Autumn Leaf

I'm pretty sure that I have no idea what I'm doing, but that's okay. Somewhere along the line I made this autumn leaf card using up some left overs I had lying around, which means I can go visit the Snippet Playground and get into trouble with all the other cool kids.

But before we run off and play I want to talk about that leaf. It's from an old Marvy punch I have and its large and rounded and sits off by itself on shelf (because of its awkward size) so I never remember I have it. I pulled it out this year and discovered that I have to step on it to make it punch. That right explains the popularity of die cuts! I used a Wink of Stella pen (yes, I'm finally coming around to liking that thing) to trace over the veins in the leaf.

The Fine Print: Greeting stamp by A Muse Artstamps, leaf punch by Marvy, designer paper, card topper and ribbon by Club Scrap. 

Taco-less Tuesday

I think I broke myself making those couple dozen similar cards last weekend. This past weekend I couldn't remember how to craft. Well, first I did manage to make 10 of these fall themed ATCs. They were fun since I wasn't quite sure what the final product should look like and just fuddled along with this and that until they were done.

After that, I couldn't cut straight or accurately, my ability to match colors was out the window, I put adhesive on every surface except the one that needed it... Basically everything I touched turned to crap.

That's when I decided to pull out one of those kits where all you have to do is assemble the pieces. Surely I could do that?! I got the spacing a little off but it all works out anyway. I even did a bit of sponging and doodling too.

That was it though. The one card took it right out of me. Ever have one of those nothing-goes-right weekends?

The Fine Print: Scarecrow die by Cheery Lynn, Fence die by Taylored Expressions, pumpkin die by Impression Obsession, Sunflower punches by Marvy, dotted stencil and distress Stickles by Tim, stamped greenery by Hero Arts and Stampin' Up. Hello card parts from Basic Gray "Lime Rickey."

What's in Your Pocket?

In a craft room in a galaxy far, far away and a long, long, long time ago I joined a pocket card swap. However, it was a specific form of pocket we had to make. The hostess gave us all a photocopied page of directions and samples that looked like it came from a magazine or idea book. Every one of us made a card in that design.

I kept the directions because it was an unusual design (in fact, does not show up on Google on pocket card image searches). You see here that the front of the card is folded in on itself to make the pocket. That front flap lifts up so you can stamp or write a brief greeting.  However, I rarely make it because I never know how to fill the pocket.

The swap I made this card for requires that you have something that can be removed from the pocket so I tucked in a gift card.  Well, sort of....

So that's the pocket card I learned way back when I was a newbie stamper. Here it is all these years later and the pocket still stumps me. It is rather like that card in a box as I never know what to put in that either!

The Fine Print: Botanical Blooms stamps and dies, bird punch, and nest stamp (from the "Take Care" set) all by Stampin' Up, light green designer paper by HOTP, circle grid paper by DCWV, and alphabet set from my stash. 

Bricked Garden

A couple of Wednesdays ago I had a partially completed card on my desk. This is it finished off. It was inspired by my front yard which is all bricked over. However, those bricks have faded in the hot desert sun  (which we lack today because of cloud coverage).

The Fine Print: Brick embossing folder by Darice, Sweet Pea vine by Tattered Lace, Butterfly die by Memory Box, and flower die by A Muse Studio.

HB Notecards

I tend to forget that notecards (3.5 x 5) are an option. Here's a quick and easy one I pulled together to pop into the mail.

Since I used some random pieces left on my desk from another project, I'll be joining in at the Snippet's Playground this week.

The Fine Print: Notecard base from A Muse Studio, caning background punch by Martha Stewart, heart punch by EK Success, and greeting by DeNami Designs.

Quick 'n Easy Butterfly Card

I was invited to do a make and take at a craft fair this past weekend. Since the target audience of the craft fair was people looking to buy hand crafted items and not necessarily be crafty themselves I knew I had to do something simple.  I was stumped for ideas but Carol of Our Little Inspirations posted THIS card and so my version was born.

I provided many of the pieces in different colors so folks could have some say in what they made and mix and match as they wanted.  They also had a choice of greetings.

Quite a number of people stopped by and made cards. The work involved was mostly just assembling the card using roller adhesive and glue dots. People did get the chance to roll the white layer (with the butterfly already cut out) through the embossing machine and stamp the greeting.  Many who participated already had some experience with paper crafts.

The Fine Print: Large butterfly die and embossing folder by Provo Craft/Cuttlebug, solid and ornate butterfly dies by Memory Box, greetings and cardstock by A Muse Studio.

Kitten Please

This weekend hubby took me to see a movie about a gangster cat named Keanu.  Originally we invited our cat Charles along but decided that as responsible parents we needed to preview the movie first before letting him see it. We've decided that Keanu is not a good role model for an impressionable young cat like Charles, so he'll have to wait for it to come out on Netflix when we can dialog about it.

Meanwhile, back in the craftroom this just-as-cute, non-gangster cat was born. The inside greeting says "Beware of the cat" just in case though.  The Kitten Please movie just goes to show you that you never know when a cute cat will start doing 'nip and embracing hood life.

The Fine Print: Punch art cat idea from someplace on Pinterest (way worse than the hood), punches by Stampin' Up, designer paper by DCWV, paw print ribbon from my stash.

Blog Candy Received

Terrible me! I keep forgetting to acknowledge this fabulous blog candy that I got from Bad Kitty's blog anniversary. I received it back in February when it came to our new house. With the exception of a hatpin I've kept it all together until I got it together enough to say thank you, Fiki, and how awesome it all is.

I got some great designer papers, a wonderful Spellbinders die, hatpins, a fancy dancy ornate stamp, ribbon flowers, mints, tea, foam hearts, punched butterflies, charms, alphabet beads, and embellishments, along with an awesome pocket letter and a homemade wristband.  I also got a fun round card from Fiki.

This card is what made me finally get off my behind and show off my candy. I wanted to use the basil die set to make this flower pot card. Who says I have to made the basil be basil? It can be any green leafy plant.

The Fine Print: Floral Oval and Basil die set by Spellbinders, designer papers, bling, and ribbon from my stash.

Use Your Stuff--Brads

I just ran across another one of those challenges geared towards inspiring you to utilize what you have on hand. It's called Use Your Stuff and their current challenge #206 is to use brads. I have lots of brads. I have brads in lots of different colors, matte colors, shiny colors, with different colored jewels on top, padded brads, rounded brads, flat brads, big brads and teeny tiny ones. I even have a few in random fun shapes.

For this challenge I used one of my favorite large brads. They were a gift from Leslie, The Crooked Stamper, who had no idea why such big brads existed.  Why to make people like me happy, of course!  Since I just discovered this challenge it is due to close in a few hours, but why don't you slap a few brads on something and play along?

The Fine Print: Friend die by Walter & Winnie, flower punch by EK Success, twine by A Muse Studio, and designer paper from Echo Park. This card is for a local card exchange where the theme is "words, words, words." I think I got a few words in there.

Turkey Tag

Now that Halloween is done and over we can concentrate on Thanksgiving and all the things we are thankful for.

I'm thankful for this really cool turkey die. It is going to make Thanksgiving cards a snap this year. I'm also thankful that no one is going to force me to eat turkey on Thanksgiving. I'm also thankful that one of my favorite living museums is open on Thanksgiving Day so I can kill two birds (who aren't turkeys) with one stone. I can enjoy myself and I complete a homework assignment.

The Fine Print: Tom the Turkey by Cheery Lyn, stitched leaf dies from Lawn Fawn, and other stuff from my stash.

Where am I Going and Why am I in this Handbasket?

This month my big stamp club had a rather different card exchange theme.  The theme was to depict the title of a song. When I mentioned it to the group last month I was met with quizzical expressions and blank stares.  I had to agree with them but came up with "How Much is That Doggy in the Window" as an example.

Luckily we have a creative bunch and left to their own devices we came up with some gems like "You Light up My Life," "Singing in the Rain," "Call Me" and several Christmas carols.  I don't know what anyone expected of this former punk, but here's my card:

What do you mean you don't know what song that is?  Oh, honey, obviously you've never driven from Tucson to Phoenix before.  That there is the Highway to Hell.

The Fine Print: Cityscape dies by Memory Box, reverse pinking circle by Spellbinders, Phoenix sign from The Google, cloud template by Printworks, and the other stuff from my own little hands.

Sunflowers and Sunshine

Here is a punch art card I made last month that really used punches (as opposed to dies).  This card idea was a CASE of someone else's card but that was last month so I no longer remember whose or where it was so you could compare and contrast hers to mine.

I know mine is not as CAS as the one I copied.  I have a busy designer paper on mine and an in-your-face embossing folder instead of something subtle.  Then I added microbeads to the center of my flowers for added interest (more fuss, more muss!).

I recently saw a similar card to this that featured three snowflakes in the punched out areas.  I guess that's allowed since all those people back east just can't stop with the snow already.  Personally, I've moved on to sunshine and sunflowers.

The Fine Print: Greeting stamp by Endless Creations, greeting punches by Stampin' Up, flower punch by EK Success, and embossing folder by whoever made it. Yeah, I'm chock full of info like that.  

Cuppa Tea

I was poking around in my stuff stash because I was sure I had some Valentine's themed washi tape somewhere.  I not only found it, I also found my missing Stampin' Up oval dies and a small stash of 6x6 designer paper--just one sheet each pattern.

I challenged myself to use the wonky patterned ones first, because as scrumptious as Basic Grey paper is they always have to throw a difficult sheet or two into the mix.

I started with this piece because I felt it went with the tape I found.  Plus I had just the die and stamps to go with it.  Since I cut that paper almost in half I had enough to make a second copy of the same card (hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it).

Then I used the scraps from those two pieces to make this final card and use up the rest of that paper.

I had lots of fun doing it and went on to the next wonky pattern, but you'll have to stay tuned for those.  They didn't whip out as easily as these ones.

The Fine Print: Stamps by Simon Says Stamps "Absolutely Delightful," designer paper by Basic Gray "Paper Cottage," dies by Stampin' Up "Ovals" and A Muse Studio "Word Art" (tea cup) and "Medium Scallop Border," mini heart punch by Stampin' Up, pink twine by May Arts, and washi tape "With Love" by unknown.

Toaster of Love

My hubby bought me a toaster for Christmas.  No, seriously he really did.  Don't you be knocking toasters as they are one of my favorite household appliances.  Anyway, you can see it in the photo below.

It is very versatile as it can change colors to fit the mood.  My friend gave me the washi tape so all in all it was a very merry and crafty Christmas.

The Fine Print: Toaster from Quick Kutz, washi by Doodlebug, greeting by Lawn Fawn "Love 'n Breakfast."

Ooky Weather

It is gray, ugly, and moist out there today.  On the bright side though it is much too warm for this to happen:

I've been trying to decide if this card needs some glitter on it as well, but then I think of trying to glitter all those thin frills and think maybe it doesn't need it.  Yep, I am that lazy.

A friend mine told me that I don't write stories and that my blog doesn't make her laugh anymore. I asked her if it made her cry and she said no.  So, obviously I have my work cut out for me.  I haven't been writing funny stories because my brain refuses to think of any and I haven't made you cry because that's just rude.  It is what it is.

Don't let it snow on your parade.

The Fine Print: Let It Snow die by Sue Wilson/Creative Expressions, bling by A Muse Studio, card base by DCWV, and ribbon from my stash.

Sanding

People like to dry emboss backgrounds and then sand  them so the core shows though.  It gets the dry embossed image to really pop.

I did it here and really makes the background look like old bricks or worn cobblestone  I'm not a big fan of sanding though.  I swear I always feel as though I've coated my body and desk in grit afterward.  Don't hold your breath expected me to invest a lot of money into scenic embossing folders.  I'll let those other people do it.

The Fine Print: Embossing folder by Darice, Medallion 5 by Spellbinders and ribbon by DeNami Designs.

Star Light, Star Bright

I wish I may, I wish I might...

...have a whole bunch of wishes.  Because then I would wish for warmer weather (this lizard is not amused), healthy cats (how much ear infection can one poor kitty put up with), magically happy teeth (no more rotten roots that ache all the way to my eyeball),  and a nap (kind of self explanatory, dontcha think?).  See! I'm not even excessive with my wishes.  Well, that dental one is probably way outta line.  *sigh*

The Fine Print: Star border die by Memory Box, two connected stars cut from Taylored Expressions star border die, single stars, greeting, silver cording, and star jewels from A Muse Studio.

The Tree

This tree branch and leafy canopy, along with a heart canopy, were my first ever tree dies. I was excited to have such a big leafy tree.  Then I realized that all it does is cut leaf shaped holes into you paper.  I mean sure you could piece all those leaves onto your card around the tree branches in a pleasing manner if you were insane.

Apparently I'm insane because I decided to try that die inlay technique with it, which is the basically the same thing.  It was my first time doing the die inlay technique, because of you are going to do it, do it big, right?  After the 4 weeks it took me to put all the leaves back into the holes I thought, "Now what?"

You sponge the sky, add some birds, grass that needs mowing and a greeting, of course. Here's a close up of the inlaidedness (which is a word because I said so).

The Fine Print: Twiggy Tree, Leafy Canopy, and Resting Birds by Memory Box. grass by A Muse Studio, corner punch by unknown (from back in the day before stamp companies figured out that people are going t want to know who made it) and greeting by Stampendous.

Make My Teeth Ache Monday

It's time for another episode of Make Up Monday!  Yeah, it is starting to make me grit my teeth too.  Or anyway, it is today because I still have more of the never ending Wisteria kit to show off.  I am quite confident this is the last of it.

I mean I enjoyed the heck out of this set as I'm quite fond of purple and loved how it really sparked my creativity.  I just wished I had shared these back when I made them instead of letting the lot of them languish in the pending file.

The Fine Print: All cards inspired by and made with Club Scrap's Wisteria kit parts except for those noted below. Cards 1, 2, and 5 designer paper from my stash.  Card 1-punches by EK Success, greeting by A Muse Artstamps, and brads by Recollections. Card 2-corner punch by SU, flower sequins by Hero Arts and teeny tall brads by unknown. Card 3-die by Spellbinders. Card 4-flowers from my stash.  Card 5-brads by Recollections as far as I can recollect.

Pitty Flowers

My name is Dio and I'll be your guest columnist today becuz mom forgotted it was Makes Up Monday. That's prolly cuz my Gramma came to visit this weekend.  It woz kind of like this:

It woz Gramma's birfdays.  She's like..... older dan me.  They eated fishes to celebrate.  They had to leave the house to do it but we have fishies right here.  They splash me sometimes.  And can you believe that they wented and visited another cat?! They did!  At leasts they didn't invite him home for dinner and drinks and to play with my mousies. They tooked his pickture:

Mom did make one card all weekend wong. It has pitty Tampin' Up flowers on it. And blings.  I like blings.

Well, I gotta go and bite on my brofver now. He's scared of Gramma.  He doesn't know she can do good petting and treats and fings. 'Cept don't let her knit you sweaders.

The Fine Print: Pretty flowers and matching punch by Stampin' Up "petite petals," greeting by A Muse Studio "essential sentiments," dottedness by Provo Craft, blings by Pizazz A'Plenty, stamped in Danube Blue Memento ink.