PPA23 - Anything BUT A Card Challenge

Pals Paper Arts http://www.palspaperarts.com/ Is a site I just recently found. It is quickly becoming a favorite. Today's challenge was anything but a card. My granddaughter's birthday is in March and I decided to give her an acrylic photo frame with a scrapbook layout to hang on her wall. If anyone knows where you can get more of these frames.....PLEASE let me know. What is nice the layout will be easy to change, so Grammy can make new ones just for her and the old layout can go into her scrapbook.

The card stock is: Imaginisce Double Sided - Baby Powder - Oopsie Daisy. The pink card stock is from my stash.
The punch is: Martha Stewart Deep Edge Punch - Lattice Heart
Bridget's name was cut using my BossKut Gazelle
Bridget's photo frame was cut using a Sizzix Bigz Die - Extra Long -Album, Brackets.

This was a fun rainy day project. My hubby is fighting a cold and slept most of the day...I quietly played in my room.

Thank You Pals Paper Arts Challenge....I've finished a birthday project early! 2010 is looking good!

My Friend Dee Dee

Everyone.....Meet my friend Dee Dee....

I have a friend that is introduced as, "This is Dee Dee, she's been my friend since pre-school." It's true...however we were the parents of two pre-schoolers. not the actual pre-schoolers. Dee Dee and I have gone through lots together. We've cried together, supported each other emotionally and laughed together. We raised our kids together and when I re-married and moved away, I thought neither of us would survive being so far away.

Three years ago, Dee Dee moved to Colorado. Even though she lives over 1000 miles away we still find the time to visit, either by phone or by Skype, and on those special times she comes to northern California or I go to Colorado. Dee Dee is very talented. I have trouble painting a room, she thinks nothing of laying tile. I've always had such respect for her talents.

When Dee Dee comes to visit, we spend hours and hours scrapbooking or making cards. She goes home with what she's learned and creates master pieces that her grandkids will cherish for many, many years.

Yesterday Dee Dee told me about a gift she received for Christmas and that she was making a card for her sister, to say thank you. I asked her to share her card by sending me a photo. Below are the photos she sent. I'm so proud of her. She doesn't have a group of women to network with her. She works full time and spends much of her free time with her grandkids. Her free time is very limited...What she's learned she's learned by looking at things she likes and then expands on the ideas she's seen. I think she did a fantastic job on this card and I'm sure her sister will be thrilled when she sees it. I'm looking forward to when we can spend another long weekend playing with paper....Dee Dee, Thanks for sharing your work!
Once again....have a wonderful week.

Mojo Monday 119 - Valentine Card

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/ Today I made a card for Mojo Monday - Week 119. This is one of my favorite challenges. I decided to make my honey's Valentine Card. Richard likes red and black. Knowing this made picking colors easy. My Spellbinder dies got a real workout. I used: Renaissance Hearts - Borderabilities. I also used the circles and rectangles, along with scallop versions of each. Finally....I used the hearts. I thought the card needed some bling, so glitter was added along with a heart gem. It's nice to be ready for Valentine's Day. I think I'll go make a Christmas card. I might actually be ready for Christmas 2010...

Have a wonderful week.

Playing With Martha Stewart

Ok....I wasn't exactly playing with Martha Stewart....I was playing with my new Martha Stewart Deep Edge Border Punch - Lattice Hearts. My card is a quarter fold and by layering, I was able to get 6 hearts on the front of the card. Without layering, I would have only had 4 hearts. The green card stock, the heart gem and the ribbon are all from my stash. The pink patterned card stock is from Imaginisce - Baby Powder - Oopsie Daisy. The sentiment is computer generated. I have a feeling my new punch is going to be used often.

I must say the past few days did not leave much time for playing in my studio. Today, after my son went back to the city, I went into my play room and spent the day with my toys. I love playing with paper!

Have a most wonderful week.

January Class

I wanted to post photos of the cards we will be making in the January class. at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique http://paradisescrapbookboutique.typepad.com/ The yellow floral card is my version of a card I saw in a past issue of Card Maker Magazine. I chose yellow for this card. BoBunny's Back to Basic A Gift of Love line, has many beautiful papers, any of which would have made a beautiful card. The gals taking this class will have many choices. They will be able to choose from 3 sentiments, and 5 colors of card stock. They will learn how easy it is to chalk the edges of the tissue paper and for those who don't know how to use the Spellbinder dies... this class will turn them into pros. Several months ago, I saw a card made by Keri Lee Sereika http://cardpositioningsystems.blogspot.com/ I liked the layout and the sentiment she used on this card and I packed it away in my mind for possible later use. I also liked her color choices. I used a border punch, and Spellbinder dies. The Cuttlebug embossing folder will also be something fun for those who have not had the joy of working with them. For those who already are familiar with the dies, it will be fun, because the results are always wonderful. I think this card will be fun for the girls to make and one they will make often.

Those who have become familiar with me through my classes, have figured out that I don't want to teach how to make one card. I want people to learn how to use the tools and make many cards. I do hope the girls bring their creations to class. I'd love to see them.

Off I go, it's time to think about heading toward the recliner to watch TV. Have a great evening.

Christmas Label

I'm not very good at making tags. I guess it's something I haven't had lots of practice making. I've been watching Sherry's blog and today I saw a tag that I really, really like. Check it out: http://sherrycheever.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/2009/12/14/12-tags-of-christmas-tag-11-my-way/ My tag was inspired by Sherry. Our WW group made boxes and Post-It-Note holders as gifts for special people. It was decided that I would make a tag to be attached to one of the gifts. I must say it was a challenge, one that evolved from a Spellbinder Sleigh (double sided) with a hole to hold a ribbon for hanging. After looking at the tag for hours (ok maybe not constantly), I decided I needed more and my tag was born. I'm so glad I took the time to make my tag more than just the sleigh. I used Labels Eight to create the base, added ribbon, stickers and bling.....now when I sit and look at the label...I am very happy! I hope the intended gal will love it as much as I do.

For My 91 Year Young Aunt Izzie

I think one of the best reasons for sending Christmas letters or notes, are the many notes you receive back, and from most unexpected people. The above card and envelope were inspired by a letter I received from my cousin Sandy, written for her mom Izzie. Her letter sparked many memories of my childhood spending time with my Aunt Izzie and my Uncle Happy. Isn't that a great name for an Uncle?

I wanted to thank Sandy for taking the time to write and I needed a card that was not only quick, but "Summery" They live in Wisconsin and are beginning what usually is a long winter. Aunt Izzie is a gardener and I thought she'd enjoy receiving a bit of summer.

The paper is old from 2005. It's from Bo-Bunny Press and is named Shabb-A-Licious Blossoms. The green belt is from my scrap stash, the embossing is Tiny Bubbles from Cuttlebug. The belt buckle is a Spellbinder die called - Ladies Fashion Buckles, I haven't checked but it is probably retired. I love it. I use it often. The sentiment is an old Stampin Up stamp and is cut from a Spellbinder oval. The envelope is made from the same paper. All in all, the card and envelope took about 20 minutes to make.

Have a great day.....

Say Hello to Denise

While hopping around the internet this morning....I found a gal named Denise. She posted her 12-Step addiction to paper. I know that this applies to all my paper buddies....So I thought I would share. Here is the link: http://mamascroppingcollections.blogspot.com/ She posted on October 22, 2009. Enjoy!

In truth, my belief is...if one is good....two is better! If you show me a stick and a rubber band and you demonstrate 5 ways to use it....I'll buy all you have! I HAVE A SICKNESS! I do hope there is no cure!

Notice: Denise doesn't post very often....I'm guessing she's either shoppin...or croppin!

Paper Flowers

Hello, Hello, Hello,

I went to Paradise Scrapbook Boutique http://paradisescrapbookboutique.typepad.com/ I had an idea for my January card class. Karen has beautiful BoBunny card stock and I think they will be perfect for the Paper Flower card. I wanted to get this posted because I want the gals in my card class to know they are going to have choices.....You can make your card in any of the colors that remain available...so come early. You will be making the flower, bring the chalk to match the card stock you choose. The flower was made using my scalloped Nested Spellbinder die. If you are interested in purchasing that die, or any of the Spellbinder dies, let Karen know.

I'm off for a day with the girls. First it's Weight Watchers and then we are going to make the Christmas box I showed in an earlier post.

Have a great week! Stay warm!

Happy Birthday Edy

Edy is one of my most dear friends. She's been a person to laugh with, cry with and share my life with. We met, many years ago, while taking a calligraphy class at Michaels. I think it was one of those meant to be meetings. I'd never taken a class without going with a friend...this time I went alone and I sat next to this very special lady. We hit it off right away, and interestingly, we both live in the same small town and took the class in Chico CA, which is where we both were working at the time. Since that class we have been very close friends. Edy is a quilter and a very good one... getting better all the time. She loves flowers and she loves any fabric that has flowers. She also loves pastel colors. I tried to put all of that into this card. In addition....I added shiny because we both love shiny! So.....HAPPY BIRTHDAY EDY! The gift we share is friendship and may you live long and may we always share the gift of friendship.

Quick Handmade Gifts

Last Thursday Patti, Carolyn and I got together to brainstorm. We were trying to think of gifts to make that would be useful, quick to make and fun. The three of us own the Zutter Bind-It-All, so of course that became the tool of choice. I came home filled with ideas. It wasn't until yesterday that I put idea to action. I'm packing a box to ship to my over-seas family and I thought to fill the empty spaces I'd put these little books in. Each holds a 3x3 Post-It-Note pad. They are easy to re-fill. The little books are great ways to use up scraps. I used cereal boxes and shipping cartons to make the covers (cut 4x 3.5 inches) then covered them with scrap papers. I used my Spellbinder alphabet for the letters, cut from Fun Foam. The felt stickers are Woolies from BasicGrey. The chalks are from ColorBox. I bound them all using 1/2 inch Bind-It -All wires. These are definitely 20 minute projects.

I can't wait to see what the others have made. Hopefully they will let me take photos of them. I'll post the photos.....

Have a wonderful week!

Using Scraps

Can you believe it is already December, and the count down to Christmas has begun! I promise myself each year that I WILL be ready for Christmas. That I will plan and organize and prepare. I don't know what happens between January 1 and December 1, but somehow all of my promises go by the wayside and I am rushing to get ready. I think my main problem is that I am easily distracted by shiny objects. The attached card was not part of my plan for December, however, when I saw the challenge at Techno Stamper http://technostamper.blogspot.com/2009/11/monday-lunchtime-sketch-challenge-98.html I decided to play.

All the card stock used for this card are from my scrap bin. I love when I can make a card using something I've saved from another project. The stamp is from Stampin Up. She is the newest stamp in my collection. The button embellishments are also from Stampin Up. The are die cuts. The buttons were tied with gold thread and Dew Drops were added.

I hope you enjoyed the card I enjoyed making it. I wish you a wonderful day. If nothing shiny catches my eye....I may actually get my check book balanced!