CFC74–Put Your {Heart} Into It!

 

Phew!  What a crazy week it’s been around here! We’re almost finished moving – one more day, and I think we’ll have it licked.  NOTE TO SELF:  Next time you think about moving, just light a match and walk away – you’re too old to move again!  LOL

I’m popping in today to share the latest and greatest CAS-ual Fridays Challenge, which is to create a CLEAN & SIMPLE card or tag and include a heart or hearts in your design!  Fun, right?!

This week’s sponsor is a company that is near and dear to my {heart} – get it?!  LOL  i{heart}papers is one of my go-to online stores, especially when I need something amazing and I need it now!  Kate’s customer service and product lines are second to none, and she’s as sweet as can be.  I {heart} her!  Oh, I’m killing myself!  LOL  i{heart}papers has provided an awesome prize for this week’s TGIF Winner, but you’ll have to click through to the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog to find out what it is!  Oh, and while you’re there, be sure and check out the other Girl Fridays’ projects that they created for your viewing pleasure.  Thanks, i{heart}papers!!

I enjoyed this challenge so much!  I pulled out my heart shaped die to create a die cut negative – I love how the bright pink cardstock shows through and creates some fun dimension, yet is still very simple.  I then used a banner die to create the banner out of vellum; I die cut the words out of black cardstock and adhered them to the banner, which I adhered to the card front so that it draped across the bottom of the heart.

PRODUCTS USED:

PAPER:  Blackbird and Avalanche CS (Bazzill Basics Paper), Taffy CS (American Crafts CS), Vellum CS (PTI)
OTHER:  Folded Banner Die, With All My Heart Die, and Thank You Heart Die (Simon Says Stamps), Peel N Stick Adhesive Sheets (ThermoWeb)

So have you seen the other exciting stuff that’s going on at the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge Blog?!  CAS-ual Fridays has a new “little sister” and there’s a big announcement that’ll be made on October 19th. We’re having a little linky party that we’d love for you to join in on to help spread the word about the new “little sister” announcement.  You can find all the details about that HERE.  I believe that there’s a prize involved, so you really should check it out!

 

That’s all I’ve got for you today, kids!  Things will again be somewhat quiet around here as we’re headed south for the winter on Sunday.  Once I get settled there, our kids will be there to visit.  But I have a few posts ready to go while I’m in transition, so I hope you’ll stop by often.  Thanks for stopping by today – it means the world to me!

Have A Fantastic Day . . . and a fond farewell!

 

Hi Peeps!

I’m back today to share my last project as the i {heart} papers April Guest Designer.  I want to thank Kate Baldwin (the owner of i  {heart} papers) and her amazingly talented design team for allowing me this fabulous opportunity to work with them this month.  I’ve so enjoyed my time with you all!!  You’ve been so kind with your sweet comments on my projects.  And the products that I had the pleasure of working with – Kate carries only the best!  So, I feel so blessed and honored to be your very first Guest Designer.  Thank you, from the bottom of my heart!

 

I used the Puffy Cloud dies from Memory Box to create the negative die cuts.  I adhered some of the patterned papers from the Teresa Collins’s 6 x 6 Every Day Moments paper pad.  The sentiment is from the Hero Arts Good Friends set – a clear stamp set with a fabulous selection of perfect sentiments.  No stamp collection should be without this set, I tell ya!

i {heart} papers PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Good Friends (Hero Arts)
PAPER:  Every Day Moments (Teresa Collins)
INK:  Paris Dusk (Memento)
ACCESSORIES:  Puffy Cloud dies (Memory Box)

 

Well, that’s it for me today, peeps.  I’ll be back tomorrow with the latest CAS-ual Fridays challenge – it’s another goody!!  Thanks so much for stopping by today – you all make my day!!

You Turn Me On!

 

Hello Stampin’ Buddies!

Poppin’ in today to share another project that I made for my i {heart} papers guest design gig!!  How fun is this?!  First, I stamped the chevrons from Geo-Graphic (it makes me absolutely GIDDY to see stores carrying the stamps that I designed – like my heart just skips a beat!!) in two different colors of ink.  Then I used some frame dies to cut a window and a coordinating frame for the window.  I stamped the uber cute television from Stay Tuned in VersaMark and heat embossed it with black embossing powder.  I then stamped the heart from Smoocheroos in the center of the TV screen.  I adhered it to the outside of the frame with a glue pen.  The sentiment is from Boob Tubes – isn’t it perfect?!

i {heart} papers PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Geo-Graphic (Paper Smooches), Stay Tuned (Lawn Fawn), Smoocheroos (Paper Smooches), and Boob Tubes (Paper Smooches)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)

While I’m thinking about it, I think I’ll add this to the class gallery for the online die cutting class that I’m taking – this would be for Day 2: Window Cards – yep, I’m a little behind in my homework!  Surprise, surprise!  LOL  I’m headed to hang out with my sister at the pool today.  It’s supposed to be another hot one, so I’m excited to get a little bit of a tan!  I hope you have a great day – thanks so much for stopping by!

Especially For You–i {heart} papers Design Team Challenge!

Happy Tax Day, Friends!!

Today, I get the pleasure of participating in the i {heart} papers Design Team Challenge because I’m guest designing for Kate this month.  And let me tell you, I’m so excited to get to play along!!

This month’s challenge is to use felt in your project – doesn’t have to be a card, it can be anything at all.  I actually created a “hybrid” project in that it’s a card, with an embellishment that can also be used as a pin.  When Kate invited me to be a guest designer for her, I had just placed an order for some of the THE most yummolicious 100% wool felt that I have ever laid eyes on.  No, seriously, this stuff is AH-MAZING!!  It comes in a ga-jillion different colors, and it cuts on my Cuttlebug like BUTTAH!!  Have you ever tried to use the cheap felt that you get at the craft stores?  That stuff SUCKS!  Many of the fibers don’t cut all the way through, and you end up distorting the shape of whatever you’re cutting.  Kate’s felt is uber high quality, and cuts like a dream in a die cut machine.

So back to my card/project.  Since Mother’s Day is coming up, I decided to create a little gift for my mom.  I used the smallest of the Nested Flowers to cut out five blooms from the Lemon Felt.  I also die cut a circle for the base of the flower.  I folded each of the flowers in half and then in half again, then trimmed the point off with my scissors.  I applied a bit of hot glue, and adhered each bloom to the circle, filling in the blooms until the circle was full.  I then die cut two leaves from the Slate Felt, and applied them to the back of the flower with hot glue.  I happened to have some extra pin backs (that also have an alligator clip on them, too) from some felt flower pins that I made for the girls in the Paper Smooches CHA booth (I think they’re made by Imaginisce, but I can’t swear to that).  I adhered the completed flower to the center of the pin back with more hot glue, and voila – you’ve got yourself a pretty little pin for Mom!!

The card was created using some gorgeous designer paper from Teresa Collins called Everyday Moments (the yellow quatrefoil paper).   The gray polka dot designer paper is from one of the super versatile Echo Park paper pads called Dots & Stripes Soda Fountain Collection.  The sentiment is from the Yummers stamp set by Paper Smooches, and is stamped in Paris Dusk ink from Memento.

i {heart} papers PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Yummers (Paper Smooches)
INK:  Paris Dusk (Memento)
PAPER:  Everyday Moments (Teresa Collins), Dots & Stripes Soda Fountain Collection (Echo Park)
ACCESSORIES:  Lemon and Slate 100% Wool Felt, Nested Flowers (Spellbinders)

Be sure and visit the blogs of the other i {heart} papers design team members (links listed below), and let their creativity inspire you to create a project utilizing that yummy 100% wool felt.  Here are the links to the other DT blogs:

• Deb
• Carolyn
• Gretchen
• Loretta
• Lori
• Lynn
• Tracy
• Kate

That’s it for me today, kids!  I’ll be cropping all day today to try and get caught up on some DT stuff.  I hope that you have some amazing crafty plans for the day.  Thanks so much for stopping by today – I love it when you do!

P.S.  I’ll also be using this as my first project for the Online Die Cutting Class that I’m taking.  I think there’s still time to sign up if you’re interested – it’s supposed to be jam packed with information on how to use your die cutting machines and dies (including the Silhouette machines!).  I’m so excited!!

Happy Anniversary!

 

Hola Stampy Friends!

 

How was your weekend?  I had an absolutely BLAST!!  My sister and BIL were here for the weekend, and we had a fun-filled time with them.  Lots of pool time, BINGO, gambling, eating out, and looking at model homes (we’re trying to talk them into buying a house down here).  I think a good time was had by all!

I’m popping in really quick today to share a card that I made for my sweet friend and her husband in celebration of their first anniversary.  I SUCK at gift buying, especially when a bride and groom don’t register.  Needless to say, I never got my friends a wedding gift.  Thankfully, Emily Post says that I have a year to get them something . . . yeah, I’m STILL late – Emily is probably rolling over in her grave!!  LOL  But I finally got my act together and made a card to go along with their gift.  Hopefully they like both the card and the gift.

 

I used the new Tessatina Border Die from Memory Box that I featured on this card the other day.  I was inspired by THIS card created by Julie Ebersol.  I really liked how she used the die as a negative and left the open space for the sentiment.  The sentiment is from the Paper Smooches stamp set called Good Gab.  I stamped it in white pigment ink, and then heat embossed it with white embossing powder.  Oh, and notice that the sentiment is stacked – I cut the clear acrylic and stamped it like that.  That’s one thing that I LOVE about clear stamps!!

i {heart} PAPERS PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Good Gab(Paper Smooches)
ACCESSORIES:  Tessatina Border Die (Memory Box)

OTHER PRODUCTS USED:  Sno Cone and Lemon Drop CS (French Poptone), White CS (Neenah), Fresh Snow Ink (PTI), Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers), Linen Impression Plate (PTI), White Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts)

 

That’s it for me today, friends!  I’ll be celebrating my friend’s birthday today – lunch at a yummy restaurant and a shopping spree at the Container Store – HEAVEN ON EARTH, I tell ya!!  Hope you’re having a great day!!  I’ll be back tomorrow with a project for the i {heart} Papers Design Team Challenge – hope to see you then!

Have A Super Fun Birthday!

 

Happy Monday, Peeps!!

I’m back today to share a project that I made for i {heart} papers.  I’ve got several birthdays coming up, so I thought I’d actually get one made BEFORE the actual date rather than after, like I usually do.  Imagine that!  LOL  Kate just listed one of the coolest border dies from Memory Box called Tessatina Border – isn’t that quatrefoil pattern awesome?!!  I cut it out twice and adhered them to the card base with my Quickie Glue Pen.  The sentiment is from a new Hero Arts sentiment set called Good Friends – it has some really great all occasion sentiments in a fabulous font!!

i {heart} papers Products Used:

STAMPS:  Good Friends (Hero Arts)
INK:  London Fog (Memento)
ACCESSORIES:  Tessatina Border Die (Memory Box)

 

That’s it for me today, kids!!  I’ll be spending the day in my craft room making Christmas projects for an upcoming publication call.  It’s so hard to think about creating holiday stuff when it’s 90 degrees outside.  Guess I’ll have to hook up my iPod and play some holiday music to get into the spirit!  LOL

 

Thanks so much for stopping by today – I so appreciate it!  Have a great day!

Welcome!

 

Happy Wednesday, Peeps!

I’m popping in today to share another fun project for i {heart} papers!  Today’s project features some uber fun Memory Box dies, a brand spankin’ new Hero Arts/Studio Calico background, and another new amazing sentiment set from Paper Smooches!!

 

I stamped the Lattice Background in VersaMark, and heat embossed it with white embossing powder for some fun texture.  I die cut the Grand Flower Box and the Wildflowers Patch dies (I cut them out three times – green, light pink and fuchsia, and then assembled the flowers), and adhered the flowers to the back of the flower box with i {stick} papers Redline Tape.  I cut the window with another die and assembled the window and flower box on the card base with dimensional squares.  The sentiment is from a brand new (released April 1 – a “little birdie” told me that Kate has them on order and they should arrive any day now!) sentiment set from Paper Smooches called Simply Said.

PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Lattice Background (Hero Arts/Studio Calico), Simply Said (Paper Smooches)
INK:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
ACCESSORIES:  Grand Flower Box and Wildflowers Patch dies (Memory Box), i {stick} papers Redline Tape

 

I’m off to have lunch with one of my BFF’s and do a little shopping.  Hope you have a great day, too!  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Wish You Were Here . . . and an Announcement!

Hello my sweet blog friends!

 

How was your weekend?  We had some gorgeous weather here in AZ, and I got to spend quite a bit of time this weekend enjoying it.  Sunshine just makes me happy.  You?

I also got to spend some time in my craft room this weekend, which ALSO makes me very happy!!  But before I get to the card, I have some amazing news!  Kate Baldwin, the ADORABLE owner of i{heart} papers, has invited me to be her guest designer for the month of April – how nice is that?!!  I met Kate (and several of her amazing design team members) when she visited us at the Paper Smooches booth at CHA.  I really enjoyed chatting with her about all things stampy – that girl has her finger on the pulse of this industry, I tell ya!  So, I’ll be sharing some projects with you all throughout the month, focusing on many of the fun products that Kate carries in the i {heart} papers store!!  Thank you so much, Kate, for this wonderful opportunity!

 

My first project features an image that nearly took my breath away when I first saw it.  The Houndstooth Chair image from Gourmet Rubber Stamps is so amazing and on trend right now.  Nearly anything with a houndstooth pattern is hot, hot hot!  But this chair image especially has the total swoon factor, don’t you think?  And it stamped like a dream – very deeply etched and precise.  I’ll be using this baby on  regular basis – I can totally see it stamped in red for the holidays, can’t you?!  *sigh*

PRODUCTS USED:

STAMPS:  Houndstooth Chair (Gourmet Rubber Stamps), Houndstooth Background (Paper Smooches), Wish You Were Here (Hero Arts)
INK:  VersaMark (Tsukineko), Tuxedo Black (Memento)
PAPER:  Peacock and Snow CS (Bazzill Basics Paper), White CS (Neenah), Summer Sunrise (PTI)
ACCESSORIES:  Apricot Embossing Powder (Zing/American Crafts), Stampin’ Dimensionals (Stampin’ Up!)

 

Let me just say about i {heart} papers that Kate has some of the best customer service in the business.  I can tell you that when I place orders with her, I’ve gotten a shipping notice within MINUTES of placing my order – NO JOKE!!  Now THAT’S customer service, people!!

 

That’s it for me today, friends!  We have some college friends coming over for dinner tonight and I’m really looking forward to catching up with them.