what I do. I used the Polka Dot Basics to make a bold contrasting black on pink border

The main layer was first stamped with Background Basics Text Style in River Rock (SU! Retired). Then I stamped the sentiment from Giga Guidelines in black and raspberry fizz. The “shelf” and viney flourishes in the corners are from Vintage Vogue (a clear mount set available from SU! beginning January 5th). These were stamped in black.

The next step was to age it … I sponged River Rock and Basic Gray on the edges. I let the River Rock go a further in and just dabbed the gray on the edges.

Thanks for stopping by!

{Birthday Wishes card supplies}

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics, Background Basics Text Style, Giga Guidelines [PTI]; Vintage Vogue [SU! available 1/5/2010]

Ink: River Rock (retired), Basic Gray [SU!]; True Black, Raspberry Fizz [PTI]

Paper: Raspberry Fizz [PTI]; Basic Black, Whisper White [SU!]

Sneakie Peek

OK, I promised a sneakie peek at some of the cards I made with SU! new clear mounted stamps.  Here is the first one:

This adorable set is perfect for welcoming new friends or even just saying "hello" .  With all the snow we've had in the midwest lately I just felt like I needed a cheerier color combo so went with the In Colors - Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay

I started with a scored detail at the top of the card (scored lines are 1/4" apart).  I scored from the inside of the card so the lines pop up and add a texture element (I helped my youngest study for her art final last night so we're all about the elements and principles of art around here :o)

The stamp set is called Good Neighbor.  It is one of the Sale-a-Bration sets available beginning January 5th.  If you are not familiar with Sale-a-Bration, stay tuned for more info coming in January.

I used the cloud stamp to make a subtle background on the Dusty Durango background as well as some light and fluffy clouds behind the sentiment.  The patterned paper strip is one of the Sale-A-Bration options you can choose.

The lovely little scallop is also a Sale-a-Bration prize.

Thanks for stopping by!

{Hi there card supplies - all SU! unless noted}

Stamps: Good Neighbor  (available 1/5/2010)

Paper: Dusty Durango, Crushed Curry and Bermuda Bay

Patterned Paper: Welcome Neighbor (available 1/5/2010)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Momento), Chocolate chip, Always Artichoke, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Bermuda Bay, Basic Gray

Tools: Scallop Trim Border (available 1/5/2010)

Why we celebrate

Christmas is a big deal all over the world and especially in the papercraft realms ... cards, gift tags and packaging, decorations.   It gets to be a crazy time of year, with all the hustle and bustle.  This year I did something different.  Instead of trying to squash everything into a day, I celebrated with my girls last weekend. 

They were at my house for the weekend and before the study frenzy of finals week started, we had a nice family evening - junk supper (pizza, cheese sticks - what ever appetizers are in the freezer :o).  We opened presents, and by my DDs request we did them all one at a time so we could see and enjoy the gift with the person who got it. Then we watched one of the many movies we got as a "family gift" (Monsters vs. Aliens - I love BOB)

So now as the "day" approaches, I'm sitting back, relaxing and baking cookies to take to my folks.  I don't feel the pressure that I usually do to get everything done, because there is just less to do.

But not having the added stress of coordination makes me think more about what why we celebrate.  If not for the child in the manger, there would be no Christmas ...

Wishing you all the joy of the holidays!

The most wonderful time of the year ...

Thanksgiving to Christmas is a very busy time of year at our house.  After Thanksgiving is my eldest DDs birthday.  This year I took her and 7 of her friends to see a movie at the local second run theater (that's where she works too, so its kinda fun)  Astro Boy had (sadly) left the theater so we went to Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  I am an animation buff and would probably choose an animated movie over any other kind most days, so I was only too happy to comply.  It was frenetically hilarious! .  After that there is my sister's birthday then just a few weeks til Christmas, then my birthday and New Years.  Throw in an annual church conference and a holiday cookie exchange and you have one seriously packed month. 

All that by way of saying I haven't had a lot of time to make much ... or rather to photograph any of it.  I made the cutest little covers for bags of Lindor Truffles ,,, about 20 minutes before we had to leave for the youth group white elephant Christmas party.  I've also made other cards that I had to put in the mail right away so they would arrive on time. 

But  ... I do have some sneak peaks just to make things fun ....

Stampin' Up! is coming out with a line of clear mounted stamps!  I know right - fab-u-lous!!!  I love clear and find it so much easier to work with, especially when two step stamping, so I was extremely excited to see this announcement.  Being a demonstrator I had to keep quiet about it for a while, but now I am free to talk.

These stamps will be the standard red rubber & foam that SU! is known for, but they will have a different backing to be used with acrylic blocks.  All the Occasions mini and Sale-A-Bration sets will have a clear mount option.  These will be available starting January 5 and will retail for on average of about $6-$8 cheaper than the wood mounted option.  I think its great that both options will be available so no matter your preference, you can have the great SU! artwork.

I was able to pre-order some of the sets and wanted to show you how great they are

These stamps will store in DVD sized cases so they take up a lot less space than their wood mount counterparts.

I love that they have the image on the back of the stamp ...

... and the assembly method (if you follow the one or two simple straightforward directions :\) is so simple and results in perfect alignment of the sticker on the back and the image on the front.  It's not quite the same as clear photopolymer, but its really, really, really close (this coming from a clear stamp addict!)

SU! is also offering a line of acrylic blocks that mimic their wood block styling with the curved edges for easier gripping.  They are thick, like a wood block and really pretty - not that it should matter, but they are.

They also come in a variety of sizes, including longer rectangles for sentiments - there is less "block" around the edges so less chance of a stray ink splotch from the block getting on your card (unless I'm the only one who suffers from that problem :)

I'll have more samples over the next few weeks. 

So until next time ... Happy Stampin'

Cash or Charge

I have a few gift cards and cash gifts to give this December (for both Christmas and birthdays)

I didn't find a good cash card, so I made up my own ...

The card base measures 6.5" square.  The inside cash holder  is 2.75 " by 6" (finished dimensions)

 I made a line of Scor-Tape and covered it with micro beads on both the front and inside.  I used Evening Sky and Shimmery white card stock.  This time I managed to snap a good pic to show off the glimmer

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies}

Stamps: Snowflake Spot (SU!), Signature Christams, Trajan Monogram Alpha, Background Basics: Text Style (PTI)

Ink: Night of Navy (SU!)

Paper: Shimmery white, Evening Sky (PTI)

Special Christmas cards

When my girls were littlies, they loved to open mail.  They thought it was great to get junk mail, but even better when their name was on it.  One friend of mine has such adorable kids, I wanted them to get their own Christmas cards this year.

For Ilse I made a red & black one ... she has the most adorable gingham sundress that inspired this card so now I always think of her in red and white.

And for Ayden I made one with trees - what boy doesn't like trees :)

 For the parents I made an original card (not the mass produced ones I am sending out) using Vintage Ornaments.

 

 I "glitterfied" it ... it really reminds me of ornaments on my parents tree we had when I was growing up.

 

and I love this sentiment that came in the set ...

God Bless!

Here comes the bride ...

A good friend of mine got engaged on her birthday - just a few short weeks ago.  I told her I would make the invitations as a wedding gifts.  She wanted a dark blue for the color and daisies to honor her mom who died a few years ago.

 I just made a simple stamped vellum layer, printed the invitation part on cream cardstock and tied them together with a satin ribbon.

 And here they are ... all 120.  Lucky I had the week off :)

 Thanks for stopping by

{Invitation supplies}

Stamps: Upsy Daisy (SU!)

Ink: Enchanted Evening (PTI)

Paper: Vintage Cream, Vellum (PTI)

Embellies: Enchanted Evening satin ribbon (PTI)

Sparkle and shimmer

I finally pulled out my shimmery card stock.  I love this stuff but tend to hoard it ... along with patterned paper and ribbon :)

I also found some great blue shimmery paper and decided to make a card with all the shimmer I could muster ...

 If you've never used shimmer cardstock before its great for a subtle shine ... like when you shine a light on fresh snow, how it glitters and sparkles like there are diamonds hidden in it.  Thats what this paper always reminds me of.  The blue shimmer is just as amazing, although the photos don't capture the shine well.

 Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies - all PTI}

Stamps: Background Basics: Spots & Dots, Big & Bold Wishes

Ink: Enchanted Evening

Paper: Shimmery White, Evening Sky

Embellies: Enchanted Evening satin ribbon

Trim a Tree

So every year on the weekend after Thanksgiving the girls and I put up the Christmas tree.  We acutally did it the Wednesday before Thanksgiving this year, but we did not light it until after Thanksgiving (I'm a big proponent of celebrating each holiday, not skipping ahead to the next one)

My youngest always puts the tree topper on ..

 and thankfully my oldest kept the dog occupied ...

 I told them they both had to smile pretty tho and get some better pix :)

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend!!

Fundraiser Thank you

I am really loving my new Turning a New Leaf set.  So I decided to make some thank you cards for the families who are bringing their kids to our Parents Night Out Fundraiser.  This is to help support my daughter's trip to Australia next summer with People To People.  We are super excited about the opportunity and really appreciate everyone who has helped out.

 I love the greens and brown together and I am totally digging the huge sentiments in Big & Bold Wishes

These are 3x6 cards that we are going to send home with the kids.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies - all PTI}

Stamps: Turning a New Leaf, Big & Bold Wishes

Ink: Dark Chocolate, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado

Paper: Rustic Cream

The more you play with your computer ...

... the more you learn how it works.  I just (now after what like 3 years of having it) learned how to adjust photo lighting levels in Photoshop.

You have been used to seeing pictures like this ...

 Its not bad, but thats the best my little 100W lightbulb can do.  I don't like using the flash because it tends to washout the colors.  And now after all this time ... look what 1 command in Photoshop can do:

 Same picture ... just adjusted.  And you thought that was cream card stock!  :)

These thank yous are for folks who are supporting my daughter's People To People trip.

Thanks for stopping by:

{Supplies - all PTI}

Stamps: Giga Guidelines

Ink: Pure Poppy, True Black

Paper: White

Raspberry Suite Color CHallenge #19

Armed with Dawns colors and my new Fergie shoes

I set to work this morning and created this card for my niece:

 I used In Bloom, Friends Til The End,  Fancy Flourishes, and the new tattoo font set, Big & Bold Wishes from PTI.  I also finally got to play with my Extreme Elements set from SU!  I think I love grafitti!  :)

If you look closely you can see the Wish Big behind the sentiment.  I loved the story of the tattoo font in this set and find the smaller sentiments useful for lots of occassions.  The othe background flourish in the banner is from Extreme Elements.  This set has fab grafitti elements (the big splatter on the card base is also from this set). 

 

So how'd I do?

{Supplies}

Stamps:In Bloom, Fancy Flourishes, Big & Bold Wishes, Friends Til The End (PTI), Extreme Elements (SU!)

Ink:(PTI) Dark Chocolate, Aqua Mist, Momento Tuxedo Black

Paper:Dark Chocolate, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Moss, Aqua Mist (PTI), Pale Plum (SU!)

Other:Copics - Raspberry Fizz trio, Spring Moss trio, Lavendar Moon trio

Another birthday card ...

This time of year I do lots of birthday cards ... most of my family have birthdays between September and December.

This card is for my oldest sister :

The metallic layer is a cut up tin cookie sheet (the throw away kind you can get at the grocery store).  I ran it through my Big Shot and then colored it with alcohol inks.

Inside I continued the pumpkin theme.  My sister's birthday is on Thanksgiving this year and she waits all year for pumpkin pie!

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthday Forest

Just have a minute before running off to church for youth group.  This is my brother's birthday card.    His birthay is this weekend.  I wanted to do a forest themed card because of the view from their backyard.  The moved to Spokane WA this past summer and the view is to die for!

The layout was from Beate's sketch challenge.  I didn't get it turned in on time, but I loved the layout.

I used my power piercer (forgot to thread my sewing machine :P) for the pierced border

Inside I added a few more trees to continue the forest theme

Thanks for stopping by!

{Birthday Forest card supplies - All PTI}

Stamps: Holiday Tree, Mega Mixed Messages, Polka Dot Basics

Ink: Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate

Paper: Rustic white, True Black, Dark Chocolate, Bitty Dots spring moss, Tea Leaves Ripe Avocado

Embellies: Wood vintage buttons, rustic button twine

Simple Birthday

Just time for a quick post tonight.  A simple birthday card for a friend.

{Birthday Wishes supplies - all PTI}
Stamps: Giga Guideline
Ink: Plum Pudding
Paper: Vintage cream, Lavender Moon
Tools: CB Embossing folder Swiss Dots
Embellies: Plum Pudding Dotted Satin Ribbon

Happy Howl-oween

Before you look at pictures, let me fix explain that I normally do not like clothes on dogs - any animal for that matter. My dog does have a sweater because she goes a little crazy if she doesn't get her walks, even in sub-zero Iowa winters. The other piece of information you need was this was not a dog costume, so I guess that makes it a little more OK :\

My oldest daughter needs to dress up for Halloween for her job. She went shopping and found a great costume, except it was a vampire costume. Now I'm all for Halloween fun, but I don't let my girls dress on the darker/demonic side. So Colie is going as an upper class victorian era lady - dressed in black and red velvet. The collar is now the dogs costume ... for as long as she lets it stay on

beautiful red (plastic) gem in the brooch don't you think

Kind of looks like the cone of shame from Up. She tries to get it off as if it were too :) The soft velvety black actually does match her coat pretty well, tho.

So here are both of the girls dressed up for a party

Pretty cute huh!

My youngest found a witch costume (also off limits) but the cut of it looks a lot like Lucinda from Ella Enchanted - fairies are OK - so thats who she will be, with all the glitter and glitz that goes with fairie-hood. No pix of her yet, but I'm sure I'll snap a few once she is in full fairie regalia

Thanks for stopping by