Sweet Little Lady...

I wanted to use up some more of my alterables and needed a gift for a new baby in the family. I'm heading up to Boston this weekend to visit family I haven't seen since infancy or have never met and a cousin of mine just had a little girl so this will be for her.This box was originally a "tool" box(or at least those are the letters underneath my ladybug paper) that I purchased in the garden section at Joann's last year! It was 90% off(practially FREE if you ask me!) so I bought up the few they had left. My original intent was to paint it, but I really like the natural wood grain with the patterned paper(Nana's Kids by DCWV). I just rubbed my PP around the edges with my fingers, which makes for deep line grooves and makes them easy to trim. I added the scalloped edge in Pink Passion(used my SU! corner rounder) and also a small strip of Certainly Celery. The petite flowers are from PTI-Little Lady. The focal image is from SU! Spring Mini-So many Scallops. I wanted a 3-d effect so I cut out the moon and "sweet one" in complimentary colors. The moon has a glitter effect from my Spica Glitter Pen. I will probably fill this with a set of burp cloths and some other girly goodies...
I'm totally diggin' this card. I think I'm more proud of the fact that I tried a different card sketch for a change. You can re-create this card via directions on Scor-pal. I didn't have the magnet enclosure they used so I opted to tie a ribbon band on top that can be lifted off easily. All the details are pretty much the same as above. It was a little tricky trying to use the Corner Rounder for the curved edge, but with a little patience it turned out just fine:)

Women of Life by PTI...

This is my first attempt at playing with the Women of Life set from Papertrey Ink. My favorite part about this set is that the flowers are a bold image and perfect for cutting out and making 3-D. This set comes with sentiments for every woman in your life: mother, sister, aunt, daugther etc. I wonder if PTI will come out with a "male" version?? Hmmm...


I probably should have done this card with a kraft color base, but I guess it doesn't look too bad on the PTI white select. The flowers are stampin in cranberry crisp and the stems in true thyme. The bottom half is PP from Imaginisce(I purchased at Archiver's) and is double sided. The sentiment is cut out with my Petite Oval Nesty Dies. I finished off my card with May Arts ribbon.

Longing for Spring...

I seem to use this basic layout alot lately. I really should take some more sketch challenges are start thinking outside the box. You can't go wrong with Veggiebella when your longing for Spring. I had a few extra images colored and leftover from a previous project so I decided to make this card up. The top half is stamped with my SU! paisley bg in certainly celery and the bottom half with patterned paper. I colored my bella with watercolor pencils and blended. She is framed with my rectangle nesty dies and completed with white satin ribbon. The sentiment is Karen Lockhart and the Dew Drops are from Ellen Hutson's shop.

Baby Onesie Cards...

My spin on the cute onesie cards that Lauren Meader designed. I wanted to tweak just a few things and this is my version. I started with a PTI cs base and added the accent colors(SU! bashful blue and Bazzill textured pink). The polka dots are from the Polka Dot and Paisley Set from SU! I used SU! Pretty in Pink and Bashful Blue inks along with my PTI Borders and Corners stamp set. The circles are punched out with my CM cirlce punch and Marvy Scalloped Circle punch. For the snaps I used MM silver eyelets. Tip: to line up eyelets straight, just use your stampin' up faux stitching pad and punch a few holes with your stylus before punching out the holes! Works like a GEM.

Simple Thank-you's...

My sister asked if I could make her some thank-you cards and since I made about 2 dozen, I wanted to keep the design simple, yet elegant. She has recevied a wonderful amount of support and care that she wanted to thank those who have been there for her and her family. I started with PTI white cs base and Doodlebug Designs PP. The red and turquoise strips are some CM strips I've been hoarding. These colors really POP with the black and white. I ran the oval sentiment(PTI) thru my nesty dies and added an Amuse Twinkle Sticker to the "i" in Graditude. The corner designs are from my Crafty Secrets set and I also added twinkle stickers to them.

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head...Part 2

I had posted a couple of "raindrop" cards on this POST and forgot to post these last 2 in the series! Its easy to snap pics, store them in a folder, and totally forget to post! I'm going to try and be more organized about my posts and pics!I LOOOOVE this little raincoat gal from My Favorite Things. You can either color here or paper piece her like I did above. Her coat is pierced with SU! paper and then I added some Amuse Twinkle Stickers to her flowers. The card base is SU! Bashful Blue and stamped with SU! Chocolate Chip with the Polka Dot & Paisley BG(I love this one!!!). The main image is trimmed square and I added the matted boots with my nesty dies.
On this card I wanted to keep the coloring simple so I used my prismacolor pencils and gamsol for a nice blended effect. The flowers are matted with my nesty dies and from the Easter Set from My Favorite Things.

Princess Cupcake Stand...

My latest project for Glue-Art & Paper Studio. This truly is a cupcake stand that is fit for any little princess. We used it for Gracie's 4th bday back in February. I brought it along to Chuck E. Cheese with us so we could display the cupcakes nicely. If you plan to transport your cupcakes, I'd advise you put them in a tupperware container and then just swap them out for the display when you get to your party destination!


I started out with a plain wood stand and mod-podged on my patterned paper. The scalloped edge is done with my SU! corner rounder and I stamped some petite flower stems on each scallop. I used various Prima flowers and added Dew Drops every other one. Another great tip: If you plan to use this for more than one pretty princess, you can add a small magnet strip in the middle so it allows you to change out the initials of the birthday girl! We have two girls in our house, so I plan to get plenty of use out this stand.

LIFE IS GOOD!!!!!!

I'm finally back home from GA(and VA!!) and its definitely on a GREAT note! Thank you for all the wonderful thoughts, emails, and prayers...my twin sister is doing incredibly well after her surgery on February 26! Her whole tumor was removed and is benign...life can't get any better than that!!! It was also wonderful to be with my family and to all be there in support for my sister and her family. My sister has got to be the hippest bald chic in town...or at least I think so:) My beautiful twinkie...only about 5 days post-op...is this incredible or what???!!!!
Sis and brother-in-law
Me, Mom & Nephew Aidan, Christie, & older sister Jillybean...
Definitely a sign of adrenline...I don't think I'd slept in a week when this pic was taken...totally appropriate though...lol

I'm only home for a day before we go off to our family vacation which has been in the works for a few months and then I will be back to regular craft posts on Monday. I've been dying to share my new cupcake stand I did for Glue-Art and Paper Studio

Live, Laugh, Love, Pray...

Sisters Heart to Heart

From the time that we were little,
I knew you’d always be
Not just a loving sister
But a caring friend to me.

A shoulder I could cry on,
A helping hand in times of need,
A cheerleader to lift me up,
My angel in both word and deed.

We told each other secrets;
We giggled and we cried.
We shared our joys and sorrows--
We were always side by side.

We have a very special bond;
I knew it from the start.
You’ll have my love forever--
We’re sisters, heart to heart.

-Oliver Wendell Holmes

I'm not a creative writer, but when I found this poem, I knew it was written for my twin sister and I. We have always shared more than just a womb, we share a unique bond that most siblings will never understand. Sometimes life throws you curveballs that you wish you could throw right back. I wish what I were feeling right now was just a dream, however, it's LIFE. There are never enough answers to LIFE's questions and how they have affected my family this week. My identical twin sister has been diagnosed with a brain tumor that may have gone unoticed for several years. She only started having symptoms a few weeks ago and the tumor is taking up residence in 1/4 of her brain. My twinkie is the hardest working person I know and also the strongest! I know she will make it thru this! If God is listening...you have ALOT of explaining to do mister! I will be flying down to GA to be with my family and sister for her surgery next week. Please keep us in your thoughts...

FYI-no furter card/gift orders will be accepted at this time and I have contacted those of you who have pending inquiries. I know you will understand...

My Stamping Space Day #3

I'm always looking for new storage solutions and since I like to keep things clean and simple, this Creative Memories Binder stores all my FAVORITES! The inserts come in several different sizes...quarters, long sticker strips, wide 2 pocket pages etc. I originally did store all my stickers in here, but have since taken them out.
I just happen to have some spare sheets of strong, pliable plastic sheeting that I cut down to size and store my unmounted stamps on. This shot is of my Bella stamps and you can get about 4-5 per plastic sheeting, depending on size and shape. I copied and shrunk the original tags on one page and just simply put it inside of the pocket flap so all my stamps are easy to find.
For clear unmounted stamps, I keep them on the original sheeting they come on and just slide them into the pockets.
Look what else I can get in here???...lol I love the fact that my Nestibility dies are thin enough that I can get several sets in one pocket. I wasn't able to fit my next photo on this post, but the next page stores my large Cuttlebug folders and you can get 2 per pocket.

My Stamping Space Day #2...

Another great find from IKEA. Mom bought this for me over Christmas break...I loved it so much, I went and got an additonal rod and more baskets! These rods are very versatile and you can put whatever type basket on them that you like. I especially love the fact that all my tools are in "hands" reach. I put all the tools in there that I use for every project and its just super handy:) They are very sturdy and the bottom of the bucket rests against the wall. Just to be safe, you can put a little rubber dot on the back so it doesn't rub too much on the wall surface. The best part of this storage unit is that my tools are up & off my desk allowing for more room to create.
These are the additional baskets I bought along with a new rod. I just switched them out so you can see your options...lol Because I live in BRAND SPANKIN' new military housing, I really didn't want to put any more holes in the wall! I will certainly be putting them up at my new house in June though:) Great spot for your water bottle too...no spills on your precious artwork...lol

These plastic containers are the "heart" of my storage space. I put EVERYTHING in these that I will eventually use-12x12 patterned paper, chipboard, paper alterables, stickles, chalk ink, SU! ink pads, large punches, prismacolor pencils, makers, and large spools of ribbon. I purchased all these at Target when they were on sale. On a good sale day, a 3 drawer set is only 7.99! The red basket on the upper left drawers, is my basket for special card requests and gifts I make for friends and family. I don't keep very many cards on hand, so when I get a special order/request they are made in about a week, depending on how intricate the design might be. On the upper right hand drawers, I keep my Cuttlebug and Wizard Die Cutting Machines. Both of these machines are pretty heavy, but the plastic shelving seems to be holding up well!
I am not one to be too oganized, but I think since I've cleaned/de-cluttered everything, I've become a little OCD! Yes, these are see-thru containers, but I also like using my label maker...especially on the lower drawers where I might not be able to see the contents too well. In between these two units you will see a grey contraption sticking out in the middle. That is where I store my new Scor-Pal...she fits nicely and is out of the way when I'm not using her:) Whew! Thats a long post! I will share my FAVORITE storage idea tomorrow:)

My Stamping Space...

I like to keep things simple and organzied, so a corner in my dining room suites me just fine. Plus if I had my own room, I'd be buying many more supplies than I'd know what to do with...lol
Just about all my organizational tools and storage are from IKEA, because I love their quality and affordability. As you can see my Prima's and Buttons are stored in glass cylinders so I can "see" what I have. I just purchased these a few weeks ago and its made wonders on putting my flowers and buttons to use. Afterall, if you can't see it, than you don't use it!
My dandy ribbon storage! I had originally bought this for some other use, but discovered when I cut down my chipboard, that it would be perfect for my ribbon! The box on the far left stores my scrap ribbon and the remaining boxes store the rest and the ribbon is sorted by color families.
If you store your ribbon like this, be sure you use heavy weight chipboard to prevent it from "dipping" in the middle when wrapping your ribbon. To keep the ribbon from unraveling I just use a small straight pin and push it thru 2-3 layers of the ribbon. I haven't had any issues with a pin mark being left behind on the ribbon when I'm ready to use. Now, I do have large spools of my May Arts ribbon, however with their large yardage quantity they are stored in my rolling cart. Any ribbon 5 yards and under is stored in this wooden box.
I will show more storage and organzing tips thru-out the week! My favorite is how I store my clear/unmounted stamps and nestibility dies(all in ONE book!!!).