It's TAG Week...Post #1

Woohoo! Let the tagging begin! I went a little crazy last week and went on a tag making spree. It's amazing how many of these you can crank out in the same time it would take me to make one card! I have to say, I do like switching from cards and tags...breaks up the repetition in my crafting. Today I'm sharing some rock n' roll tags...it's NOT just for the boys! All tags were made with a set from CTMH that is on loan. I kept the same design for the boys and girls, just switched up the colors. I like the idea of splitting the tag in half on the design...polka dots on one, and ink splats on the other. The sentiments are from Enjoy the Ride.

For a little added sparkle, I added the rhinestones to the guitar.Since I can't tie pretty bows on the boy tags, I opted for kraft natural ribbon and knots. For the thinner threads, I used kraft threads from The Cat's Pj's. This thread is super nice and even as much as I tugged on it to tie, it never split! The sentiments came with this set.I will be making more tags, this is a good start to my stash for an upcoming craft show. Have fun with these tags...if you make some, link it here and we will share with everyone ;) Happy Crafting!

Fit For A Princess...

Soooo, remember the last post where I mentioned I was going to play with glitter for the PTI-glitter strip challenge?!!! Well, I found out that glitter and me are NOT meant to be! I did attempt to make a vintage card, complete with 2 glitter strips...which is now at the bottom of my trash pile! I think I will stick with glitter paper and call it a day ;)

So something I can share with you has a little bling (without glitter!) and fit for a princess. These were the invites for Gracie's 7th birthday party. Not much planning on my end since the party was not at home this year. I don't get to do this often as we are normally with family and we keep the parties simple. Gracie decided she wanted a "princess" party and I knew this crown would be perfect! I knew I didn't want to cover the entire tiara with rhinestones, so I think the few I added, add just enough shine. I then stamped 7 in chocolate chip and added the circle (PTI-basic polka dots) to close the focal point. The party info. is printed off the pc in black.
Big birthday girl!
Mommy & Daddy sandwich ;)My wonderful in-laws! They were gracious enough to make the 6 hour drive from VA just to help Gracie celebrate her special day! Grandpa looks like he's had a little too much fun!We continued our weekend with a trip to the park and a nature hike. I'm proud to say Addy dresses herself...note the snow boots in nearly 70 degree weather! And what can I say, the kid LOVES to layer!Just wish she would slow down...just a bit!My favorite shot of the weekend! Grandpa loves his babies ;)

I Love Thee...

A quickie post today! I'm going to try my hand at the Make it Monday Challenge with PTI, so I will keep this post simple today. This is a fun new stamp set I purchased from SU! at a recent workshop. I combined the stamp images with a punched heart from the new red glitter paper. Simple, thin, grosgrain ribbon adds a nice accent to the lime green polka paper. You know how much I LOOOOOVE polka dots! Alrighty, here's to wishing I can make some magic with glitter strips...glitter is not my favorite to play with, but I will give it a go!

Miss You...

What I what give for another 3 day weekend we just had! We celebrated Gracie's 7th birthday over the weekend, had some family in town, and just enjoyed our time together. I didn't do too much on the decorating end since we had her party at Chuck E. Cheese, but I did do her invites and goodie bags. I will be sure to share those pics later in the week.

Today I've got a sweet lovebird card. I used Aviary from SU! Birds of all sorts seem to be a big trend right now and as much as I wanted this set, I'm finding the cling hard to use on my acrylic blocks. I'm sure if I play with it enough, I will get use to them, but I've been using clear stamps for the last few years and them seem to be much easier to place for me. Aside from my crooked birdcage, I'm still loving how it turned out.
I mixed a few sets from PTI on my design as well. Basic Polka Dots and Little Lady (the small ladybug body for my heart).Another PTI set, Masculine Motifs was used for the sentiment.
I plan on donating this card, along with a few others to deployed troops to send to their sweeties. It's hard when your in the field and don't have a Hallmark or P.O. nearby. I know when my hubby was deployed, he'd hold on to the cards and letters for several days until they were back safely to address and mail them off. Happy Crafting my friends!

Feelin' Hippy-ish...

Happy Wednesday! I can officially say I'm ready for the weekend! Our oldest has a BIG birthday party this weekend and with everyone starting to get over the flu, I'd say it's a wonderful way to celebrate! The invites are done and delivered, now I just need to work on some tags for the goody bags and then we'll be finished. Chuck E. Cheese will handle the rest!

On to what I had planned to share last week! I took some time out last week to rest and craft...a little...and made this cute little number! Lovin' these hippy flowers! You have seen this paper on a recent "love bug" card I made. Although the photo doesn't pick up the detail, the flowers are very sparkly! Stamp set is Chair-ished. I took my green gingham strip and added some Text Style II in purple ink.

Valentine Montage...

slip-in a little love...because they matter... ...and tug on my heartstrings and love will always bloom here......because I see how magical he truly is...through THEIR eyes

Papertrey Ink Tag Challenge...

Papertrey Ink Tag w/a tag Challenge. I actually had this tag made before yesterday's card, so I was happy when I saw today's challenge on tags! On a recent trip to the LSS I found these packages of fun/crafty chipboard. This set also includes buttons (not the ones used here), knitting needles, and balls of yarn. I think these would also make some unique tags for a handmade blanket or scarf....my sister is probably reading this and is going to remind me that I have yet to make the tags she requested...a year ago! Jillybean, I was just "waiting" for the right embellishments to come along ;) I distressed my manila tag, used Polka Dot Basics in olive green, rubbed plum ink over my white doily, added my chipboard, buttons, and tag sentiment is from Studio Style.

Papertrey Ink Button Challenge & Tutorial...

Plugging away with another PTI Challenge. I had other projects slated to share this week, but I'm having a TON of fun thinking outside of the box! This card was a loooooong work in progress. I actually started out with a plain heart and "attempted" to sew around the edges...BIG mistake! Once I regrouped and gave up in the impossible, this was my end result! Scroll along with me and I will show you how you can make shadow hearts too. Stamps sets used: Masculine Motifs (sentiment), Text Style II, Studio Style.
1. Stamp your bg cs with Text Style in Versamark ink. Cut scalloped heart images from copier paper saving the heart image AND the negative. You could probably use Eclipse Tape here, I just wasn't sure if it would leave sticky residue on my cuttlebug plates. 2. Take your first scalloped heart, place it where you like, use a cotton dauber and vintage ink and rub the outsides of the heart image.
3. Now you have a "shadow" effect.
4. Take your negative and lay it directly over your shadow image. 5. Hold your negative snug and stamp away with the buttons in Studio Style. Look at those inky paws! 6. Tah-dah! Loads of buttons without the added weight!
7. Once you have your first heart done, you can repeat as many as you like! I do plan on giving this to my sweet husband! There are no ribbons, frills, or embellishments that wouldn't make this perfect for a male card.

PTI Color Challenge...

Before I get on with today's post, I just wanted to thank each one of you who came to visit my blog via the PTI challenge. In turn, it gave me the opportunity to see new faces and explore your blogs for more inspiration! There is so much to see out there when you start surfing crafty blogs...it's like my cup of coffee in the morning!

Anyhoo, I decided to throw myself into another color challenge today! If you want to join in the fun, CLICK HERE for all the color challenges to choose from. I chose to use the color palette from Melissa Phillips!My friend and stamping buddy, DonnaK will be here today so I figured I'd better make up a few more cards before I return my "loaner" stamps! I fully intend to add On My Couch and Additions to my wish list. Just imagine all the patterns you could come up with for this couch?? Now I do own plenty of PTI stamps, but I do not own any cs or inks so my shades of green will vary just slightly from Melissa's color palette. I added a little life to my flat pillows with some foam tape so they look 3-D. The lamps are paper pieced from the Princess Pack...I know, I've been posting A LOT of projects with this paper...but there are many sheets that are just too cute not to play with!

Make It Monday With Papertrey Ink...

I don't know about my fellow crafters, but I've been having oodles of fun creating and celebrating in the festivities over at Papertrey Ink. It would be hard to pick just ONE favorite as I love all their products, but for their new Make It Monday Challenge, I picked out In Bloom and Friends 'til the End to ink up. I love the In Bloom flower die, not only does it cut nicely, it's easy to match up the stamp after the die has been cut. The leaves are from the coordinating die with In Bloom and instead of using the leaf stamp, I opted to use Polka Dot Basics. I also used Polka Dot Basics on the pink cs before I added all the "friend" sentiments.

I actually got ahead of blogging this week and all my photos and posts will be ready to go! Lots of fun stuff to share! I've been on a card making frenzy! If you'd like to join in the PTI festivities, HERE is the link! Happy Crafting ;))

Sweet Buggy Love...

Rounding out the last projects with vday candy! I'm hoping this will be the last of the candies I have to resist eating while making goodies for others. Making good use of some 3x3 clear bags (thanks Donna!), I stumbled (yeah right!) upon some mini snickers that when put side-by-side, fit perfectly in this size bag. Since I wanted a LARGE heart, but needed it a little less round on top, I used the lady bug body from Little Lady and turned it upside down. Letters and bug are also from PTI.I hope all of you have a Superbowl of a weekend! There are no sports fans in this house (I'm so lucky, aren't I?), but we do find it a good excuse to make some goodies and watch the commercials! Enjoy!

One, Happy, Tree...

ETA: Tree stamp is from Close To My Heart (CTMH)


I got a little card happy this week! I'm trying my darnedest to create everyday in the hopes that I can build up my stash for an upcoming craft show. This stamp set is from CTMH and on loan from my sweet friend DonnaK. I'm thinking it will soon be another set on my wish list! I stamped all the trees directly on to patterned paper. This tree is fairly large, as you can see, so keeping the layers to a minimum is best.

A little doodling, jumbo eyelets and sentiment from papertrey ink. I've had this vintage lace from a trip eons ago to the fabric store. The lace is not super fluffy and lays flat...perfect for cards!
I decided to try a little stitching on the bottom. It really helped high light the red cs.These little birds crack me up! Catch my boo-boo?? I put a baby bird in the tree that is not resting his little feet on a branch...catchin' air! I didn't realize it until later...eh, I will consider him "special".Manly option! I punched a bunch of hearts out with my small su! heart punch and adhered them with foam tape. The natural twine I wrapped around the bottom is from Cat's Pajamas. This is my first time to try twine and I must say I LOVE IT! The twine is super flexible, won't rip, and it's not bulky. I just enabled you, didn't I?